Provided is a cover for use with a ballistic panel carrier having front and rear carrier panels interconnected by shoulder straps. The cover includes front and rear outer cover shell components, together defining a neck opening between shoulder portions and having sides that, when sides of the ballistic panel carrier are secured together, define arm opening edges. A yoke lining component is attached to the outer cover shell components at the neck opening and separably attached to the outer cover shell components along at least portions of the arm opening edges.