Current USMC Grunt Gear Issue

[awkwardninja]

I'm getting involuntarily recalled from the IRR in a month and a half and was wondering if there are any USMC 03's that are still in or just got out in the past year that could tell me what the current gear issue is. I see a lot of drop pouches in recent pics of Marines in Afghanistan. Is this issued or should I buy my own if I want one? Same with collapsible stocks for 16's with m203 launchers. I've been told I'll be doing prewar buildup immediately followed by shipping out with no leave, so I need to buy what I want before I show up and see what unit I'm with. Any additional gear you suggest I might want to get? I've never deployed before, not sure if I'm going to Iraq or Afghanistan. Thanks.

[Billyd]

Please proceed to the New Members Forum and provide an introduction. This courtesy is so that we may know who we are speaking with. Also, please fill out your profile for the same reason. You are also more likely to receive a useful answer to your questions.

[grunt0311]

Wish I could help, but I'm not currently in a grunt unit. Mid-May I will be though, if you don't have an answer by then I should be able to help

[awkwardninja]

The post says it all. I'm a Marine 0311 who has never deployed and is being involuntarily recalled from the IRR. Anything else I would not feel comfortable posting on the internet. I am looking only for replies from other USMC 03s who got out within the past year or are still in the Corps. No offense if you do not fit this description, but you are not qualified to answer my question if you are not a Marine which goes without saying, you are not qualified to answer my question if you are not a grunt because things are very different for grunts and POGs, and you are not qualified to answer my question if you got out more than a year ago because the gear issue is constantly evolving in the Corps. If someone does fit in the category described, I would greatly appreciate any advice you have for me. Thank you.

[HairyEyeball]

Sonny, you just blew any credibility you may have had. I spent four years in my Marine Corps on active duty - half of that in a combat zone - and another two in reserve before you were a gleam in your daddy's eye. My primary MOS was in the 6200 series, but there wasn't an 03 we hauled - into combat on his feet or out of it on his back - who'd use the word 'pogue' (as the old song goes, "Don't write naughty words on walls if you can't spell") to my face, and even without the time I spent in the bush with them, damned few who'd use it behind my back.

You may - and I have my doubts - have squeaked through Boot and SOI, but you have no idea of the concept 'Marine'. At this point, any real Marine I know would class you about one RCH above John Murtha, and that's iffy at best. It's put up or shut up time, boot.

[Des]

When you say Drop pouch, do you mean a dump pouch attached to belt/rig, or do you mean a drop-leg carrier pouch?

From personal experience, dump pouches are good as long as they are attached to your belt or to your rig.

If you mean a drop-leg pouch, I personally avoid at all costs.

a) If you're humping a lot, they tend to chafe your legs.

b) If you stuff them with too much weight, they tend to move around a lot if you leave them too loose, or you tighten the leg-straps, either of which brings you back to point a.

c) if you're vehicle mounted, when in and getting out of carriers, they tend to snag on just about everything.

Of course, I'm neither a Marine or an infanteer, I'm only a field Signalman currently serving my second tour of duty in Afghanistan. So take it for what it's worth.

[Ben Shotalot]

.......who'd use the word 'pogue' (as the old song goes, "Don't write naughty words on walls if you can't spell")......

HE - I have seen POG written in place of "Piece Of Garbage". Take it for what it's worth.

"awkwardninja" - Okay Awkward, why don't you do this; stop worrying about what gear you think you may or may not get, and put your own house in order before you deploy. You'll get what you get when you process through the system.

:recon:

[Billyd]

The post says it all. I'm a Marine 0311 who has never deployed and is being involuntarily recalled from the IRR. Anything else I would not feel comfortable posting on the internet. I am looking only for replies from other USMC 03s who got out within the past year or are still in the Corps. No offense if you do not fit this description, but you are not qualified to answer my question if you are not a Marine which goes without saying, you are not qualified to answer my question if you are not a grunt because things are very different for grunts and POGs, and you are not qualified to answer my question if you got out more than a year ago because the gear issue is constantly evolving in the Corps. If someone does fit in the category described, I would greatly appreciate any advice you have for me. Thank you.

Wow, you sure do know how to piss off the general membership here, now don't you? Now, if you wish to try and re-establish any credibility what so ever, I HIGHLY suggest that you comply with my first response to you.

You have stepped in the Lion's Den and the Lion's here do tend to bite those that get pissy on their second post. Like I stated above, fill out your profile and post an introduction in the proper place, and you might actually get a usefull response to your queries.

BTW, when you get off the bus at whatever training facility you are directed to, I would suggest that you close your pie hole when the guy with the stripes opens his.

[awkwardninja]

Billy - not a lot of bite over the internet, just bark. Des - thanks for the advice, I did mean a dump pouch. Ben - don't criticize someone for trying to be prepared for war. You're in the army so you don't realize the Marine Corps has poor funding and does not issue good gear. Just like my buddies who went to Iraq in 2004 and bought armor plates that weren't issued to them, I'd like to purchase equipment that will help me if it's not going to be issued. Example: a collapsible butt stock that will help me get around corners unseen in a MOUT environment and allow me to put the stock in my shoulder while in a vehicle. Standard issue in the Army for a while now, wasn't issued in the Marine Corps when I got out 2 years ago. Hairy - pogue and POG are used interchangeably in today's Marine Corps. The latter is an acronym for Personnel Other than Grunt. There are a lot of POGs here for a forum entitled "Grunt Forum." As I mentioned before, you cannot answer my questions completely or correctly if you're an airmen, a POG or a senior citizen. Des was able to give me advice on a piece of gear but cannot tell me if I'll be issued it because he's not a Marine. That does not mean I'm trying to piss him off, that's just a fact. If you're offended someone calls you a flyboy, you should have joined the Marine Corps. If you're offended someone calls you POG you should have been a grunt. Fortunately I have found a forum on a more credible site instead of this one which has a following of has beens and wannabees.

