Why any soldier or journalist ever wanted more damned gear to carry long has mystified me. Call me "Stock Duke." If you issue me it, I'll carry it. If it breaks, I get to tell you your thing broke, and you have to give me another one before I do my job some more. If I take something else of my own along, and it breaks, and it interferes with my mission/job, I look like a retard or worse. I remember one guy wanted to carry a freaking Leatherman around. *** was he going to do, disassemble the mohammedean heresy all by himself?
Recent Vets. Modifcations to Army service rifles?
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rbernie
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I really did have a good time. I excelled at everything that we did. I even got promoted at the end of my OSUT and me and 5 others were in front of the company. 2 highest PT scores, the best marksman and 3 people out of about 140 got promoted. I would do it all over again if I had the chance!
geronimo509: "I even got promoted at the end of my OSUT ..."
You do realize that some of your company went into OSUT at E-4, and even more at E-3, right?
You do realize that some of your company went into OSUT at E-4, and even more at E-3, right?
I remember one guy wanted to carry a freaking Leatherman around. *** was he going to do, disassemble the mohammedean heresy all by himself?
Being one of those guys, I found it and the issue Gerber multipliers darned convenient at times. Not everyone is humping steel in the field, by a 10 to 1 ratio.
When I was 11B, we opted to keep as much junk off ourselves, our equipment, and the mission as possible. The modern infantryman carries WAY too much, and suffers more from the amount of crap issued than the limited risk of not having it. Even as an MP with 2/3's of the basic ammo load, I was carrying 45 pounds at BrightStar up 6 flights pretty often on 12 hour shifts. Full combat load? What can I drop off I really don't need becomes the hourly question.
For those going in, save your money and don't plan on buying any weapons mods. Those toys simply become a problem - your first line leaders will look sideways at any high speed low drag stuff on a newb. It'll take up space in your limited storage at your first assignment, and like as not, won't see the light of day for months. It adds unnecessary and even useless weight to the weapon, makes it harder to carry and manuever, and becomes very tiresome. It's also pilferable, and causes more paperwork when stolen, another cause of heartburn for everyone. On top of that, often the Army gets you their's and insists you do use it, putting your's right back in the footlocker. At that point you actually begin to hate it because now they make you maintain to their expectations. It becomes something else eating up your free time.
Buy a good laptop when they let you actually have stuff, you'll want to email Mom, your girl, download stuff for your MP3, watch DVD's, and log on here from Afghanistan.
Being one of those guys, I found it and the issue Gerber multipliers darned convenient at times. Not everyone is humping steel in the field, by a 10 to 1 ratio.
When I was 11B, we opted to keep as much junk off ourselves, our equipment, and the mission as possible. The modern infantryman carries WAY too much, and suffers more from the amount of crap issued than the limited risk of not having it. Even as an MP with 2/3's of the basic ammo load, I was carrying 45 pounds at BrightStar up 6 flights pretty often on 12 hour shifts. Full combat load? What can I drop off I really don't need becomes the hourly question.
For those going in, save your money and don't plan on buying any weapons mods. Those toys simply become a problem - your first line leaders will look sideways at any high speed low drag stuff on a newb. It'll take up space in your limited storage at your first assignment, and like as not, won't see the light of day for months. It adds unnecessary and even useless weight to the weapon, makes it harder to carry and manuever, and becomes very tiresome. It's also pilferable, and causes more paperwork when stolen, another cause of heartburn for everyone. On top of that, often the Army gets you their's and insists you do use it, putting your's right back in the footlocker. At that point you actually begin to hate it because now they make you maintain to their expectations. It becomes something else eating up your free time.
Buy a good laptop when they let you actually have stuff, you'll want to email Mom, your girl, download stuff for your MP3, watch DVD's, and log on here from Afghanistan.
Yes I do we had a 40 year old specialist, a bunch of PFC's and more of PVT and PVt2. I went in as an E1. Sorry I didnt have the opportunity to go to college before I joined so I could go in as an E3 or E4. I am in college now though and they pay for it.
You seriously find a pocket multi-tool to be an unreasonable addition to a soldier's kit? Even if just as backup to other tools, that is a tiny bit of weight for a potentially very useful item.
