Mick on kit & setup...

P

Phil the SP

Joined
Aug 7, 2001
Messages
139
Not sure if there's a better place where this can be discussed. If so, can someone PLEASE point me to it so that I'm not wasteing bandwith here? Thanks! Until that time..here I go...

Mick,

I've seen you post your pics of your gear, and try to explain a bit how you wear your gear and the such.

Now, looking at these pics, you wear a TON of stuff. Cool. But how the HELL do you manage to wear all that stuff? Any chances we can see pics of how it's worn?

Also, you've mentioned the Line system (Line 1, etc), so that you've still got some basic Kit in case your main Kit needs to be ditched (For E&E Purposes, etc). Again, I guess this comes to how you wear your stuff - you've got ALOT of stuff, and I honestly don't see how that stuff comes together to complete your kit. It seems to me that your vest would conflict with your belt (and all the pouches on both).

Help??

Phil
 
It would be great to see a detailed "how to" drawing for some of us non-military types. ;) The only thing I know to do with a sheath is hang it on my belt. :(
 
I will try to post more photos.
I wear my vest as high as I can.
When Im wearing the vest, I usually move ammo up and less essentials down.
That way, if I have a pouch that is harder to access, its no big deal. I don’t usually **** my pants if I can’t get to my batteries ‘right now’.
I usually only have a gear conflict if Im kneeling. Then my forward most line one pouches are pinched a little. Not enough to make them inaccessible, just a little harder to manipulate.
The one conflict in this rig shown is the pistol holster knife. It doesn’t have super access because of the black bag that sits above it. I really only need immediate access to that knife if CQB dedicated. In which case I would wear my rig a little differently. There are things you need/don’t need in CQB dedicated job that are dissimilar from those in a non dedicated role.

Sometimes, one or more of the pouches will have nothing inside. I don’t usually recommend anyone having an empty pouch on their rig, as an empty pouch usually gets stuffed with something you don’t really need. But I don’t always take my own advice. I also don’t usually bring anything that I don’t need.

Gotta run

Mick
 
Mick,

Pics would be great. Thanks for the help.

NIB
I usually ghost at Assaultweb. That place can be rather...difficult..at times. Alot of anti-govt sentiments and the such, and I don't want to get my nose smudged by it, if you know what I mean. I think the AF would frown on it if they thought I was some sort of terrorist. You know how it goes.

Phil
 
Phil,
I know what mean, I believe 2 posters over there use to be on the ATF top 10 most wanted. I do think it's hilarious some of the guys there spending gaggles of money trying to look like Spec Ops. Not to mention that they seem to have some He-Man competition on how much survival gear they can pack and cram into each nook and corner of thier person and Pack.

Back on the subject of gear....I use to go all HOOAH with my LBE/LBV with all kinds of stuff. However halfway into the field the only thing left on it is my ammo pouches, canteens, knife , Flashlight and empty buttpack (only because we were required).
 
I checked that place out briefly.

Whew....

There are some real interesting folks posting over there - not the kind I would like to associate myself with. I don't buy into that whole militia thing. They are a little too... fringe/wannabe... for me to take.

There is some useful info from time to time over there I guess.
 
Kamp,

Yeah, some of the folks there are rather ...eccentric, if you know what I mean. There IS alot of good info there, and not all of the folks there are all militia. Some of 'em are actually pretty cool. Guess it just goes to show ya it only takes a few to ruin the reputation of many.

NIB

As far as the gear/setup thing is concerned..hey, if the guys want to get gear, more power to 'em. I'm sure they keep alot of these gear companies busy, which is a good thing.

My personal setup is simply a Blackhawk Omega vest, stuffed with as much crap as I can (ammo, cigs, cell phone, Surefire flashlight, chem sticks, etc etc etc). Attached to my belt is my M9 holster, two M9 pouches (one for ammo, one for Gerber tool), my field knife, butt pack, radio case, ASP baton, and a couple of M16 pouches for misc gear. Also have the camelback tossed in the back slot. Then comes my Ruck Sack - that would be a list too long to mention.

Yup, I'm an AF Cop - usually not the worlds front line troops (LOL). I'm just one of those folks who would rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it, if ya get my drift.

I figure the day I don't have my gear is the day the stuffs gonna hit the fan, and I'll be kicking myself in the rear for not having it.

Phil
 
Phil,

Least you guys have a little more choice in gear. I spent 2 1/2 years with the 82nd. We weren't allowed to wear anything other then issued LBE. Camelbacks are authorized but they won't let us wear them and if they do we usually have to wear them underneath our BDU tops, not very comfy. Heck when I first got there to my unit I was told the only knife I was authorized on my LBV was the M9 Bayonet, and they wouldn't even issue them out except for parades. They have been slowly easing up on what you can have on you.

In the 82nd....I was an electronics repaier in a Forward Support Battalion, we worked and fought alongside the grunts dug holes next to the grunts and did airborne ops with the grunts so alot of the great gear out there would have come in handy.
 
Thats one of the good things about my career field.

There's alot of diversity when it comes to AF Security Police (Security Forces).

Law Enforcement, Security, Air Base Defense...its alot.

One day I can be rideing on a police patrol, the next performing security on the flightline, and on deployments we perform the ABD mission.

Being at Scott, an Air Mobility Command base, we get the opportunity to spend 2 weeks a year (sometimes more often than that) at Fort Dix, NJ for Ground Combat. Digging Defensive Fighting Positions (DFP's), doing Listening Posts/Observation Posts (LP/OP's), combat patrols, recon patrols, the whole 9 yards. Something I rather enjoy.

