Posted on Feb 9, 2014
What is your favorite piece of equipment from the last 10 years?
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Of course everyone likes to complain about "we only get stuff from the lowest bidder", or "why do we even have this?". These things are negative and unproductive, but what about the positives? What I'm interested in are some of the pieces of fielded equipment currently in use that you feel are game changers in terms of enabling you Soldier on in whatever capacity that entails.
My personal favorites are:
1. The Medium Ruck
2. The M320 Grenade Launcher(super jealous of the Marines M32A1 though)
3. Crye Precision Pants
Gear
Equipment
Edited 12 y ago
Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 21
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
Lol, it's true. They do make my DA 4856, 1750, 638, 5500, 705, 31 days much simpler!
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1SG Shane Hansen
Did you see on the APD website that we are transitioning to fillable PDF forms? XFDL is still relatively new and already getting replaced.
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SFC Stephen P.
I had not seen that 1SG. That is simultaneously promising and disappointing.
A lot of work was done to create external interface with the XFDL format. I have seen some interesting projects that interface it with web apps and databases. Had it come to full fruition, it could have enabled mass filling of forms (e.g. 4856, DA 31) based on TAPDB data.
A lot of work was done to create external interface with the XFDL format. I have seen some interesting projects that interface it with web apps and databases. Had it come to full fruition, it could have enabled mass filling of forms (e.g. 4856, DA 31) based on TAPDB data.
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SFC (Join to see)
they'll probably keep xfdl for those forms that use a wizard: 2166-8, otherwise i'd say they're limiting their contracted software, fillable Pdf forms are easy enough to creat in Adobe Professional.
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Three things for me: <div><br></div><div>1: The Combat Action Tourniquet, by far one of the proven life saving devices as we found out that bleeding of the extremities was the number one source of battle deaths.</div><div><br></div><div>2: The Garmin Foretrex 401, simply put it takes all the abilities and features of your Old School PLGR and Newer DAGR and puts it right on your wrist. This came extremely in handy for me while on Dismounted Patrols in the dangerous region of Wardak, Afghanistan. 10 digit grid immediately! Plotting your Waypoints and Areas of Interests have never been easier.</div><div><br></div><div>3: The CROWS System, no need to put the gunner in harms way anymore. Extremely accurate and not to mention better vision at night(Thermal) yes many may not like it and say "Owh well a real human can make a better split second decision" but in reality, its a great design and keeps our gunners safe from sniper fire and/or Grenades being dropped in the hatch from overpasses and such.</div>
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1SG (Join to see)
I do love my Garmin 401 it work awesome!
the CROWS System changed our RCP configuration because of that. Not having someone sticking their head out in the open while looking for IEDs.
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1. ECWCS: I remember the cold weather clothing authorized when I was a young Soldier was not adequate. This system is great as it addresses most cold weather climates and allows Soldiers to dress in layers in a safer fashion.
2. The MRAP: I will not specify a specific one above the others. But for the preservation of life this was money well spent.
3. The Combat Action Tourniquet. It has saved lives along with the restructuring of combat life savers course to stop unnecessary death due to blood loss.
2. The MRAP: I will not specify a specific one above the others. But for the preservation of life this was money well spent.
3. The Combat Action Tourniquet. It has saved lives along with the restructuring of combat life savers course to stop unnecessary death due to blood loss.
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The OCP Medium Ruck is a good one from last deployment. Still debating on biting the bullet on the cost and telling CIF I lost it and do a statement of charges.
The sleep system really works. Had to use it on a few very cold field nights.
The whole modular ECWCS system. It's kept me warm in many a cold environment and that's without ever needing to touch the marshmallow suit so I'm sure it'd work in places like Alaska as well.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
I'm glad you said that 1SG, I hadn't even thought about the wonderous creation that is the MPLC!
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RallyPoint of course!!! <br><br>Everything else is just a new version of something we already have. Yeah, I like the new versions though, fit better, lighter, stronger etc.<br>
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
I like a lot of the newer stuff, but I still miss my old smokers jacket. That thing was cash in the winter, and when I was a joe none of the NCO's could tell I had it on.
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1SG Shane Hansen
I still have mine, haven't broken it out in years, but now you make me want to. Definitely the go to cold weather item from the 90's for me.
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SSG (Join to see)
i still have the old green sleeping bag and tons of old TA-50, LBE and all that jazz. I hated the old Field Jackets, hated the wool sweater, never used the scarf, white thermals, Id have to say they surely have better equipment now, but that old stuff as crappy as it was, still worked out somehow
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
I think it might have just been a different mindset back then. I guess that's a vanilla way of saying Soldiers were harder back then. Whenever I'm out in the field, or on patrol and I catch either myself or my guys getting boo boo lipped about the cold I always remember the guys in the Ardennes. Those guys trucked it out in freezing temperatures with wool, holes in their boots, and no such thing as ADO.
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In Army Aviation we have been issued the FREE system (Fire Resistant Environmental Ensemble). The layers of uniforms and jackets that come with that are my favorite. Not only are they comfortable, they are functional too. When a 150 lb crewchief or door gunner hops out of the aircraft with all of his "layers" on, that kid looks like he weighs 250 lbs but you know he is snug and comfortable after flying in the mountains of Afghanistan at 10,000 feet. Back before we were issued those, we just froze every extremity off and were miserable.
I would also have to say the M240 replacing the M60 (awesome machine that she was). I have grown very fond of the 240 over the past 10 years.
And finally, allowing us to wear Multicam (OCP ACUs), something that actually blended into the environment instead of that digital mess called UCP ACUs.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
I can definitely agree with you on the M240, 1SG. Way less parts, reliable, and sturdy. Also, I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone in the Army who will actually miss the UCP ACU's.
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I think there are many game changing items that the military has bought to give us the decisive advantage on the battlefield. I just finished serving as Project Manager for many of the Army's command and control systems. Our ability to build a communications network from scratch without cell phone towers, share situational awareness before the "Find my Friends" app came out, and synchronize efforts from multiple war fighting functions before the flash mob idea are just a few advances that may not be seen at the squad level, but make a difference. And as the guy who oversaw MANY contracts, we rarely do lowest bidder. (Called lowest price technically acceptable.) We really try for best value. Our warfighters deserve it!
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