Post Your Battle Bra

[Plan9]

You read it right: post your cool guy vest or load bearing equipment or plate carrier or whatever manly title you gave your battle bra... the strappy nylon lingerie that supported your hefty bosom of ammo and other necessary implements during those endless hours of rainy field exercises, papercut-exciting combat deployments, etc. Everybody has their own style and way of rigging their gear. Figure it might make a cool picture thread.

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Thread Purpose: Post a picture or write a brief description of your gear from various adventures.

[Slims]

Edited: I got tired of having pics of me in the internet.

[genuinegirly]

Couldn't resist.

[kel]

I only battle with little tan targets that don't shoot back.




Not mine but worth showing

[MSD]

Originally Posted by kel

Not mine but worth showing

I hope that's a training pistol and not some jackass' idea of a good idea.

[kel]

Originally Posted by MSD

I hope that's a training pistol and not some jackass' idea of a good idea.

It's probably a competition only pistol that never sees action outside of the range. Most guys have dedicated carry and competition guns.

[forseti-6]

Well I can't find a good picture of me and my rack. But if you can use your imagination... all mine was GI. I had the FLC with two ammo pouches on the left, and one on the right. Both grenade pouches on the right - one with a compass in in, the other with one of the LED lights in it. On the right side plate, I had the med kit. Between the ammo pouch and the med kit on the right side, I had a canteen pouch, in which I stored my NVGs in during night missions or red bull or rip its during day missions. On my back I'd always have my assault pack, my ASIP and extra batteries in it. The rest was all mission dependent. I never got an MBITR :-\.

[DaveOrion]

This was my bra, couldn't kill anyone with anything in it. What a shame.

[hillbilly]

[telekinetic]

Originally Posted by kel

It's probably a competition only pistol that never sees action outside of the range. Most guys have dedicated carry and competition guns.

This is still a bad idea on par with painting the tip of a live gun blaze orange

[KirStang]

Zombie Threaded







LBT 6094B with battle belt and assorted Tactical Tailor pouches.

[Shadowex3]

I get that all that stuff attaches to the webbing somehow... but how exactly does it do it?

[KirStang]

Originally Posted by Shadowex3

I get that all that stuff attaches to the webbing somehow... but how exactly does it do it?

Mil spec magnets. They're amazing.

No, in all seriousness, behind the pouches you have a semi-rigid flap. The flap weaves in between the pouch and the webbing of your vest, creating a secure attachment. The flap is secured in the end by either a clip or snap button.

[Walt]

Originally Posted by KirStang

LBT 6094B with battle belt and assorted Tactical Tailor pouches.

It ain't easy looking hardcore with your pink Ugg's in the background.

[Shadowex3]

So THATS how they get two things with horizontal webbing to attach securely to each other.

Also I would buy milspec magnets. NIB magnets of any significant size have a truly horrifying strength at times, I've almost lost fingers to things not much larger than a tootsie pop. Something tells me that's not the best thing to be wearing with todays electronics and lots of magnetic metals around though.

[KirStang]

Originally Posted by Walt

It ain't easy looking hardcore with your pink Ugg's in the background.

You mean my cold weather tactical urban-flamingo boots?



[/COLOR]

Originally Posted by Shadowex3

Something tells me that's not the best thing to be wearing with todays electronics and lots of magnetic metals around though.

Yea, when I was doing land nav I generally used the center-hold method. The first time I tried to do land nav I had my compass to my glasses (compass to cheek method). Little did I know I had metal screws in my glasses which were throwing off my azimuth.

Those tactical tailor magna pouches use magnets to provide some retention for pistom mags. If I ever use them with a compass I'd have to remember to keep the compass away.

[ChrisJericho]

Originally Posted by KirStang

Zombie Threaded







LBT 6094B with battle belt and assorted Tactical Tailor pouches.

Do you have plates loaded in that? On the side as well?

[KirStang]

Originally Posted by ChrisJericho

Do you have plates loaded in that? On the side as well?

There are front and back plates in there, but no side plates. Haven't had the opportunity to purchase side plates, but when I do, I'll have to cut out part of the MBITR pouch to accept the side-plate (long story). Even with the plates however, the rig feels extremely comfortable. I recently went on a ruck march with Plan 9 and did not even notice I had a PC on.

