Me, a 19 year old Army PFC on a winter FTX. My company commander “Load all your rucks on the truck! It’ll meet us after the operation!” The E4 mafia stuffing poncho liners in their butt pack and MRE bits in their cargo pockets: “That’s a lie.”
@@pop401k You literally have no idea what you're talking about. That's not an insult. It's a literal fact. You just assume the worst case scenario. And yeah, the worst case scenario will happen often enough you should plan for it. But you might also run across an abandoned supermarket, or sympathizers or meat on the hoof. All of that will happen too. It just won't be dependable. Though more dependable than the Supply Sergeant's Deuce.
@@EricDaMAJ Well, I'm pretty sure there's no logistical support force for the local militia; which means you're on your own for sustaining yourself in the field. There's an old saying: be prepared.
@@pop401k You're pretty sure because you don't know any history of militias. Or choose to ignore it because you don't want to admit you're wrong. Every militia has some sort of logistical support. Whether it's the National Guard or Bubba's Bayou MAGA Raiders or the Antifa Trans Battalion. It's just not always the formalized logistics a standing army enjoys.
I knew a Vietnam LRRP in the late 90s early 2000s and he tell me we carried more ammo and water, but very little food. He said you can usually always find food, but ammo and water were tough to get.
The tropical jungle can provide food. If you are in a desert or light forested area, sometimes food can be hard to come. Chris McCandless found out the hard way.
with all the hype about pistols today, you're the first dude I've heard in decades say you are better off with three extra rifle mags than a pistol. Good stuff!
He misses the application for a pistol. Its a backup weapon, not backup ammo. Pistols are excellent because they're super reliable and a lot of holes in a small package. Something happens to your rifle, you're going to really sincerely wish you had a pistol instead of 3 more rifle mags. But he is right that a pistol isn't for fighting. Its for staying alive. And dogs. The M9 earned a solid reputation as dog repellent.
Always depends what you are doing. Soldier stuff in the woods, bring a rifle and you don't need a pistol. Urban soldier stuff, you might need it for certain situations. Urban covert stuff, no rifle and yes pistol.
I have old ALICE gear like we had in the army 40+ years ago. I have TWO canteens on my belt, because I can't remember the last time I WASN'T thirsty. And 4 ammo pouches with the grenade pockets removed, instead of 2. That way I have 390 rounds of ammo instead of the standard 210. You can never have too much ammo, unless you're swimming, or on a long march. I never did amphibious operations, and I'm only walking as far as I have to. I have a butt pack with a triangle bandage that makes a great headband, and scarf or snipers veil, along with a signal whistle and wooden matches. That's about it. It's mostly empty so I can add whatever I need to, whenever I need to. Using 55 grain bullets instead of 62 grain saves a total of 6.25 ounces. Ounces equal pounds, and pounds equal pain.
LRRP loadout was keep 24 hrs of survival on your person, some food,pistol,couple of mags and cargo pockets with a variety of survival gear,LBE was set up for 3 days of survival, 16 mags,4 pistol mags, ruck long term and mission gear. BTW LRRP rucks suck to hump!
Oh fuckin nice! Another page to follow. Dude its hard finding the not mainstream ones that arent super goofed! The algorithm is working against us! Why cant we work with youtube instead of against them, and we all make money!
Sorta the same. I watched his combat pants video first. Then, this one. He doesn’t even have pants on in this video. That’s the ultimate in light fighting.
I don't know how this channel has eluded me until now. This stuff is not getting said enough. The cool gear is all fun and games until your broke off after 8 hours in the treeline in July. The medical piece is also spot on. I carry a bunch on me because it was literally my job in the military and a collateral in my current job, but it's not for most people. Expeditious casevac is the ideal field medical intervention at the end of the day.
In my opinion, if you are a civilian (like me) with the intent of doing cool guy high speed light infantry shenanigans for whatever wet dream scenario you envision, and you are running steel or any form of heavy plates in a plate carrier, then you already did it wrong. Plate carriers should be as little added weight in comparison to an LBE rig as possible. BUT you should absolutely have the capability to both shoot things, and not get shot, whether that be bullets or frag or whatever. Lots of America is woodland. Lots of America is winding suburbs. Lots of America is happening at ranges sub 100 yards. I don't personally like the idea of getting caught with my panties down and no plates because I was too sissy to actively train to carry them. But thats just my uneducated view point. Maybe if you are in states like Colorado or Arizona with massive flat open terrain, that philosophy has a little more wiggle room. But South East United States is too risky.
