Frequently Asked Questions

Use our Instant Quote page. Search for the products you need, build your list, enter your department size, and get estimated pricing instantly. You can also contact us directly for a custom quote. All quotes are reviewed and finalized by our team within one business day.

Yes. Pricing is tiered based on department size — larger departments receive better per-unit pricing. We also offer additional volume discounts on large orders. Our Instant Quote tool calculates this automatically based on your officer count.

We accept purchase orders (PO), credit cards, ACH/wire transfers, and government procurement cards (GPC). We are also set up for GSA and cooperative purchasing contracts. Net terms are available for qualified agencies.

Absolutely. We regularly work with agencies using COPS, LESO/1033, Byrne JAG, and other federal and state grant programs. We can provide the documentation and pricing formats your grant requires.

Lead times vary by manufacturer and product. Soft armor carriers typically take 3–6 weeks from order confirmation. Rifle plates and shields may take 2–4 weeks. Rush orders are available for an additional charge. We provide real-time order tracking through our Agency Portal.

We carry armor across all NIJ protection levels: Level IIA, Level II, Level IIIA (soft armor), and Level III and Level IV (hard rifle plates). All our ballistic products are NIJ-certified or NIJ-compliant. We can provide NIJ certification documentation upon request.

Concealable carriers are worn under the uniform shirt, providing discreet protection. They are lighter and designed for all-day comfort. External (tactical) carriers are worn over the uniform and offer MOLLE webbing for attaching equipment like radios, magazines, and medical gear. Many agencies use both — concealable for daily patrol and external for tactical operations.

We are an authorized dealer for United Shield International (USI), and we carry a full line of ballistic shields, helmets, rifle plates, and medical equipment from leading manufacturers. Contact us for specific brand availability.

Yes. Many of our tactical/external carriers support front and back rifle plate pockets for Level III or IV hard armor plates. We can configure carriers with or without plate pockets depending on your agency’s needs. This is part of our armor configurator workflow during the ordering process.

Yes. We travel to your agency to professionally measure every officer. Proper sizing is critical for both comfort and ballistic protection. Schedule a sizing appointment through our website or contact us directly.

We typically measure chest girth, waist girth, and torso length (front and back). For tactical fit carriers, we also measure for cummerbund sizing. Our sizing specialists use manufacturer-specific measurement guides to ensure the best fit for each carrier model.

Contact us as soon as possible. If the order is still in production, we can usually update the sizing at no additional charge. If the carrier has already shipped, we work with the manufacturer on exchanges. This is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

We ship evaluation units to your agency at no cost. Your officers test the equipment in real-world conditions for up to 30 days. If you decide to order, we build your quote with agency pricing. If it’s not for you, simply ship it back — no questions asked. Request a T&E here.

Soft armor carriers, ballistic shields, rifle armor plates, helmets, and medical/aid bags are all available for T&E evaluation. If you’re interested in evaluating a product not listed, contact us and we’ll do our best to accommodate.

Yes. We ship to law enforcement agencies, fire departments, EMS, military units, security firms, and prepared professionals across all 50 states. Shipping costs vary by order size and destination. Many orders qualify for free standard shipping.

Custom-configured body armor is made to order and generally cannot be returned unless there is a manufacturing defect or sizing error on our part. Stock items and accessories can be returned within 30 days in unused condition. Contact us for a return authorization before shipping anything back.

The Agency Portal gives you real-time access to order tracking, sizing records, invoices, and warranty claim submission. You can see every order from estimate through delivery, view linked purchase orders and sales orders, and download documents — all in one secure dashboard.

Portal access is set up when your agency places its first order. Contact us if you need login credentials or if additional personnel from your agency need access.

Warranty terms vary by manufacturer, but most soft armor panels carry a 5-year warranty against manufacturing defects and ballistic failure. Carriers and accessories typically carry a 1–2 year warranty. We handle all warranty claims on your behalf through our Agency Portal.

Carriers can be hand-washed or machine-washed on gentle cycle — always remove the ballistic panels first. Never wash, dry clean, or iron ballistic panels. Store armor flat or hanging, away from direct sunlight and extreme heat. Inspect regularly for wear, tears, or damage. Replace armor per manufacturer guidelines (typically every 5 years for soft armor panels).

J5 Rescue Supply is a veteran-owned law enforcement body armor and tactical equipment dealer based in Northern Illinois. We specialize in soft armor carriers, ballistic shields, rifle plates, medical gear, and tactical accessories for law enforcement, fire, EMS, military, and security professionals nationwide.

Our primary focus is law enforcement agencies and first responder organizations. However, we do sell select products to qualified individuals. Contact us for availability and pricing.

Visit our Contact page, use the Instant Quote tool, or email us directly. We respond to all inquiries within one business day.