[KirStang]

They made me the ammo mule.

(Credits from lightfighter.net)

[remy1492]

Back in the day my unit had, after 9-11. VIETNAM era gear. No kidding. In my mobility gear were cotton 20rd mag pouches, a metal helmet, a green M56(?) flak jacket and a newer 80s camo frag vest. I was gonna go to Afghanistan with THIS? We were a real Tropic Thunder cast.

Needless to say, we all ordered Blackhawk gear online to have something legit to use. In this photo you can see the holster I bought. Worth the money, had a rigged belt to hold it until I could get a harder riggers belt.

Our gear was black, tan, green.......might as well have been purple too.
It really was a buy it yourself war until the war spending bill passed. That one John Kerry voted for, then voted AGAINST.
Thank god it passed because we finally got good body armor and gear after that.

I don't see a problem though 9, some good ol duct tape and even ALICE stuff can get the job done Taliban won't laugh at you, that much. And I feel your pain about Army doodz stealing stuff, they stole a lot of my stuff too, right out of my plane and the DFAC.

[Walt]

Soldiers don't steal from other soldiers. Thievery in the Army is a myth that is most likely spread sometime between recess and nap-time by the Air Force, junior officers and other small children.

There is, in fact, only one thief in the Army. Everyone else is just trying to get their shit back.

[G5_Todd]

Originally Posted by Walt

Soldiers don't steal from other soldiers. Thievery in the Army is a myth that is most likely spread sometime between recess and nap-time by the Air Force, junior officers and other small children.

There is, in fact, only one thief in the Army. Everyone else is just trying to get their shit back.

honestly theft in the military depends on the MOS, when I was deployed we had 120 MPs, 30 mechanics, 10 admin, 3 cooks....only 1 person I know of stole something and he was a fat ass cook, he stole from another cook....he stole personal checks, so not only was he fat, he was stupid, and a worthless POS...he couldnt even handle his punishment so he threatened suicide and was shipped out to Germany...

[KirStang]

Think I finished my PC:



LBT 6094B (XL) (The 6094A is the 'Medium' cut one, but from my research, would only take 'swimmers cut' plates, so after speaking to the LBT rep, I went with the 6094B to make sure it would fit my large operator cut plates).

From Left to Right:
TT 75 Series Hardcase: Camera, glasses, other fragile essential items that I might need to be readily accessible. I usually keep my eye-pro with inserts in my cargo pocket. Since I have extremely bad myopia, I keep a spare set of glasses on me in case I lose the pair on my head.

No Name Radio pouch: Can fit a grenade, small radio. Random things I might want to keep on me.

Pantac Grenade Pouch: Figured...might as well have something to hold grenades?

Blow Out Kit: Have a CAT tucked in behind the BOK with rubberband retention. BOK Contents:
- 1x Bolin Chest Seal
- Small roll of Duct Tape (to seal potential exit wound)
- 1x CAT (Second CAT in case I, or a teammate loses more than one limb)
- 1x Israeli Bandage
- 1x Combat Gauze/Quikclot
- 2x Cravats (if necessary, to fashion improvised TQs or for use with splints)
- 2x Combine Pad
- 1x Bandage
- 1x Triangular Bandage
- 1x Field Dressing
- 2x surgical sponges
- 4x Medicated Ointment
- 5x Band-aids
- 1x Tweezers
- 1x Surgical Scissors
- 5x Alcohol Pads
- 1x small blade.
- 1x Permanent Marker
(I have another BCS, Pneumothorax needle and more goodies in an IFAK on the Belt...not sure what I should keep on the Belt to optimize the PC and Belt though.)

LBT Kangaroo Mag Pouch: Holds 3 Mags
TT MOLLE Mag Pouch x2
TT Magna Mag Pouch: 2 pistol mags

On Top: Maxpedition Monkey Combat Admin Pouch: For my 9 line & UXO card, lighters, electrical tape, compass, batteries, maps & ID.
TT Flashlight pouch: Surefire G2LED with Red Filter.
2x Double Mag pouch: Not as sexy as the open top, bungee retention mag pouches, but I could stuff other assorted knick knacks in here.

