The Militiaman's Load. What "Wrong" Looks Like. Fight light and live.

[EJR914]

The Militiaman's Load. What "Wrong" Looks Like. Fight light and live.

Ran into a member of a local community defense unit yesterday at the hospital. He recognized me from the gun shows and started up a conversation about preps and equipment. He has a couple of guys who are into "do it like Uncle Sam does it" and asked for my advice on how to cure the gear disease. Difficult, I said, but not impossible. First, I told this promising young unit leader to look up this video:

WHAT WRONG LOOKS LIKE:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=1wCWiWDELrA

Next, I asked him a bit about his AO, the likely threats he was preparing his unit for, how they intended to shoot, move and communicate, and the ages and physical fitness of his guys. On the last count his unit is better than most, but still the tendency to acquire every bit of gear and prepare for every contingency has turned some of his guys into slowly moving forts, also known as easy targets.

Their AO is relatively large for their unit size and exigencies may require moving across it through woods at best speed by shank's mare -- that's on foot to those who don't understand old codgerese.



M1956 Load Bearing Equipment with four cotton duck canvas Universal Small Arms Ammunition Pouches (designed to accommodate various ammo loads, such as a folded bandoleer containing six 8-round clips of M1 .30-06 ammunition or two BAR magazines or four 30 round M-2 Carbine magazines or two M14 20 round magazines or four 20 round M16 magazines), two canteens (with cup) and buttpack.



M1956 web gear from the front. (Lose the E-Tool, it only slows a maneuver warfare militiaman down. If you REALLY think you'll need to dig in, permit no more than one E-Tool per two-man buddy team.)

MUCH MUCH MUCH MORE CAN BE FOUND HERE AT THIS WEBSITE:  http://sipseystreetirregulars.blogspot.com/2011/08/praxis-militiamans-load-what-wrong.html

I'm not saying that I completely agree with his choices, but he does have one thing right.  Fight LIGHT!  The Militiaman's load needs to be very light.  These are just a few examples that he likes.  Find out what works best for you in your AO.

Fight light, whoever, Shoots, Moves, and Communicates the best is going to win the gun fight!  You can't win a gun fight if you are bogged down with too much gear for every contingency. 

Remember, Shoot, Move, and Communicate! 

[tominphx]

My whole idea around anything like this is to generally keep it to 2 things, things that let me kill other people, and things that keep me alive. So that generally means ammo, and trauma kits. It may mean some water, especially here in AZ in the summer, but I like using a camelbak that can come off quickly if I need it to.

But if I get to the point where I can't easily go prone, and get back up with gear on, it's too much.

[UnBroken]

that video looked like a turtle having a seizure. 


the rule of thumb if we ever ave to use our gear is : get in get out.

i dont carry body armor anymore i ave around 120 rounds on me when i suit up and go and half of that is on my rifle. remember this is not a real military group. for us it  will be hit and run..so pack light boys and girls  [img]http://bestsmileys.com/ar

[EJR914]

Yep, its going to be hit and run for us, gentlemen.   [img]http://bestsmileys.com/ar

[Currahee]

Not to switch this from a gear thread to a tactics thread but here is something from my website....

There is a saying that is frequently attributed to the Marines? ?Always have a plan to kill every motherfucker in sight.?  I?m not sure where it really came from, and I have heard many versions.  But this is really the opposite of what your ?default plan? should be.  I know it sounds cowardly, but the default plan of the guerrilla or citizen soldier should be to run like hell.

Your tactics, your equipment and your training should always be geared to this idea.  The US military is willing to trade lives for objectives.  Over the years they have become very adept at minimizing the cost, but when a man dies there is a replacement ready to take their place and they can always default to vastly superior firepower.

The goal of the citizen soldier should be to survive and stay in the fight.  You don?t have a replacement waiting to take over your life and feed your family.  I?m not saying never take a risk, all conflict is risky? but planning for the withdrawal up front, if it becomes necessary, will prevent your force from becoming an ineffective rabble.

From http://www.everycitizenasoldier.org/id14.html

[Veritas]

Well said, and your website kicks ass.

[militaryman84]

Load out is mission specific to me but yeah if I'm just patrolling my land these days it's light. Plate carrier with 12 mags on it. Rifle. Pistol with 3 mags. Basic med, optics, and a few small items.

[Reaver]

Yep, its going to be hit and run for us, gentlemen.   [img]http://bestsmileys.com/ar

 [URL=http://www.smileyvault.co

[TreadOnMeNot]

that video looked like a turtle having a seizure. 


the rule of thumb if we ever ave to use our gear is : get in get out.

i dont carry body armor anymore i ave around 120 rounds on me when i suit up and go and half of that is on my rifle. remember this is not a real military group. for us it  will be hit and run..so pack light boys and girls  [img]http://bestsmileys.com/ar

  [URL=http://www.smileyvault.co [URL=http://www.smileyvault.co

[TheHossUSMC]

There is nothing wrong with wearing armor. I think there is a lot to be said for being mobile, but if you can't hack a plate carrier and an assault pack then you need to get out and PT.  In my experience most preppers/ patriots I have met are way out of shape, I mean i'm out of shape, but some of these guys couldn't run a mile or three in gear.

[militaryman84]

There is nothing wrong with wearing armor. I think there is a lot to be said for being mobile, but if you can't hack a plate carrier and an assault pack then you need to get out and PT.  In my experience most preppers/ patriots I have met are way out of shape, I mean i'm out of shape, but some of these guys couldn't run a mile or three in gear.

Agreed! If you can't hump a plate carrier and mags you need some gym time. Even when I have a big load out it's nothing like what I humped when I was operational!