I've read that such things are among the most requested additions to "care packages" from home.
Bizarre.
-Sam
True, but it isn't as exciting to tell the truth. Up at 4 pt till 5:30 shower and eat by 6:15 Train till dark w/break for lunch and dinner. Clean and stow gear. Rack at 21:00, so I can do it again tomorrow. Constant "fear" that you might be the one singled out as the cause for the next 2 miles of doubletime. I loved the psychological beating required to turn young men into soldiers, NOT. I would not trade it for any experience I've had since, or before.
Yeah, a good Leatherman or even a good pocket knife would not be what we were referring to when talking about going overboard. Example: we once had a kid, right out of AIT and jump school, show up for formation before a little training exercise wearing a ghillie suit. Not only did he get smoked (and ridiculed) but also his squaddies since no one policed him up prior to the formation. Don't be that guy.
Sam1911: "You seriously find a pocket multi-tool to be an unreasonable addition to a soldier's kit? Even if just as backup to other tools, that is a tiny bit of weight for a potentially very useful item."
Okay, then; you carry it. I'll use yours.
I'm of the "Bat Guano" school of load ("You don't think I'd go into combat with a pocket full of change, do ya?").
Okay, then; you carry it. I'll use yours.
I'm of the "Bat Guano" school of load ("You don't think I'd go into combat with a pocket full of change, do ya?").
Second that. Mr. Leatherman sees countless uses for me when working with electronic doodads on trucks.
Never been a soldier. Can appreciate not carting around a bunch of stuff rarely used though.
Have spent a fair amount of time at various places doing startup work on equipment. Used to cart around all kinds of tools and meters and manuals and such. I have since pared it down to a laptop computer and whats in my pocket (a small flashlight on my key ring and folding blade pocket knife). Don't even bring my Leatherman anymore. I even took a bunch of keys off my keyring that I rarely used.
If I need a tool or a meter or something I did not carry in with me, there is someone at the plant has one I can borrow. Better yet, there is a good chance I can get him to do whatever I need for me.
Have spent a fair amount of time at various places doing startup work on equipment. Used to cart around all kinds of tools and meters and manuals and such. I have since pared it down to a laptop computer and whats in my pocket (a small flashlight on my key ring and folding blade pocket knife). Don't even bring my Leatherman anymore. I even took a bunch of keys off my keyring that I rarely used.
If I need a tool or a meter or something I did not carry in with me, there is someone at the plant has one I can borrow. Better yet, there is a good chance I can get him to do whatever I need for me.
Yeah I can understand that. I wasn't planning on buying the stuff before I went in, but once I'm out of bct and have a better idea of my living situation, this is stuff I'd be buying anyways for my personal use if I couldn't throw it on the service rifle.
SpecialKalltheway: "i would have been rolling on the ground laughing had I seen him running up to formation."
"Private Sasquatch, front and center!"
"Private Sasquatch, front and center!"
I always made friends with the supply guys, the NBC guys,
the medics, the cooks, the motor pool dudes, the fuel guys,
the TOC dudes and even the arms room guy.
(After I slung that M60 against a wall, we became pretty good friends . lol)
I was like the Radar of my unit and for sure one of the 'dirty dozen' types.
If you needed something, I was the guy who could get it.
This held true for most of the 'off all the wall and seemingly impossible' operations as well.
When they needed it done.
The battalion commander always called on me
as well as the company commanders, section leaders and TOPS of the other four companies we had at the time.
(Even though officially in my 201 file,
I was described as being more akin to an underworld criminal than a soldier)
Being the 'go to' commo guy in the support company...
I had many great opportunities.
(HHC 92nd ENGR. BTLN 'FORCECOM', attached to the 24th Infantry Division, Ft. Stewart)
I got to be the driver for high profile visitors to our posts some times.
I was assigned to a full bird colonel one time, to ride around in the woods and evaluate
weekend warriors training exercises. That guy was cool.
I got to go to the range a lot as commo support...
and I got to go play in the gas chamber when units went for those little fun trips.
I loved it, unlike the FIRST time those drill sergeants surprised us with CS in basic.
Oh, I also made friends with the tank guys from another unit too.
