Posted on Mar 21, 2016
Do you all put the LBV over the top of your IBA? Or just secure the magazine pouches, etc. directly to the IBA ?
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11B: Infantryman
Infantry
Gear
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 25
Firstly look to your unit for an SOP, next to your PSG for recommendations. No need to reinvent the wheel.
Third, it's highly personalized based on body type/size and needs in your duties.
My Bradley gunners needed IBA on in the vehicle, but there is little room in a turret so the LBV was used so they could "strip" before getting in the vehicle.
I prefer to have all items attached to my IBA. Many experienced, active duty Infantry, Delta, Ranger, SF Service members I had the pleasure of serving with that did not have an armored vehicle role chose not to wear an additional load carrying device.. but preferred the more secure, less noisy, tighter placed item placement directly on the IBA or plate carrier.. I readily admit.. I looked to the operators I worked with closely for suggestions and ideas... I had many months of combat experience, and months of train up.. they had YEARS.. I gleefully stole what worked for them and then modified it as needed to fit my body size and duty needs.
I was lucky in that we had few hard SOP's for the kit.. other than IFAK, markings, tourniquet, number of mags...it was open to a SM to fit the Kit to them...
That does not mean the PSG, 1SG just lets every SM figure it out..it means you teach those SM what right looks like, give them a good starting point and teaching the WHY's of where you suggest the item be placed..so they can apply that performance based need to set up their kit.
Third, it's highly personalized based on body type/size and needs in your duties.
My Bradley gunners needed IBA on in the vehicle, but there is little room in a turret so the LBV was used so they could "strip" before getting in the vehicle.
I prefer to have all items attached to my IBA. Many experienced, active duty Infantry, Delta, Ranger, SF Service members I had the pleasure of serving with that did not have an armored vehicle role chose not to wear an additional load carrying device.. but preferred the more secure, less noisy, tighter placed item placement directly on the IBA or plate carrier.. I readily admit.. I looked to the operators I worked with closely for suggestions and ideas... I had many months of combat experience, and months of train up.. they had YEARS.. I gleefully stole what worked for them and then modified it as needed to fit my body size and duty needs.
I was lucky in that we had few hard SOP's for the kit.. other than IFAK, markings, tourniquet, number of mags...it was open to a SM to fit the Kit to them...
That does not mean the PSG, 1SG just lets every SM figure it out..it means you teach those SM what right looks like, give them a good starting point and teaching the WHY's of where you suggest the item be placed..so they can apply that performance based need to set up their kit.
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CSM (Join to see)
I have always been a big fan of "what the Army issues you is good enough". I have been an Infantryman for 29 years. I was attached to 10th SFG during OIF 1, I have workd with a few ODA's that operated in my battle space in Afghanistan when I was a CSM. Those guys wore minimal gear. I saw guys with stuff attached to their IOTVs, I saw guys wear rack systems, I saw guys that didn't even wear vests.
I have seen more Soldiers get "hung up" wearing a rack system than those that attached gear directly to their vest. They get hung up in vehicles, they get hung up in buildings, they get hung up in bushes and orchards. Most "rack guys" put so much shit in their rack they can't get in a good prone position to fire their weapon. If you need more than seven magazines (a couple drums of SAW/7.62), a small admin pouch, and a couple grenade pouches you need to go back to the range. The assault pack/medium ruck was made to carry extra ammo/supplies.
The best piece of equipment these days is the T.A.P.S. It's kind of like a rack system but lays flat across your vest. It has pouches for all your magazines and two radio pouches. It can be attached/detached easily. The bottom line is you want your kit to be like a part of your body. You need a full range of motion and the ability to fire from any position accurately.
I have seen more Soldiers get "hung up" wearing a rack system than those that attached gear directly to their vest. They get hung up in vehicles, they get hung up in buildings, they get hung up in bushes and orchards. Most "rack guys" put so much shit in their rack they can't get in a good prone position to fire their weapon. If you need more than seven magazines (a couple drums of SAW/7.62), a small admin pouch, and a couple grenade pouches you need to go back to the range. The assault pack/medium ruck was made to carry extra ammo/supplies.
The best piece of equipment these days is the T.A.P.S. It's kind of like a rack system but lays flat across your vest. It has pouches for all your magazines and two radio pouches. It can be attached/detached easily. The bottom line is you want your kit to be like a part of your body. You need a full range of motion and the ability to fire from any position accurately.
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LTC Paul Labrador
CSM (Join to see) - My first tour downrange was OIF1. We were lucky to get IBVs with plates issued in the first place, but we never got the MOLLE gear to attach. Some guys wore their LBV over. I would have had to completely reconfigure mine if I was going to do that, which would make wearing it without my IBV almost impossible. I settled for an old school approach (and IMHO easier approach) and lugged my ammo Vietnam style in the cloth bandoleers that came in the ammo cans...
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CSM (Join to see)
LTC Paul Labrador - That's pretty crazy you didn't have vests. Molle had been out for several years prior to OIF 1. We received Molle gear and the Pointblank vests with the regular old black plates in BDU pattern when we deployed to OIF 1. My prior deployment to Bosnia in 2001 we had Ranger Body Armor (RBAs) and you had to have a LBE/LBV with those.
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LTC Paul Labrador
CSM (Join to see) - I was with 3ACR, back when it was still heavy armor, so pre-deployment, most of the 19 series guys used the old CVC overalls and body armor (Death before dismount after all... ;o) ). Us non-armor support guys had the 80's style flaks. We got our IBVs and plates right before we pushed (and that was only because Turkey said no, and our push date was delayed), and like I said, no MOLLE gear for them. Pre-OIF1 was weird to begin with as there were massive gear shortages if you weren't infantry. You got what you got and were lucky to get it. Nothing like the smooth RFI machine I experienced for my second tour in 2009.
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Stick'em whereever it suits you best unless proscribed by authority. Had a bunch of unique innovators in my Iraq Marine unit.
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Keep your punches on whatever load carrying equipment your using. I prefer the rigs from tactical tailor or TAG
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