Depending on the unit I get stationed at depends my mission. Some of the units in the AF (like the 820th & its sister units) perform all Air Base Defense. They do some training with the 82nd AB, the 101st Air Assault, and other Army units. They also do training with the other branches too, and have the opportunity to attend schools that the other branches run (Army & Marine Sniper, Air Assault, Airborn, pathfinder, Ranger, etc). So, while not "first line" troops, who knows where they'll be going in the years to come? Perhaps the AF has finally taken a clue from the rest of the military when it comes to combat readiness, training, and operations.

Only time will tell.

Another benefit is being K-9. That means missions rangeing from Secret Service Support (with explosive detection dogs) to DEA support (narc. dogs) to Air Base Defense operations.

Like I said, only time will tell.

Phil
 
Originally posted by Phil the SP
Mick,

Pics would be great. Thanks for the help.

NIB
I usually ghost at Assaultweb. That place can be rather...difficult..at times. Alot of anti-govt sentiments and the such, and I don't want to get my nose smudged by it, if you know what I mean. I think the AF would frown on it if they thought I was some sort of terrorist. You know how it goes.

Phil
Click to expand...

Best forum's are the ones moderated by lightfighter and the medical one. Otherwise to many tin foil wearing werdo's for my taste:eek:
 
Here I sit snuggled into my SOE Force vest all nice and comfey like:D :D

Personally I like SOE way better than the POS issue vests we get or BlackHawk vests. I've also got a couple of custom made vests from the PI years ago and without a doubt the force vest beats them all.


I took Micks advice and have a standard force vest with a SAW pouch on the left side, utility upper, dual mag pouch upper, tripple mag pouch on the mag pouch and a camelbak. Also have a MT on the vest that I move to the pants when needed. Otherwise it's always on the vest so I'll have it handy.

Only problem I've found it's easy to mis the tab on the left side ammo pouches when in a hurry and grab the pistol mag pouches. Not to mention MILES gear does not fit very "comfey" over the vest.

Ain't it fun being a AF "gear queer":p :p
 
Shrike9-How do you mount your MT on your Force Vest? I have a GB in the single mag pouch. Not enough room for my D-9.:D
 
Originally posted by SSN664
Shrike9-How do you mount your MT on your Force Vest? I have a GB in the single mag pouch. Not enough room for my D-9.:D
Click to expand...

I cheat:)

Seriously, I do cheat!!! My job requires me to set behind a desk for 12 hours dispatching/directin/controlling response forces and then for 12 more hours I'm in alert status. I just afix it to the pistol belt on the vest and leave it there. Then if I'm responding/deploying the knife is on the vest and while it's a pain to get I do have it with me. When I switch to "field" mode the knife is removed from the pistol belt and put on the bdu belt.

It's just like the camelbak, I kep it empty and ready to fill. If I respond I just take 30 seconds and fill it while somebody's loading the hummer and grabbing the M60. As the camelbak is sliped into the vest the MT goes on the BDU pants belt and I'm still ready to roll by the time the hummer is up and running:D :D

Just as a side note I've got 6 30 rd mags, 2 pairs of cuffs in the upper utility, a Emerson PSARK and sure fire light in the dual upper ammo pouch, a SOG multi tool in the single ammo pouch, my 9mm on the BDU belt in a Safariland tac holster and the 9mm ammo in the triple mag holder. Also have a couple of power bars, mini binocs, drive on rag, ear plugs, whistle and cleaning kit in the small pouch. Then CS and smoke grenades go in the SAW pouch.
 
Shrike,

You're right about the forums Moderated by Lightfighter and Medic. Definately two very cool individuals who know their ****.

I'm pretty jealous though - maybe with my SRB I can score a SOE vest and a Strider. I'd like to get 3POX1A stamped on the other side of the blade by the hilt. I think that'd be pretty cool, and kinda unique.

I'm also jealous that you get to play with CS & Smoke. God forbid we get to play with that stuff at Scott - they'd freak! Hell, they freak when they see me & my bro Jeff in our vests with our boonies on.

Damn pal, you should have seen the looks on folks faces when Jeff & I turned in on our last day of work. We had requested permission from our Flt. Commander, our Lt, to initiate LP/OP's on the perimeter posts we were on, complete with cammy paint and boonies (of course). He came out to visit and I swear he was in his glory - he ate it up. Some of our friends told us that people were talking about it days after we left. It was pretty cool - the look on our Relief's faces were priceless!

Shrike, you have any pics of your vest? I'd like an up-close view if possible, so I can see what you're talking about in greater detail. Also I think those pouches (especially the SAW) would be good for holding Misc. K-9 gear (extra leash, collar, etc) and other various toys.

Until then, I suppose I'm stuck with my Blackhawk - which dosen't bode well with me, being as they're made in Vietnam now :mad:

Hopefully soon I can score some new gear!

As far as being a "Gear Queer"...I'm ALWAYS searching for more comfortable ways to cart all the crap I have with me, and finding good quality stuff isn't gonna happen at our Supply warehouse. If people want to be uncomfortable with the issued POS's and talk crap, thats fine...I know my gear works, I know it'll last, and my body feels the comfort. Thats enough for me.

Phil
 
I've worn a custom Force vest for the last year or so and love it. I have all the bells and whistles you guys want and more. You cannot beat it. Get one while you can. The sooner your order it, the sooner it will arrive.
 
I think I need to go Air Force.:eek: :eek: :eek:
I was driving thru Nashville a couple of weeks ago and almost decided to make a detour up to Clarksville and visit Lightfigthers store and a few buddys at Campbell.....unfortunately it was midnight and still had about 1900 miles to go.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top