When you sign your name on the line to serve. Its nice that they care enough to protect your life with some plates. They are going to ask you to go into some ugly situations. As a civilian. If I think "i ought to be wearing body armor for this"... im just not going to do THAT
@@LFAnon I wear body armor almost daily for professional reasons. The gig theoretically shouldn't require it, but I wear it just in case. I've had far too many close calls to be comfortable not wearing it. So I get lots of time behind plates (sometimes just soft armor panels) that many civis don't. That said, I'm not sure where the disconnect is with war fighting and plates for alot of guys. Where do you see yourself operating in a light infantry capacity wherein you aren't thinking "I ought to be wearing plates"? I understand that the point is to not get shot at in the first place (obviously), but is it not the nature of the beast that somewhere sometime you're bound to? That was the point I was making with the whole getting caught with my panties down thing. I wear armor not because I believe I necessarily always need it, but simply because I could very well POSSIBLY need it, just as easily as not.
first time watcher, and to be honest.... that was maybe the best real breakdown of gear i have seen in a long time. Wish i watched it a year ago, BUT great real world knowledge for the rest of us
You earned my sub today dude, really good info paired with some good humor. I like your setup a lot with 308, I run with a dz crossfire rig and run the 25 rounders and can get two in each pouch. I've had some good success with my 556 rigs with 3 30 rounders in each of the smaller mag pouches, and try to dedicate one of the larger ones for ammo aswell. I can squeeze in 3 40 rounders into the back pouches. One common denominator in all gun fights is whoever runs out of ammo first loses.
I had to watch a few of these videos, this guy talks like a marine but thinks like a minimalist, and has common sense, I love it. I have now subscribed and look forward to what's next.
I totally didn't realize this was the other channel for LFSG lol, nice bro. On point about the context with delineating what is the fighting load/ line gear vs. the sustainment load. (I will say as caveat, MOUT is a whole other ball game where things do change-- and if you're stuck in a metro area for whatever reason, you gotta deal with it and augment load and doctrine, just has to be said.)
@@minuteofcan Don't forget cool music, bright and fluorescent color clothes and a Ferrari. Real or modified c3 corvette. Which to this day, still looks better than the Testarossa.
I originally got plates when a bunch of degens were burning down the city I lived in. Viewed them more as a defensive plus up. I can’t say I’d use them when the world goes tits up. I have a chest rig now curious on your thoughts of the jungle rig vs a chest rig?
I'm glad someone finally said plate carriers are stupid. They are, unless you have supply lines and enough trucks to bring you the extra calories and water you'll be burning thru wearing one. All of us in my infantry platoon felt we'd be better off without the armor weighing us down.
This is actually a huge topic I thought about dedicating a podcast too! When you add up the cost of plate carriers vs their benefit. And I mean TOTAL cost. Purchasing, replacing, cost of added injuries in training, cost of avoidable casualties due to wearing. Vs how many lives they actually save. There are some variables that would be very hard to nail down, but there is a discussion to be had.
@@LFAnon exactly, and I think the Army had whole brigades of non deployable troops from injuries sustained wearing armor. Armor doesn't really make much of a difference in gunfights, most wounds are to extemities. It does make a difference in IEDs and artillery, but if you're taking indirect on patrol you need to run.
@@scubasteve-zr1cv ya know it makes indirect and mine A LOT more survivable, and that is a lot of casualties. That's a lot American flags over coffins. And that's a good thing. But, people are still out of the fight when it comes to semantics, operations, and strategy.
Hey man, what are those mag pouches you've got? I run some surplus molle double mag pouches, but they don't fit pmags, and in my current set up I can only comfortably fit 8 mags on my FLC, whereas it looks like I could fit 12 with those pouches there in the same real estate. I've tried to put some shingles behind the doubles but it is awkward and floppy, can't seem to find any triple mag pouches like you've got there.
@@LFAnon Thanks bro. I just remembered that I've got a spare canteen pouch that holds 5 pmags I can put on my kit, plus my small ruck that I'd take has a bandoleer with 6 pmags, so tbh I'd say it's alright.
The only thing I disagree with is the plates and carrier, in today's age, with modern technology and my level of income, it's not inconceivable that I could afford plates that weigh 5lbs Jokes aside plates have gotten and probably will continue to get lighter and more accessible. Inevitably the army will fuck that up and make them heavy but a civilian doesn't have to make that mistake.
The best most reliable plates are steel plates despite what anybody has told you and they're heavy and they'll always be heavy. No Way around It. You can buy ceramic plates but they don't work quite as good as steel plates. They work well enough but they have an expiration date less than 10 years then you're replacing them which makes steel superior unless you want to fork out a fortune. Steel is still the best thing out there because it's the only thing that can take multiple hits and still keep on going but again it's heavy.
