Shoulder strap retention device and method

A system for maintaining an article relative to a chest panel worn by a user, the system comprising:

• an article;
• shoulder straps secured to the article, the shoulder straps each having a first portion secured to the article, a second portion secured to the article, and a middle portion extending between the first and second end portions and extending outwardly from the article;
• body armor sized to receive a torso of a user and comprising a chest panel, the body armor wearable on the torso of a user independent of the shoulder straps and article, the chest panel defining front and back surfaces;
• a retention apparatus secured to the chest panel and coupling the shoulder straps to the chest panel such that the torso of a user is positionable between the chest panel and the article, the retention apparatus comprising:
• a pair of attachment portions secured to the chest panel independently of the article;
• and a pair of routing portions extending from the pair of attachment portions, the attachment portions coupled to the shoulder straps of the article to maintain the position of the shoulder straps relative to the chest panel;
• wherein the middle portions of the shoulder straps extend over a portion of the front surface of the chest panel, having the front surface facing away from the article and the back surface facing the article;
• and
• wherein the retention apparatus secures the middle portions to the front surface, having the chest panel positioned between the article and the retention apparatus.