[UnBroken]

There is nothing wrong with wearing armor. I think there is a lot to be said for being mobile, but if you can't hack a plate carrier and an assault pack then you need to get out and PT.  In my experience most preppers/ patriots I have met are way out of shape, I mean i'm out of shape, but some of these guys couldn't run a mile or three in gear.

i understand this thought but if i PT 5-6 times a week twice a day. i believe that wearing armor for me would be pointless. im am very quick and if i add my heavy winter cloths (AO is Michigan ) my pack , my sidearm and rifle. i can still be quick but i i add another 30-45 lbs on top of that. i would be dragging ass by comparison ... the weight sucks and some of the preppers are very out of shape. i agree. but i am not and i can only speak for myself.

another thought is propper medical care. I and my wife are both certified EMT-I's and in our communities we have 3 other people in the medical field.. we figured that if in a WROL/SHTF life. you may not always have the ammount of Proper medical care( meds, Bandages, ECT...) so you will be pron to infection..

if you get hit in the vest ( most people will aim for the head if they see a vest) then you will be dealing with broken bones... very painful and if a bone  goes into your lungs or knocks you out .. then your enemy has the chance for a follow up shot.

Just my .02 [url=http://www.freesmileys.or MERICA

[UnBroken]

There is nothing wrong with wearing armor. I think there is a lot to be said for being mobile, but if you can't hack a plate carrier and an assault pack then you need to get out and PT.  In my experience most preppers/ patriots I have met are way out of shape, I mean i'm out of shape, but some of these guys couldn't run a mile or three in gear.

Agreed! If you can't hump a plate carrier and mags you need some gym time. Even when I have a big load out it's nothing like what I humped when I was operational!

Ah the good old days of humping 100+ lbs while in 120 degree weather. trying to run around   100 yards and feeling like a damn turtle  [URL=http://www.smileyvault.co

[militaryman84]

There is nothing wrong with wearing armor. I think there is a lot to be said for being mobile, but if you can't hack a plate carrier and an assault pack then you need to get out and PT.  In my experience most preppers/ patriots I have met are way out of shape, I mean i'm out of shape, but some of these guys couldn't run a mile or three in gear.

i understand this thought but if i PT 5-6 times a week twice a day. i believe that wearing armor for me would be pointless. im am very quick and if i add my heavy winter cloths (AO is Michigan ) my pack , my sidearm and rifle. i can still be quick but i i add another 30-45 lbs on top of that. i would be dragging ass by comparison ... the weight sucks and some of the preppers are very out of shape. i agree. but i am not and i can only speak for myself.

another thought is propper medical care. I and my wife are both certified EMT-I's and in our communities we have 3 other people in the medical field.. we figured that if in a WROL/SHTF life. you may not always have the ammount of Proper medical care( meds, Bandages, ECT...) so you will be pron to infection..

if you get hit in the vest ( most people will aim for the head if they see a vest) then you will be dealing with broken bones... very painful and if a bone  goes into your lungs or knocks you out .. then your enemy has the chance for a follow up shot.

Just my .02

Not to be a dick dude but getting hit in a hard plate isn't going to break bones. Thats tv make believe. Plus it beats a sucking chest wound. I can tell you at least 10 people I call friends that wouldn't be walking around if it wasn't for their plate.

[UnBroken]

[/quote]

Not to be a dick dude but getting hit in a hard plate isn't going to break bones. Thats tv make believe. Plus it beats a sucking chest wound. I can tell you at least 10 people I call friends that wouldn't be walking around if it wasn't for their plate.
[/quote]

it depends on distance.. and what is used on you. ...I dont think i have watched a TV show that talks about this... the only thing that i can compare this to is my time in the Marines. My best friend being a Phyiscial Therapiest  for the Army .....i am not knocking Plates in anyway but like alot of everything else.... its all about the user and what they feel is needed.

not trying to start a fight just trying to get my point across.

[militaryman84]

Fair enough dude. Everybody has to make there choices. I do run but not as much as when I was operational. I lift a lot and always have and I think it really helps for taking the load.

[UnBroken]

Yea bro.. i Lifted alot about a year ago... the i started Circut Training... that shit Works big time.. I also run  alot more now then i did a year ago... also im reinlisting into the Army and  they make Vets have a Body fat percentage of 21% or lower. so Circut training works perfect for buliding muscle and burning fat ...

[militaryman84]

We did a lot of Cross Fit circut at Ft. Bragg. It does get your wheels under you. These days though I do mostly power moves. Heavy squat, deads, and cleans. I keep the body fat off by eating clean. I feel way better since getting rid of sugar and fat and keeping my protien high and carbs complex. I feel like Im 25 again lol! Good luck!

[TheHossUSMC]

I'm a fat bitch, but I can still easily hump 45-65 lbs of kit around the Arizona desert in the middle of July.

I'm just saying that light and fast is good, but light, fast and capable is better.

When I was in the Corps I got my nickname because I was known to always have the most shit and always hump the most weight. Needless to say I almost always got the 240 and the A bag lol. I doubt I could do that in the shape i'm in now, but we are talking about 6-12 lbs of plates here people.

[Ghost]

Plates are too hard to get/find here in Canada, at least for me. So, fuck em. I'll just pull a Matrix and dodge all the bullets

[militaryman84]

I'm a fat bitch, but I can still easily hump 45-65 lbs of kit around the Arizona desert in the middle of July.

I'm just saying that light and fast is good, but light, fast and capable is better.

When I was in the Corps I got my nickname because I was known to always have the most shit and always hump the most weight. Needless to say I almost always got the 240 and the A bag lol. I doubt I could do that in the shape i'm in now, but we are talking about 6-12 lbs of plates here people.

You big fuckers always get stuck with the MAG lol! Kinda glad I'm only 5ft6 haha!