@John-u3y3w you are smoking crystal methamphetamine if you think steel plates are worth anything other than a target. Good luck dying to spawl, and no, that truck bed liner is not going to save your neck from catching frag when you get hit. There is a reason ESAPI plates are made of ceramic, and yes, they take multiple hits. Quit being poor, RMA plates are $350.
To carry more ammo instead of a sidearm is a good way of thinking. Some times though shit happens, imagine something important breakes on your rifle and makes it useless along with all your ammo, that's gonna be a pretty bad situation. Then again it's up to you to decide what you take with you depending on what you think you'll need. You can never predict exactly how a fight is gonna be. Still a modern pistol with 15+ rounds capacity with 1 or no extra mags might be enough to protect you. If you have a rifle carrying 2 or more extra pistol mags might be an exaggeration.
@@AnAppealToRakka Well i didn't say it's gonna be equal to a rifle or a carbine but it's better than nothing. Some times you might have to use it against a wild animal or in a very close environment. My statement was general. If we start making specific scenarios it's quite easy.
I honestly loath and love looking at online firearms and gear reviews. You always see absolute dumpster fires! Lots of "what in the hells" and some genuine laughs.
There are a lot of guys who through lack of experience try too hard to carry over the currently popular gun guy trends of getting kitted out like an SF door kicker or a swat team to go innawoods. What often looks cool at the flat range will have you hurting, chafing everywhere and dropping expensive shit all over the bush if you tried to do the kind of stuff this kit is made for in it and furthermore most people who carry that stuff don't know what poison ivy looks like IRL. If you're just hiking out to LARP and camp out then yes by all means, stuff it full of bushcraft gear and other nonsense. Just take a reality check that if you had to wear this because you're in a warzone you're not gonna be chopping firewood and building lean-tos away from your pack (if at all)
The knife I carried and used throughout my time in the U.S. Army was a stainless-steel folding knife which I bought at clothing sales. A BFK is heavy and of very little practical use. I did however keep a short machete in my rucksack.
Just found your channel man good stuff! Definitely done every mistake out there and always learning and experimenting. Is hard to say what future conflicts/unrest will look like and also so many different philosophies and practices (I’m literally not an expert in anyone lol). I have my nixieworks Lightfighter rig that’s pretty versatile in that I could carry just a crap load of water and ammo or a lot of special equipment. I also have a modded flc rig that’s pretty much in line with what you said. Different arguments can be made if your just doing simply area patrols with a very low threat expectation but if things have gotten bad enough ammo,water, throwables, comms, things to win the fight is all you need on your kit.
Chapstick does need to be in the fighting kit. Not for your lips but for the "lick it before you stick it" on the o-rings on comms cables. Spit is bad for the rubber and will eventually dry rot it. 1 replacement battery set for Nods, gps and optics also. These are small and light enough to have in a zip pocket or pouch where you keep admin and mission essential supplies. Mine is also where I keep my Night vision when not mounted.
Good video, I have seen to many videos where people fill there fighting loads with needles stuff like fire making kits, stoves and big knives. Good video.
Good video, and I agree with most if not all. Id definitely carry less mags depending on the situation, about 3+1 or 4+1 is my go to but could do more if necessary. I also do have more in my backpack if I dump them all escaping and need re up. No armor or handgun is based
Highly agree and disagree I would say really depends on your AO what materials you have access to and how many people you operate with if any and things can drastically change with just those 3 things alone mainly your AO though either way good stuff always fun hearing people's point of view on things
Lol good shit, definitely guilty of tryin to combine the kits, definitely have had a small survival kit and other none fightin equipment on my fighting kit. This was a good straight forward video of how to keep shit separated, preciate the info brotha and god bless from ole Carolina.
I've always preached to carry more rifle ammo and forget about your pistol. I personally don't like LBE setups, but that's just me. Also the way I look at my rig is Blake Flannery as said, "Things that take lives, and Things that save lives". The only things that should be on your fighting rig support those two things.
1 thing I wanna mention...a subcompact pistol might be nice to have...just because you can conceal carry it and it doesn't add much space or weight by itself. But that again relates to the mission. Are you in a full blown war or are there still pockets of peace in which you want to be able to go into and out of with a little bit of concealed protection and peace of mind...In the situtation you are talking about...where you and your team of guys are assaulting another group of near peer combatants...yeah...a pistol is probably extra weight. But then again...if you are worried more about drones in a near peer conflict...your group better have a birdshot shotgun to deal with suiciding drones...etc...