On the back I have a hydration carrier and a small Misc. Pouch to hold 550 cord and other compressibles.

Comments and feedback on the kit would be great.

[Walt]

Originally Posted by KirStang

Think I finished my PC:

This is just my personal preference and I'm sure some of the cool kids will disagree:

• Your first-aid kit is fucking huge! All you need (again, IMHO) to have immediately available are the things that you can self-apply if you get capped. I would be rocking a tourniquet, israeli, and a package or two of quick clot guaze/hemcon. Maybe a pack of celox and a NAS. Everything else in your aid kit is great to have, but it takes up space that could be holding implements of death and shittiness. Throw the rest of that crap in your assault pack.
• More mag pouches.
• A BFK set up on your strong side.

Simplify, dude. The tape, batteries, 550 cord and all that can go in your ruck. I can't imagine any scenario in which the bullets are flying and you suddenly need to swap out your camera's batteries or re-lace your boots on the fly.

[Shadowex3]

Dude unless you're a surgeon that's a bit of a... wierd... medkit and even the civilian knows that. Walt's got the right idea: your immediately accessable and always carried kit should contain basically what you need to keep someone alive long enough for someone better than you to deal with it. Off the top of my slightly out of practice and out of date head I'd do this with your kit:

- 2x Bolin Chest Seal (you have two lungs, people aren't decent enough to not shoot both)
- Small roll of Duct Tape
- 2x CAT
- 3x Israeli Bandage
- 3x Combat Gauze/Quikclot
- 0x Cravats (Isn't this the same as a triangular bandage?)
- 3x Combine Pad (if this is what I'm thinking they're small)
- 2x Bandage
- 1x Triangular Bandage
- 1x Field Dressing

- 10x Alcohol Pads
- 1x small blade.
- 1x Permanent Marker

A couple things I didn't quite recognize and researching them brought back things that are redundant (bandage vs israeli bandage vs field dressing) or may be a different size then what I see as a civilian but like I said I've been a bit out of the loop. The general concept should be sound, the point is to just hold someone together and stop blood loss while they get evacuated, you aren't going to be fixing them right there.

Now ofc if you ARE medically trained to the degree of putting people back together then ignore what I said and enjoy never paying for your own beer again.

[Slims]

I have to caveat that I am not a medic. I know what I have been taught by our medics and I trust them, but cannot always adequately explain the *why* behind a particular practice.

Remember that you blow out med kit is just one element of what your entire unit/team will carry. Each person carries very little because you are not planning on doing anything except stopping a bleed to your leg/arm by yourself....Your kit is for the person treating you to stop immediate bleeds/life threats and should be focused nearly entirely on that. Remember that your buddies will use items from their kits to treat you if necessary and a medic *should* be moments away. Likewise, if you walk up on someone who is shot through both legs you use their tourniquet first and then yours....bleeding stopped. The medic can do more if necessary.

The kit I have in my civilian blow-out bag is bigger because I don't expect the combat-style team effort. But it is not intended for self-aid either...There is no way on earth you are going to be able to pack your own wounds, etc.



My combat blow-out bag is pretty minimal and so is that of everyone I work with (except, obviously, for our medics).

It contains:
-Combat Pill Pack (NSAID, Antibiotics, etc) You take it when you get shot to make life easier down the road by preventing infection.
-Morphine auto injector/ fentanyl lollipop
-Combat Gauze x2
-Chest Seal x 2 (Aschermans, hydroseal, etc. Whatever we get)
-Tourniquet
-Nasophyrangeal airway
-Catheter for needle decompression
-Israeli Bandage
-Ace Wrap

It fits in a small pouch on my side. It is a lot smaller and more useful than an IFAK. Honestly, the only item I keep within easy reach of both arms is my tourniquet, which is rubber banded to my molle behind my radio pouch. You are not going to be applying your own catheter, airway, wound packing, etc. About the limit of what a soldier will be able to do by themselves is apply a tourniquet and morphine....But even then the morphine is likely a bad decision and our medics often with hold it so I am not worried about not being able to reach that.


A lot of our guys carrry trauma shears (the big heavy duty things) and they tuck nicely into the MOLLE loops on the outside of your kit, no need to bury them out of sight in a pouch.

