This Plate Carrier is designed with external hard plate pockets for easy access, as well as breathable mesh inner pockets for soft body armor panels. The inner pockets feature a pass-through shoulder opening for soft body armor with adjustable shoulder straps to pass through from the front panel to the back panel. The front and back panels have easy-to-access external hard body plate armor pockets. One side of the external pockets has a full-length heavy-duty zipper and a top flap with hook and loop fasteners. This allows the wearer to quickly and easily insert Level III or Level IV hard plates when the situation requires it, to quickly upgrade their protection level. The external pockets can accommodate a pair of standard 10” X 12” hard plates or up to a pair of 11” X 14” hard plates.