People need to hear more of this, people get ridiculous with stuff anymore. Should do one on edc that will piss a lot of people off, like you don’t need three knives to go to get gas lol
I agree with everything you until the last statement where i just feel you have a valid point. That being said my bfk weighs 0.5lbs, it doesn't get in the way or take up more room on my lbe. I like it enough to carry it. Also get yourself some 25 round 308 pmags for that beast. 50 rounds in the same pouch beats 40. Even if its hard to compete with 90.
The Pistol is something I've been thinking about. I bought a P365 for EDC, it generally just lives in a pocket holster regardless of what else is going on. Main "need" for it is to have it handy in case something sneaks up while you're sleeping or shitting. As for the stretcher, I've found a few versions of it, either ~$15, or $250. Not a lot of in between, do you have a recommended vendor?
This light fighter stuff is kind of outdated. Early on in GWOT. Vehicles had to be upfitted with armor and troops started being issued plate carriers, more to protect from IEDs than bullets. With drones now being so prevalent it seems having plates and ballistic helmet is a must. In Ukraine you see both sides putting more armor onto themselves and their vehicles.
Completely wrong. This lightfighter stuff is more relevant than ever! GWOT is over and gone. Yet our military is still built to kick doors and doesn't even remember how to light infantry. With the ever rising threat of the near peer battlespace, light infantry is back baby!
@LFAnon I don't see how. We see conventional warfare in Ukraine and guys are putting on more armor, not taking it off, guys are carrying more ammo and equipment, not less. The only example of what you are talking about is Russian assault units using dirt bikes to try to outrun and dodge FPVs.
Don't get confused. There is nothing light about the lightfighter. Real light infantry is going to be confusing to a lot of current vets. The US Military hasnt had manual on light infantry since the 60's. Its a lost art.
Brits don't go anywhere without their brew kit. They also have 48 hours of rations stripped down that might be pushed to 72 hours. (Four rear pouches on the fighting belt will do it, inc 2x water bottles with one metal mug.) Battle smock carries all the small personal items. Agreed, you have your assault rifle and no need for a pistol. Absolutely fight light, stay swift, and the support can bring up the rest. Agreed first aid is patch up and send/carry to the rear. Climbing slings/loops are useful. Be fit to fight. Anything on your front you will land on when you hit the deck, and be a PITA when Leopard crawling. Agreed no need for some whopper chopper knife, though a Glock Knife or JP Pelternen M95 are light weight and take no room up on the belt order; or just carry a folder in your pocket. If you can't tab 10 miles in under 2 hours you are carrying too much kit. Plates have their place, but not always; depends on the work load and threat.
Always carry a big knife (6 inches). I can clear roots for sleeping, dig a cat hole (not ideal), clear lanes for fire, AND do knife things. I can do some of that with garden sheers, but then I'm carrying 2 tools, not 1. Because i can't do knife things with the sheers. And I must be FULL of shit or something, no little 6 inch trowl is making a cat hole big enough for me. But I want one of those now. Thanks for showing it off! Cheers
Bro i agree with everything you say and people definitely need to hear this. But why keep your mags at 28rds? Load them to 30rds. Especially if you have magpul mags.
1. Good content 2. What about the fanny pack on the front? I guess it is being used as an admin pouch and I'd like to see more about the use and setup of it (mostly because I own the same one and lately I was curious about using it as a part of combat gear)
I'm kinda broke so in my full kit is an old M1 Bayonet, WW2 U.S. Medics suspenders and pouches, a backpack from target, a WW1 British Splatter Mask, a cheap repro of the RAF B-Type flight helmet, 1 Vietnam war U.S. M16 ammo pouch, 1 Vietnam war U.S. Canteen, an old mess kit, binoculars, Czechoslovakian M10 gas mask, some old mosin nagant oil, some old bomb shelter food, and a rock.
This is good shit right here. As much as I would love to have the super ultimate body armor plates and fancy shit I know from experience it only works when you are wearing it. If I'm wearing it then I'm kinda putting myself out there right? What I have is my old lbv that doesn't even have room for anything but mags. If I want more I have to put a belt on it. Belts get awkward quick when you fill them up with shit.
I had a gerber strongarm neatly tucked behind my canteen pouch before watching this video. I wanted to keep it there but the more I think about it, he is right. I still want my big knife but it’ll stay home.