[Plan9]

I'll preface with my usual: I'm just some idiot that went to college; I'm not a cool guy nor am I a combat medic.

My current work rig is the Diamondback Tactical / Battle Lab Predator. The pieces I've ordered to customize it haven't come in yet. I say that because it's important for everyone here to know that I wouldn't pay money for this armor / load carrying setup as it is now because it totally makes unicorns cry.



From right to left (as worn):

- Zippered pouch containing "Time to Work" blowout kit supplies: two compressed gauze, one packing gauze, emergency bandage
- Velcro pouch with tourniquet and emergency bandage as my immediate "oh shit, that's me that's bleeding" blowout kit
- three double AR mag pouches (6 GI mags *gag*)
- (above) double Glock mag pouch
- (above) Surefire 6P flashlight pouch (dummy-corded)
- radio pouch (Motorola "cop radio," handheld radio-to-face setup at 10:30 due to no hand mics available)
- junk pouch for gloves, snap links, head lamp, cigarette lighter, Clif bar

I don't really like this kinda kit (it's huge on me even with the thin plates) but it's better than general issue military gear I've worn. The AR mag pouches are total crap, the excessive use of Velcro closures on the chest band, obliques and cummerbund makes me wanna cry, etc. I'm going to end up putting a pistol holster in the kangaroo pouch and using my own mag pouches. Once I get a hand mic for the radio, I'll move that pouch to the 8 o'clock position and put my "Gimme Now" double mag pouch in its place. I think a Blue Force Gear padded battle belt w/ suspenders is going to end up riding under this setup in a few weeks, too. If I was equipped with Walt's tray table ass it wouldn't be a problem, but I'm built like an albino Ethiopian so it beats on me.

[KirStang]

For those plane jane USGI Double Mag pouches, I tied a bit of 550 cord to the grasp. Helps me get them open a little faster, and prevents the frayed grasp from getting caught up in pouches own velcro. :shrug: Helped me, not sure if that's a problem with your double mag pouches.

ETA: Thanks for all the feedback on my PC. I suppose the obvious consensus is that my IFAK is approaching "ruck sack status" (as Plan9 kindly put it). I will research some BOKs and reconfigure accordingly.

If you guys don't mind me asking, what do you all consider 'invaluable-mount-on-chest' items? (Understandably, mission drives gear, but for say, a rifleman on patrol, what is invaluable as immediate access?)

[Slims]

here is how I generally roll:

Magazines X6 (sometimes less)
Radio (not necessarily on your chest, but if you carry one, you need to be able to change channels/trouble shoot it)
Night Vision in soft pouch
Sheath Knife
Grenade x1 (at least)
Tourniquet handy with med pouch available somewhere
GPS
Also, I always keep a little accessory pouch right at the top of my chest that has a compass, a shrunk-down and laminated card with 9-line medevac, radio frequencies/callsigns for units in the area, Iridium numbers, and team battle rosters.
Because I usually don't bother to carry a pistol I also have a small fold-up drop bag on the side of my armor.
I usually have a couple extra single magazine pouches on my kit for those times when 6 mags just won't be enough, chemlights for assaults, whatever.

If I am carrying my pistol I may add a 9 millimeter magazine pouch or two but usually I don't bother....I just end up throwing an extra mag in my butpouch attached to my belt.

[Plan9]

Update: Diamondback Tactical / Battlelab (whatever they're called) pouches and armor carriers are quickly becoming "crap gear" in my opinion. What the hell, American R&D? I've already had the hard point stitching come out on several the pouches, their MOLLE lock bars were designed by retards, and their extraneous Velcro closures are mucho annoying. I haven't even been using this kit for a month straight and it's already failing on me. It has only seen hard use for maybe a week. By the end of this trip its going to be held together by 550 cord / duct tape. If you were thinking about purchasing the Predator vest or any of their pouches as seen on their website you'd be better served by clunky USGI Specialty Defense MOLLE II stuff.

I'm really disappointed, America. Hell, the made-in-Vietnam-by-dying-slave-children MOLLE pouches Blackhawk makes are more durable.

