Professional Soldiers ® - View Single Post

**Eagle5US** · 01-26-2007, 06:56

Nice to see the thread back to life...a couple of returns to your well made points-

-SERPA button thing sucks...I agree. Saw the video-recommended to everyone here for the past 4 months to find another MOLLE mount, small profile holster. Doing so showed me how few of them that there are out there. The SERPA is a much better option than the nylon flappy thing that I had it in. I had originally tried to replace it with the friction retention kydex-but I had a buddy do a "struggle excercise" with me and it was too easily removed. I optioned getting a MOLLE mount for my 6004-but didn't want to takedown my drop leg rig. I may purchase a second 6004 with that platform later-haven't decided yet.

-The SOP thing: I quit argueing my points, and quit trying to figure out why (for some reason) they weren't valid. I set my (mixed) gear up on the ACU platform and everyone seemed happy. Control issue? Makeing sure I knew who was boss? Pointing out that the attached SF guy from another post / unit / background, etc... isn't "special"-and that's what they needed?
Roger Sir-Airborne. Please excuse me while I move out and draw fire.

-ACU Carriers: This unit accepts only 1-the issued one with all bells and whistles. The only reason I wasn't wearing the water wings (deltoid protectors) is because the door in the 1114 absolutely wouldn't close. I still heard about it.

-Bells and Whistles / Gear to Patrol: AWSOME PHOTO!!!Comparitively to others here-I am LIGHT on the gadgets / bells / and whistles. Some of these folks have their IBA loaded with stuff, then another rig overtop. I am considered a "minimalist" here if you can believe it. No doubt you moved much more quickly and quietly, probably fought longer, and could hide much more easily. The only real benefit of dressing like an armadillo is the fact we can take a few rounds and still be breathing out of our mouths instead of the holes in our chest.
Agruably it is a HUGE tradeoff-speed and mobility for protection. We try and counter those points with violence and firepower during engagements. Though I won't go into specific numbers-I will say that I have treated very very very few US soldiers for GSW's-and those coming in from IED's generally have their torso intact. Conversely, treating the IA (many of whom refuse to wear their boday armor) has been the opposite dynamic coming across my table.

-Elbow and Knee pads: I was wishy on these initially-previous "everyplace" has been in a dirt / jungle / "softer ground" environment. These pads are an absolute necessity with all the primary patrol sectors being concrete / rock / gravel / asphalt etc. My knees are old-these pads helped a LOT. The bottom strap is not elastic so they didn't seem to bunch up behind my knees every time I sat down in the vehicle-nor did they move around. The elbow pads were MOST useful when getting banged around in the vehicle. Best 20 bucks I have spent in awhile.

-Personal Weapons in Theater: Big no-no. However, there was one CSM who I saw out and about who had removed ALL f the blueing from his M9. Looked weird to be certian.

Soooooo... yes the SERPA sucks-but it's better than what I had.

Eagle

01-26-2007, 06:56	#52
Eagle5US Quiet Professional Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Tampa Posts: 2,519	Nice to see the thread back to life...a couple of returns to your well made points- -SERPA button thing sucks...I agree. Saw the video-recommended to everyone here for the past 4 months to find another MOLLE mount, small profile holster. Doing so showed me how few of them that there are out there. The SERPA is a much better option than the nylon flappy thing that I had it in. I had originally tried to replace it with the friction retention kydex-but I had a buddy do a "struggle excercise" with me and it was too easily removed. I optioned getting a MOLLE mount for my 6004-but didn't want to takedown my drop leg rig. I may purchase a second 6004 with that platform later-haven't decided yet. -The SOP thing: I quit argueing my points, and quit trying to figure out why (for some reason) they weren't valid. I set my (mixed) gear up on the ACU platform and everyone seemed happy. Control issue? Makeing sure I knew who was boss? Pointing out that the attached SF guy from another post / unit / background, etc... isn't "special"-and that's what they needed? Roger Sir-Airborne. Please excuse me while I move out and draw fire. -ACU Carriers: This unit accepts only 1-the issued one with all bells and whistles. The only reason I wasn't wearing the water wings (deltoid protectors) is because the door in the 1114 absolutely wouldn't close. I still heard about it. -Bells and Whistles / Gear to Patrol: AWSOME PHOTO!!!Comparitively to others here-I am LIGHT on the gadgets / bells / and whistles. Some of these folks have their IBA loaded with stuff, then another rig overtop. I am considered a "minimalist" here if you can believe it. No doubt you moved much more quickly and quietly, probably fought longer, and could hide much more easily. The only real benefit of dressing like an armadillo is the fact we can take a few rounds and still be breathing out of our mouths instead of the holes in our chest. Agruably it is a HUGE tradeoff-speed and mobility for protection. We try and counter those points with violence and firepower during engagements. Though I won't go into specific numbers-I will say that I have treated very very very few US soldiers for GSW's-and those coming in from IED's generally have their torso intact. Conversely, treating the IA (many of whom refuse to wear their boday armor) has been the opposite dynamic coming across my table. -Elbow and Knee pads: I was wishy on these initially-previous "everyplace" has been in a dirt / jungle / "softer ground" environment. These pads are an absolute necessity with all the primary patrol sectors being concrete / rock / gravel / asphalt etc. My knees are old-these pads helped a LOT. The bottom strap is not elastic so they didn't seem to bunch up behind my knees every time I sat down in the vehicle-nor did they move around. The elbow pads were MOST useful when getting banged around in the vehicle. Best 20 bucks I have spent in awhile. -Personal Weapons in Theater: Big no-no. However, there was one CSM who I saw out and about who had removed ALL f the blueing from his M9. Looked weird to be certian. Soooooo... yes the SERPA sucks-but it's better than what I had. Eagle __________________ Primum non Nocere "I have hung out in dangerous places a lot over the years, from combat zones to biker bars, and it is the weak, the unaware, or those looking for it, that usually find trouble. Ain't no one getting out of this world alive. All you can do is try to have some choice in the way you go. Prepare yourself (and your affairs), and when your number is up, die on your feet fighting rather than on your knees. And make the SOBs pay dearly." The Reaper-3 Sep 04 Last edited by Eagle5US; 01-26-2007 at 07:08.
Eagle5US is offline