That's why I carry a mora bushcraft weighs virtually nothing you can still beat on it and use it for self defense in a pinch and the scandi grind is very easy to sharpen
Just my two cents, if there truly is an all man for themselves situation, or a "grand scale SHTF" a tourniquet is stupid to have. If you need it, you're already dead. Unless you have a certified doctor in your running squad. Once you release the pressure of a tourniquet and re introduce the "bad blood" into your systems or god forbid, bleed out in an instant. It's already over. So torniquets are good for others if you are more than one. If you're completely alone, might as well just go without.
@@LFAnon Hey man don't get me wrong! I really do agree with most if not all of your points in this video! It's just a badly structured point on my behalf, my main point being is: IF a person is in a "Lone guy" situation and is in need where a tourniquet is needed and has nowhere to turn to. Then it's kind of pointless, I struggled to get the connection between my argument and the case it applies to correctly. From sort of same point of view, you made that how the heck can we really solve that issue without medical personnel and all the gear needed to heal that wound. My brain thinks in my native language sometimes, even while writing English. Any ways, where I live "Preparedness" is looked very frowned upon, and people easily flag you as a schizophrenic doomsday prepper. So, there's little to absolutely no network for this stuff here. But again, all is hypothetical as "nothing ever happens".
Id love to know what theater you saw combat in because saying to limit trauma care is about as smooth brain LARPer as it gets. You can't be in the fight if you can't stay in the fight because you and your buddies are bleeding out. Playing pretend in the woods will never require 100+ rounds and limited medical. If you can't shoot, maybe stay home.
I guess you don't listen good. But I didnt say dont carry medical. I said consider evacuation. By the way, if you are HIT in combat, you are a casualty. If you NEED trauma equipment, you now need evacuation.
A good friend of mine was in the Philippines during ww2. He told me that when they went on patrol, the main thing that they worried about was their weapons and as much ammo as they could carry. The last thing that they wanted was to run out of ammo.
I think it really depends on the game plan here. Understand that if you plan to be mobile, either dont bring armor, or bring lightweight, concealable soft armor, and more medical supplies. If you plan on defending the homestead, bring better plates, and carry less medical gear (have that shit in your house). Everything else i agree with.
I’ll jump on the grenade and be that guy. While I don’t disagree with your description of a fighting load, to me your description seems to be the way we swayed during the GWOT. Nothing wrong with that, but as you said (either in this vid or another), mission drives the gear. Going into a gun fight? Lots of bullets. Travel light so you can move. I served in Iraq when we started driving everywhere, so it was easy to just throw any extra shit in a bag into your humvee. Hell, I never drank out of my canteens, just the old pallet iced water bottles. But if your on a foot patrol, some sustainment gear can go a long way. I started in the pre GWOT Army with Alice gear and a buttpack. I could easily go out on a patrol and last 24 hours. In part because of some of the extras that I carried. Hence why we had buttpacks. LBE, while certainly capable of being a fighting load, is more centered on being a patrol load. Ask anyone who has gone out on a “quick couple mile patrol” how long some of those lasted. Again, mission drives the gear, METT-TC, whatever, I definitely subscribe to “it’s better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.” I’ll be standing by for the backlash, but in the mean time, keep up the great vids.
I respect the hell out of all soldiers. Hardstop. It is the most honorable calling. But I am a nerd for the light infantry and In MY opinion, US hasnt had REAL light infantry for a long time! A lot of you GWOT guys got taught some light infantry then forced into something completely different. It has caused a lot of confusion over time! But you are dead on, mission drives the gear, and thats why all this "gear content" is low hanging fruit. Missions vary a ton!
@@LFAnon I dig your vids. Great content and subjects. The concept of Light infantry has been lost. Frankly because of all the mobility options available to the military. Resupply be truck or helo makes the logistics of combat way easier. I think that a fine line can be walked though. Think part bushcrafter, part ultralight hiker, part soldier. Knowledge and skills are key. Some items can be gleaned from the ultralight hiker community, but something has to be given up for durability. Most people will suss out their gear after a few trips to the field. Frankly I would dare say to start off packing the kitchen sink, and then lightening the load from there. Fwiw, I ended up in the fire department after my deployment. Even spent the last 12 years of my career as a FF/medic. There is a lot of crossover between the army and the fire service. Especially when it comes to mindsets. Keep up the good work.
I spent 12 years in the U.S. Light Infantry, EIB/CIB. Always carry a pressure bandage and a tourniquet, leave the rest of the shit to the medics and doctors. I do carry a sidearm on my rig, but I had a battle rifle ass-fuck me at a MOST inappropriate time......