The whole thing makes me miss the IBA. Talk about things I thought I'd never say. You certainly wouldn't wanna jump or ruck the Predator.

Here's a picture of my schlocky, floppy, cumbersome albatross as it is today.



From right to left (as worn):

- Zippered pouch containing "Time to Work" blowout kit supplies: two compressed gauze, one packing gauze, emergency bandage
- Pouch with multi-tool and folding knife
- Velcro pouch with tourniquet and emergency bandage as my immediate "Oh shit, that's me that's bleeding!" blowout kit
- three double AR mag pouches (6 GI mags *gag*)
- (inside pouch) Glock 19 in holster with snap thumb break
- (inside pouch) single AR mag pouch
- double Glock mag pouch
- Surefire 6P flashlight in pouch (dummy-corded)
- (shoulder) radio pouch moved up high to use with/without hand mic (hand mics are a "creature comfort" according to my employer)
- junk pouch for gloves, snap links, head lamp, cigarette lighter, Clif bar, puppies, sunshine

...

Big tip of the hat to our boy Kirstang for mailing me that kangaroo pouch holster and mag pouch. It has made my job 100% easier.

[KirStang]

Redid the med kit:

- Quikclot, Israeli Bandage, second TQ in a double mag pouch.
- Maxpedition Padded Utility Pouch.
- Using a belt mounted IFAK with Bolin, SOFT-T, bigger quick clot, Israeli bandage etc.
- There's a slot on the Maxpedition Monkey Admin Pouch. I put my TQ on there with bandage rubberband retention.

Per Walt's suggestion, BFK on strong side in drop leg. Sidearm and multi-tool there too.

[Plan9]

Betterish. We'll set that aside. Now, let's talk about your thigh rig / Rambo knife / Leatherman problem.

Uh, so:

A: Thigh panels suck. And they're unnecessary for a basic kit. And they block useful pants pockets. You've had to run in them, right? It's awful.

B: Your Serpa CQC Sportster holster has to go. You have a thousand dollar armor setup and a $20 holster. If you're going to use a Serpa for a thigh rig, get the Serpa thigh rig. We don't need to beat the dead horse of "The Serpa is junk!" like those gut-toting dickheads on M4C/LF/Arf, but the particular holster you have in the picture is designed for gentle civilian concealed carry and it's scalloped quick draw shape (unnecessary for a drop leg, BTW) will catch on things and break, especially when hanging out on your leg. If you're going to use the SERPA holster, use the model with the full slide hood (Lvl 2 cop belt/drop leg) because it is more durable and will better protect your pistol (rear sights). Or use a Safariland or 5.11 or whatever. Point is: Use a durable, field grade holster (in both holster shell and mounting system) on kit that goes in the field. It doesn't matter how fast you can draw a sidearm if it isn't there to draw. I haven't seen the problem with you, but thigh rigs are meant to be thigh rigs and thus nowhere near the knee (coworkers).

C: Everybody goes through the Rambo knife phase. I did in Iraq in '03. Your Rambo knife is positioned where it will be a giant pain in the ass. I'd suggest getting a slightly smaller knife and you need to not have it on the front (lead edge) of your thigh where it'll bounce and hook on things as you run (Chunk: "...I hate nature!"), kneel, go the prone, maneuver inside vehicles and buildings, etc. What happens when you get into the rice paddy prone with your kit like that? Do you massage your bladder with that high speed skull crusher pommel? Anyway, I'd recommend keeping it on your belt, strong side, at the 4:30 ("strong side bayonet") so as to not interfere with your pistol draw. After about 6 months of being deployed in the regular army, you'll realize knives are really only good for opening MREs and cutting paracord and you'll probably wanna upgrade to a 3" or 4" fixed blade and EMT shears.

D: That poor Leatherman is just asking to get lost. That type of sheath sucks in general and the location is all bad. I'd recommend getting the Leatherman brand MOLLE case (heavy webbing w/ long Velcro flap; has a steel grommet in the bottom so you can stuff it with the pliers open, nice if you're using both hands) for it and move it onto your first line gear next to your belt-mounted Rambo knife (or second line gear if that's how you run). Your multi-tools will get far more use than your M4 when you're deployed so take good care of 'em.

