wet dog

In South America, our Tm SGT made everyone wear a modified STABO rig to our LBE's., leg straps included, but worn loose. Vest were just to damn hot, and as for ammo, the biggers guys had it easier. When shots were fired, I was willing to remove my shirt buttons to get lower to the ground. Ammo pounches were hip only, 2 on each side, for a total of 12 mags + 1 in weapon, which was always fully loaded with tracers for infil or exfil. If not contact was made on infil, it was removed and kept seperate until exfil. The argument was, although tracers work both directions, the enemy already knew where you were so why not assist the gunship above as to where to fire. 6 guys firing in a similar direction with the use of tracers was pretty good indicator where the bad guys are.

That with butt pack, canteens, (I opted to carry only one), did not leave much room for other things. Still needed the ability to run, jump, roll, move like a jungle cat effortelessly. That left me to carry two claymore bags, (1) for nods and binos, the other for (4) hand grenades, (1) WP smoke, jungle penetrating flares, allowing me to easily drop or hand off to another.

How these young ones do it these days with all the bulk of armor truely amazes me. And that goes for the every day INF soldier as well. Physical fitness will carry one through large loads, I'm really impressed with what the average foot soldier has to carry, 101st, 173rd, 82nd, 3rdID, 25thID, etc.

I hope they have or can get what they need.