You'd be surprised how easy it is to hoes off a jeep and a 5/4 with their wash rack...
as opposed to the water hose our unit had to do the job.
Bottom line, they will issue what they 'think' you need.
If you surround yourself with guys like above.
You may be able to get some stuff you would not of been issued.
the medics, the cooks, the motor pool dudes, the fuel guys,
the TOC dudes and even the arms room guy.
(After I slung that M60 against a wall, we became pretty good friends . lol)
I was like the Radar of my unit and for sure one of the 'dirty dozen' types.
If you needed something, I was the guy who could get it.
This held true for most of the 'off all the wall and seemingly impossible' operations as well.
When they needed it done.
The battalion commander always called on me
as well as the company commanders, section leaders and TOPS of the other four companies we had at the time.
(Even though officially in my 201 file,
I was described as being more akin to an underworld criminal than a soldier)
Being the 'go to' commo guy in the support company...
I had many great opportunities.
(HHC 92nd ENGR. BTLN 'FORCECOM', attached to the 24th Infantry Division, Ft. Stewart)
I got to be the driver for high profile visitors to our posts some times.
I was assigned to a full bird colonel one time, to ride around in the woods and evaluate
weekend warriors training exercises. That guy was cool.
I got to go to the range a lot as commo support...
and I got to go play in the gas chamber when units went for those little fun trips.
I loved it, unlike the FIRST time those drill sergeants surprised us with CS in basic.
Oh, I also made friends with the tank guys from another unit too.
You'd be surprised how easy it is to hoes off a jeep and a 5/4 with their wash rack...
as opposed to the water hose our unit had to do the job.
Bottom line, they will issue what they 'think' you need.
If you surround yourself with guys like above.
You may be able to get some stuff you would not of been issued.
If you didn't carry it and criticized me for carrying it you would not use mine. I served with some lightweights (very few) and if they found themselves without, thats usually how they did.
If a lucky Half Dollar or a 4 oz. multi-tool overloads you then you might be one that goes with empty mags to save the weight of all those bullets.
sohcgt2: "If you didn't carry it and criticized me for carrying it you would not use mine."
I would if I told you to turn it over.
I would if I told you to turn it over.
I went to OSUT at Harmony Church back in 1981...NOONE had any "personally acuired gear or weapons" that survived the reception station shakedown(at least none were flashed openly).Hell,on those occasions we got to the PX,if you bought any thing "not issue";it had to get vetted by the Drills...knives and such you could buy during the zero week between Basic an dInfantry School;but that involved having them signed into your personal stuff for storage.
No ghillie suits,but oneof my friends provided us all with both amusement AND extra PT by doing a fair approximation of Marcelle Marceax( the mime)when we got camo'd up for part of an SQT.....that was fun enough;but one of the Samoan kids had been trying to get off of the (contraband) cigarettes by doing dip (also contraband)-he accidentaly swallowed it at the start of the Rifleman Run.General hilarity ensued
No ghillie suits,but oneof my friends provided us all with both amusement AND extra PT by doing a fair approximation of Marcelle Marceax( the mime)when we got camo'd up for part of an SQT.....that was fun enough;but one of the Samoan kids had been trying to get off of the (contraband) cigarettes by doing dip (also contraband)-he accidentaly swallowed it at the start of the Rifleman Run.General hilarity ensued
yes you can, but
I had a friend who was a chaplains assistant, he wanted all the licky's and chewys... So he made friends with someone at battalion and got his personal (non issue) m4 shipped in the arms room. He was in a Special Forces support unit and thought that it would slip through an official crack. Worked will until they inventoried to get out of country, then he came up as missing his weapon (his issued one was in permanent storage in the arms room) and while his gun <intentional) had made on the company inventory, that created a huge mess when it was compared to the master inventory. He was a NCO, when I ran into him he had made it back up to specialist, and got kicked out a cushy job.
So yes you can, but really after the first ruck march you will despise the extra 5lb of stuff.
I had a friend who was a chaplains assistant, he wanted all the licky's and chewys... So he made friends with someone at battalion and got his personal (non issue) m4 shipped in the arms room. He was in a Special Forces support unit and thought that it would slip through an official crack. Worked will until they inventoried to get out of country, then he came up as missing his weapon (his issued one was in permanent storage in the arms room) and while his gun <intentional) had made on the company inventory, that created a huge mess when it was compared to the master inventory. He was a NCO, when I ran into him he had made it back up to specialist, and got kicked out a cushy job.