And now for:

E: Get a decent fold-up dump pouch already. The Maxpedition rolly-polly or the 5.11 clone are about a thousand times better than your hip duffel / ass-mounted reserve parachute. You don't wanna have it get caught in a door or tangled up in your assault pack straps.

F: Why the hell do you have AR mags all over your battle belt? Are you a magical multicam octopus that can draw them with your spare hands? I'd stick to non-dominate hand side (roughly 10 to 12) with your preferred bullet facing and deal with the weak side reload slowdown. I'd also recommend running the bulk of them on your plate carrier (6 or so) and keeping one or two oh-shit AR mags on your left side near your pistol mags. Keep your mags where you'll instinctively go for them when you're using your dominate hand/shoulder.

G: Why do you have another giant IFAK on your belt? Wait... did you steal that one from my man cave? Anyway, it's like your took your CMCB (Chest Mounted CLS Bag) and split it into two parts. Make one small realistic kit, pick a location (vest or belt) and run with it. It's common to run a naked tourniquet on your plate carrier, but it still looks like you've got a ton of medical stuff on your setup. Consider how you'll be using the kit: you're taking care of you with the stuff you're wearing. You're not a medic, right? Don't carry a ton of you're not likely to use. Hell, the only reason I have as much shit as I do on my clunky ass Predator at work is because I'm the only dude on my "team" with any medical knowledge or medical supplies (aside from the stuff I bought for my guys). Sucks to be me in a gun fight.

H: What the hell do you have in that giant admin pouch if it's not holding your flashlight and Leatherman as seen in all the product pictures? Most people keep laminated cards with rosters and grids, a truncated map and a dummy-corded lensatic compass in there. As mondo as the Maxpedition Monkey pouch is on video and for storing a Baby Ruth during airsoft, in reality a flat zippered shingle is probably a better choice for the aforementioned. Don't clog up your workspace with an empty filing cabinet.

I: Where would you put your radio? In the MBITR pocket on your LBT 6094? MBITR should go on your body (ASIPs lunchbox will have to go in a pack). Always plan for comms. The radio is your single most useful tool and most deadly weapon. I realize this is civilian kit and you don't have either of these PRCs, but you'll likely be setting up your military-issue gear in a similar fashion and I wanted to mention it.

J: Speaking from experience with LC2, MOLLE, and fancy civilian shit that I wish I had back then... battle belts work a million times better when you hang suspenders on them under the armor. You saw the ancient 1980s shit I was rocking up until just recently when the BFG setup arrived. Suspenders allow you to run the battle belt a little looser and lower than possible with a stand-alone belt. This is good because running a tight belt at your hips inevitable leads to "Army Urkel" syndrome. A belt setup with suspenders as previously mentioned ran under a plate carrier such as yours is comfortable and tends to stay put.

You've got awesome top notch gear but you need to cut out the excess crap and organize your stuff to keep it as light and tight as possible. If you don't believe me, we'll get kitted up some day next year and I'll take you through the "Will this shit work?" obstacle course I use to evaluate my equipment.

...

All this is just my opinion as a non-athletic, non-shooting, non-military college dork, of course. I am a meat popsicle.

[Walt]

Jesus H. Christ, dude. Batman wants his belt back.

Have you tried grabbing a rifle mag from the belt while wearing the rest of your kit and a small backpack?

Lose the thigh contraption.

[Plan9]

We talkin' Michael Keaton or Christian Bale? Christian Bale was the tactical ninja Batman.

Michael Keaton was just rich and misunderstood (emo, but good; without the other stuff).

[Slims]

I think you may have missed the point with the prior med-kit discussion....You need to lean out your kit so you have LESS shit hanging off of you. If you decrease the size of your med-kit but add extra unnecessary shit on it defeats the purpose.

I think we all got sidetracked by the med-kit stuff and missed your belt, etc. in your prior posts.

If you really want to carry stuff on a battle belt, choose a few key items which will lay flat along the length of the belt. Throw a GP medium pouch on the back (getting rid of everything else) with an extra magazine and call it good.

