diff --git a/Tactical/Item Types.cpp b/Tactical/Item Types.cpp
index de7478ad36..e8a7c84833 100644
--- a/Tactical/Item Types.cpp	
+++ b/Tactical/Item Types.cpp	
@@ -592,7 +592,7 @@ LBENODE* OBJECTTYPE::GetLBEPointer(unsigned int index)
 	
 }
 
-bool OBJECTTYPE::exists()
+bool OBJECTTYPE::exists() const
 {
 	return(this && ubNumberOfObjects && usItem);
 }
diff --git a/Tactical/Item Types.h b/Tactical/Item Types.h
index cdd3d2a19d..4fbfb6504c 100644
--- a/Tactical/Item Types.h	
+++ b/Tactical/Item Types.h	
@@ -546,7 +546,7 @@ class OBJECTTYPE
 
 	bool	operator==(OBJECTTYPE& compare);
 	bool	operator==(const OBJECTTYPE& compare)const;
-	bool	exists();
+	bool	exists() const;
 	bool	IsActiveLBE(unsigned int index);
 	bool	HasAnyActiveLBEs(SOLDIERTYPE * pSoldier = NULL, UINT8 iter = 0);
 	LBENODE*	GetLBEPointer(unsigned int index);
diff --git a/Tactical/Soldier Control.cpp b/Tactical/Soldier Control.cpp
index dacb8dfc8a..7ff3970213 100644
--- a/Tactical/Soldier Control.cpp	
+++ b/Tactical/Soldier Control.cpp	
@@ -378,6 +378,10 @@ unsigned int Inventory::size( ) const {
 	return inv.size( );
 }
 
+auto Inventory::get() const -> const std::vector<OBJECTTYPE>& {
+	return inv;
+}
+
 // Assignment operator
 Inventory& Inventory::operator=(const Inventory& src)
 {
@@ -19934,22 +19938,19 @@ FLOAT  SOLDIERTYPE::GetDiseaseContactProtection( )
 	// if we wear special equipment, lower our chances of being infected
 	FLOAT bestfacegear = 0.0f;
 	FLOAT bestprotectivegear = 0.0f;
-	INT8 invsize = (INT8)inv.size( );									// remember inventorysize, so we don't call size() repeatedly
-	for ( INT8 bLoop = 0; bLoop < invsize; ++bLoop )
+	for ( const auto &item : inv.get() )
 	{
-		if ( inv[bLoop].exists( ) )
+		if ( item.exists( ) )
 		{
-			OBJECTTYPE* pObj = &(inv[bLoop]);
-
-			if ( pObj && (*pObj)[0]->data.objectStatus >= USABLE )
+			if ( item[0]->data.objectStatus >= USABLE )
 			{	
-				if ( HasItemFlag( pObj->usItem, DISEASEPROTECTION_1 ) )
+				if ( HasItemFlag( item.usItem, DISEASEPROTECTION_1 ) )
 				{
-					bestfacegear = max( bestfacegear, (FLOAT)((*pObj)[0]->data.objectStatus / 100) );
+					bestfacegear = max( bestfacegear, (FLOAT)(item[0]->data.objectStatus / 100) );
 				}
-				if ( HasItemFlag( pObj->usItem, DISEASEPROTECTION_2 ) )
+				if ( HasItemFlag( item.usItem, DISEASEPROTECTION_2 ) )
 				{
-					bestprotectivegear = max( bestprotectivegear, (FLOAT)((*pObj)[0]->data.objectStatus / 100) );
+					bestprotectivegear = max( bestprotectivegear, (FLOAT)(item[0]->data.objectStatus / 100) );
 				}
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/Tactical/Soldier Control.h b/Tactical/Soldier Control.h
index 74c08462e1..7545ce6b53 100644
--- a/Tactical/Soldier Control.h	
+++ b/Tactical/Soldier Control.h	
@@ -772,6 +772,9 @@ class Inventory {
 	// How any slots are there in this inventory?
 	unsigned int size() const;
 
+	// const-only accessor
+	auto get() const -> const std::vector<OBJECTTYPE>&;
+
 	//temporarily? public
 	std::vector<int>			bNewItemCount;
 	std::vector<int>			bNewItemCycleCount;