So yes you can, but really after the first ruck march you will despise the extra 5lb of stuff.
I talked to two Army Troops that just got back from Iraq, both stated, no one was allowed to modify any weapon in any way. If you were caught doing so it was at least a article 15.
If it's issued you can HAVE IT INSTALLED. You are only allowed to clean your weapon. The Armorer is technically only allowed to 20 level work and keep the arms room straight. He does keep the inventory so be cool not a suck up and they should hook you up. The 45B is the guy that does the 30 level work. Which is most of the real work. Wait till you get home from a deployment then get your toys, you'll atleast know whats worth having and whats not. THE MOST IMPORTANT GADGET ON YOUR RIFLE IS THE ONE YOU ACTUALLY USE.
Mostly good advice (though everyone should be careful how they refer to women on THR: this is not a boy's club or a locker room).
Don't buy anything yet.
Wait to see what you'll be issued.
And last...pray you're not made an 11C in a light infantry unit. I was.
In the two infantry units I've served with (1/5th and 180th), any reasonable changes could be made to the weapon, as long as it could be returned to as-issued condition. If you're not issued everything you'd like, don't add anything huge and eyecatching.
Luck,
John
Don't buy anything yet.
Wait to see what you'll be issued.
And last...pray you're not made an 11C in a light infantry unit. I was.
In the two infantry units I've served with (1/5th and 180th), any reasonable changes could be made to the weapon, as long as it could be returned to as-issued condition. If you're not issued everything you'd like, don't add anything huge and eyecatching.
Luck,
John
there's some good wisdom here;
wait till you get where you are going, you don't even know if you are gonna make it through basic yet, and you don't know your permanent MOS yet.
Weight is a killer; a total killer, Dude above is right; you could be fine carrying something for 10 hrs, but when 15 and 20 comes down the line, you are gonna
wish you were just 1 lb lighter.
" I don't do the beer thing"... yeah... yes... of course . You have no vices now, I understand that. I never thought i would smoke, or especially dip, before I went in. Smoking became a very casual thing, if I had free time, back at the barracks, if I went out clubbin. Dipping however, that became epic, especially when you are in the field, for considerable amounts of time; and i do mean in the field, even when on Deployments. I remember one time, an extended jungle stay, when deployed in the Philippines- if you were a dude who brought extra cans of Skoal or Cope, you were walking Jesus.
word to the wise, a lot of dudes think they are going to " really save my money, since the govt. is paying for all my stuff...." SAVE YOUR MONEY, SEND IT BACK HOME, OR TO A BANK ACCT., GET IT OUT OF YOUR REACH!!!!
If you do make it, and get to a permanent Division, and your are a 11b of some kind, or other type front line, then just check out what other folks are using, and get what they got. They got it for a reason.
wait till you get where you are going, you don't even know if you are gonna make it through basic yet, and you don't know your permanent MOS yet.
Weight is a killer; a total killer, Dude above is right; you could be fine carrying something for 10 hrs, but when 15 and 20 comes down the line, you are gonna
wish you were just 1 lb lighter.
" I don't do the beer thing"... yeah... yes... of course . You have no vices now, I understand that. I never thought i would smoke, or especially dip, before I went in. Smoking became a very casual thing, if I had free time, back at the barracks, if I went out clubbin. Dipping however, that became epic, especially when you are in the field, for considerable amounts of time; and i do mean in the field, even when on Deployments. I remember one time, an extended jungle stay, when deployed in the Philippines- if you were a dude who brought extra cans of Skoal or Cope, you were walking Jesus.
word to the wise, a lot of dudes think they are going to " really save my money, since the govt. is paying for all my stuff...." SAVE YOUR MONEY, SEND IT BACK HOME, OR TO A BANK ACCT., GET IT OUT OF YOUR REACH!!!!
If you do make it, and get to a permanent Division, and your are a 11b of some kind, or other type front line, then just check out what other folks are using, and get what they got. They got it for a reason.
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