Ditch the thigh-setup or at least buy a dedicated rig. Thigh rigs are outdated and don't suit ANY possible scenario you may find yourself in. They are slow to draw, slow you down when you have to run, twist around so you can't find your pistol, chafe the shit out of you and are generally uncomfortable. They will just get in the way for both gaming and real combat. Years ago they were popular for law enforcement SWAT types because there were no other holsters on the market that dropped low enough for use with body armor. That isn't the case now.

I still use a lightweight SERPA like what you have. However, I don't have it on a thigh rig and I have broken it entirely off my belt once. I superglued the next one on along with the screws, but it's still an imperfect solution.

Are you rocking a USP SOCOM 45? If so, I should probably remind you that that pistol was intended to be used as PRIMARY weapon. I.e. for people who couldn't carry a rifle. If you are setting your kit up for combat then put a (much) smaller pistol on it. If you are going for gaming then do whatever.

ditch the extra tac-light and just wear a head-lamp around your neck for reading maps, etc.

You need to consolidate your magazines. The only real exception may be a single holdout mag in the GP pouch (sideways) on your belt. Otherwise the mags on your belt will get destroyed while interfering with your ability to move around in your armor and getting snagged and dropped a lot.

I personally support having a good knife, but it can't interfere with anything. Nothing is as effective as a knife if a bad guy gets ahold of you. you can use your knife in that sort of situation with far more effect, control, and decreased risk (you won't have to worry about shoot-throughs into your teamm ates). However, it needs to be in a spot up against your trunk where you can access it with either hand. If it gets in the way of doing every day things then you defeat the purpose of having a tool designed to enhance your ability to do your job.

For a civilian/officer/gaming/etc. rig I would really only go with 4 magazines. 6 tops. If you are going to walk into a big fight and you know it you can plus up right ahead of time. otherwise you would have another half-dozen in your blow-out bag downrange and would be available if you needed them.

I would lean your med-pouch out a lot more. If it fits snugly into an IFAK then you are carrying twice what you need to.

You don't need more than 1 additional pistol magazine. Unless your weapon goes down in a close quarters fight where miraculously nobody gets wounded on either side (or you could take their now extra rifle) you won't need more than the magazine in your pistol. An extra is just for good luck. Anything outside and the pistol will be useless, no matter how many bullets you are trying to carry for it. People only carry pistols for CQB to get them to the next tactical pause in a fight...then they get their main gun up, use a breaching shotgun, steal one off a dead bad-guy, etc.


As mentioned a radio pouch is a must. BUT....don't just move stuff around to make room, get rid of something to make room.

you need to be able to fit in tight spaces, lay in the prone, roll over, and display other acts of combat agility (try climbing over a wall with your current setup). Even Plan 9 has way too much stuff for my tastes, and he has to be more or less self-sufficient downrange.







As a good excercise in minimalism I recommend going the following:

Take EVERYTHING off your kit, including side plates (they are wasted weight anyways)

Then add only these items:
4 magazines in 2 2-mag pouches.
1 Pistol Magazine w/ pouch
1 radio pouch
1 NVG pouch (not a big ass padded pouch though, something light.
1 med-pouch (GP Small, about half the size of an IFAK)
1 accessory pouch (kept empty!)
1 small GPS and 1 SMALL compass
Pistol w/ holster either on/about belt or directly on your kit.
1 (smaller) knife. Either hanging from the belt or up in your kit (preferable)
1 dump pouch (I like the one you have), rolled up, but on your non-firing side.


Now STOP!
wear your kit around like that for a bit. You don't need a thousand magazines, glasses hard-case, a special purpose container for your every single possession, etc.

Learn to get by without extra stuff and then slowly add one or two more pouches that do double duty at least.


Then modify your kit before each mission, providing time allows (it should be nice but not essential). I.E. if you are going to be clearing houses all day take the pistol and a few grenades (they can go in your dump pouch, or if you feel iffy about that put on a grenade pouch for the day). If you are going to be in the mountains, drop your pistol and belt all together (you won't want anything on your legs, believe me). If it is going to be a long term sustained fight then throw on a backpack with extra ammunition, etc.

Military vehicles (let alone civilian ones) have very little room. If you are 'big' with kit you will be constantly stuck which doesn't help anything. Weight is a huge factor in your maneuverability and susceptibility to injury. Also, when you have that much crap it keeps you from really using available cover, etc.

[KirStang]

Thanks for the tips. I'll remove everything and redo it according to suggestions.

Isn't the USP45F approximately the size of a Beretta? Yes it is large, but not too large for a service pistol? I have practiced reloads from the belt with all my kit on (in standing, kneeling and prone). Nonetheless, based on everyone's experiences and suggestions, I'll redo it and go for simplicity.

Thanks again.

[Slims]

...The Beretta was really intended for people who would not be issued a rifle and was standardized a long time ago when options were limited. It is a lot bigger (and heavier) than ideal for a backup gun. A Glock 19 or even 26 are pretty close to ideal for a secondary weapon.

[Plan9]

Shit, I wish all I had to be was self-sufficient.

...

I have zero weight here as far as saying that Slims' suggestions are based on real life experience as I'm a nobody; my dot of experience doesn't even show up on the map compared to his Texas-sized chunk, but what you need to remember in all this is that you're going to be in the regular army. I know regular army (that's all I know) and based on my experience his suggestions are good but not all are necessarily applicable to your individual situation. What you carry in the regular army is limited by certain retarded DoD policies, asinine unit practices, and the cold God MTOE (a list that dictates what items you'll even see) that will dictate what you do and how you do it. I mean, you don't get to choose how many mags you carry and what type of sidearm you want. They'll tell you what you have to have and sometimes where it goes. They'll probably say something like: "You will carry a basic load of 210 rounds 5.56mm and a M9 with 45 rounds 9mm." You won't be able to wear your own body armor (say hello to the 30 pound vest and the infamous dick flap for me) and you certainly won't be doing the same types of missions that our eccentric insomniac does... no, you'll be engaging in police call in the desert, laying out the Zodiac in the sand, and Monday morning vehicle maintenance... in your best uniform. Always keep that in mind.

In the regular army, whenever common sense and the rules clash, the always rules almost always win in the end. Even if it gets people killed.

You need to put overlay your mission with your requirements as a Velcro couch camo guy that remains bitterly subservient to desk jockeys.

...

If you're wondering why I have the kit that I do given the job that I have, it's because the mentality of the military gets carried over by brainwashed paperpushers. I don't get a choice here either. If I had a choice I would be running a rig more similar to that of the gnarly sand surfers listed in this thread. You've seen the rig I run at classes... it's light, flat, and doesn't have any extraneous bullshit: no Rambo knife, a small BOK, four AR mags. When I get the urge to buy another armor setup (fuck you, SC), I assure you it will be very similar to what I've got going on in the pictures below.

[Walt]

I like this set up for gaming. Of course your needs are different than mine.

Basic plate carrier:
Triple pistol mag pouch w/ flashlight and 2 x G17 mags. Went with the G17 mags not so much for extra capacity; they are just bigger and easier to grab quickly.
Knife
6 x rifle mags
Tourniquet rubber-banded to side of mag pouch.

Belt:
G19 in a SERPA drop holster
Stuff sack

[Slims]

Walt has the right idea for a rig that is not going to see combat as part of an organized military unit (hence, no MBITR pouch). It is lean. If you are not planning on taking your armor on your next deployment then his setup is close to what you want.

Think of it the same way as someone who is just getting into backpacking...They try to take everything but the kitchen sink because they *think* they need that stuff.

But by the time they get to the point where they can through-hike the AT they are down to 30 pounds fully loaded for a weeks walking and they have everything they need.

Kit is the same way. If you try to add all the flashy things available onto it you will look like the michelin man and be so heavy you can't cover much ground.

The Army's policies on what kit is 'essential' are absurd, recognize them and conform when you have to, but don't build your personal kit around political-liability based preparedness.

Plan9's posted kit above is pretty close to what you should end up with on final wash even if you are trying to set yours up for use on a deployment. But he is right that you are going to have to carry extra bullshit just *because* so leave room for it.


Don't let Plan9 undersell the advice he is giving. He has plenty of time deployed and has been around quite a bit now. Also, he knows what will/won't get you in trouble with your unit. We can both advise you how you *should* be allowed to set your gear up, but he knows what will really fly.