[Ben Shotalot]

Ben - don't criticize someone for trying to be prepared for war. You're in the army so you don't realize the Marine Corps has poor funding and does not issue good gear.

I made Gunny in the Corps and had 14 years under my belt. I hit the yellow foot prints in 1981. I've been a ground pounder. Look at my sig-line and you'll know where I went. I'm on active duty.

Fortunately I have found a forum on a more credible site instead of this one which has a following of has beens and wannabees.

I am far from a "has been" or "wannabe" - I am not. I venture into this forum to give advice, which is what I thought I was doing. You'll get the gear that you'll get, it is what it is... It is best to use your time square away business at home as you won't have to much time to handle it once you get mobilized. Take that advice to the bank.

Lastly, you are closer to a "has been" or "wanna be" as it seems you got out and don't know what gear is out there, but you "wanted to be" a Marine still and stayed in the IRR...... Or was IRR part of your original contract?

Have fun at the other site. I hope you don't go to the one I frequent. You'll be an embarrassment.

:recon:

[Billyd]

Have fun at the other site. I hope you don't go to the one I frequent. You'll be an embarrassment.

:recon:

Ben, it is way too late for this one. This is the type that will be flapping his gums during the mission brief. Need I say more?

[HairyEyeball]

Sonny, don't let the door hit you in the 'brain housing group' on your way out, and I pity the good Marines you're going to get killed due to your terminal cranio-rectal inversion. Whether one may be a 'has been' is certainly open to question - but not by a 'never was' (and probably never will be). Good riddance.

[Ben Shotalot]

He made it over to this site Leatherneck (http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81558) and got the same advice we gave him, and a little bit more. This made my morning! :D

:recon:

[JohnP]

He made it over to this site Leatherneck (http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81558) and got the same advice we gave him, and a little bit more. This made my morning! :D

:recon:

What a great chuckle. He seems like the type to start whining before he gets into theater.

I'll expect to see him in some libtard magazine exclaiming his PTSD he received because he wasn't allowed to look cool. He needs to get wall to wall counseling before he deploys, otherwise, some real Marine is going to get zapped because of him.

[03_SHOOTER]

"Gear Queer", now THAT'S funny!!!

Anybody remember back in the day when you were "the s**t" if your steel pot helmet still had some of the original finish on it and wasn't dented, the hand guards on your weapon still had the heat shields intact, and 'body armor' was a GI shirt and a 20 year old flak jacket with a busted zipper?

BTW, WTF is a "drop bag" and what's it used for?

[Billyd]

"Gear Queer", now THAT'S funny!!!

Anybody remember back in the day when you were "the s**t" if your steel pot helmet still had some of the original finish on it and wasn't dented, the hand guards on your weapon still had the heat shields intact, and 'body armor' was a GI shirt and a 20 year old flak jacket with a busted zipper?

BTW, WTF is a "drop bag" and what's it used for?

Well, I may received it with a broken zipper, but was lucky enough to know how to fix it. And I never knew a steel pot that wasn't dented :p

[grunt0311]

The drop pouch is a open bag that hangs off your belt or gear somehow and you can throw anything from spent mags to spent water bottles in. Most usually come with a design to keep things in that you have dropped in.

One Example:
http://www.brotherprice.com/ebphoto/tan%20belt%20n%20drop%20pouch%20a.jpg

[03_SHOOTER]

Well, I may received it with a broken zipper, but was lucky enough to know how to fix it. And I never knew a steel pot that wasn't dented :p

There ya go!! :D

[03_SHOOTER]

The drop pouch is a open bag that hangs off your belt or gear somehow and you can throw anything from spent mags to spent water bottles in. Most usually come with a design to keep things in that you have dropped in.

So somebody essentially came up with a new fangled, "high speed, low drag" version of the time tested trued and proven M-1961 "butt pack" that doesn't even have a WP liner or a full cover? What a PIECE OF JUNK!

[grunt0311]

Sure, whatever you say 03. :)

Never used the "tried and true" A$$ pack, so i wouldn't know. I like my drop pouch, comes in mighty handy. Just like anything else, there are different sizes and styles, so if the biggest things you see wrong with it are WP and full closing, that person could go and get a different one that fit their needs.

[03_SHOOTER]

Sure, whatever you say 03. :)

Never used the "tried and true" A$$ pack, so i wouldn't know. I like my drop pouch, comes in mighty handy. Just like anything else, there are different sizes and styles, so if the biggest things you see wrong with it are WP and full closing, that person could go and get a different one that fit their needs.

My point was that troops shouldn't have to go out and buy their own ANYTHING, you should already have it issued to you, and if it wasn't issued to you, then you obviously don't really need it.

[PhilK]

grunt0311, I went with one of the roll-up drop pouches as well. Very nice and it I can keep it out of the way when I don't need it.

Probably, hands down the best piece of equipment I have gotten is the Spec Ops over-armor vest. I can put all my other gear on it and then just slip it on over my body armor.

[grunt0311]

"If its not issued to you, then you really don't need it"

No offense but that is a major flaw in thinking.
Case in point, for me right now, I have a weapons card for a pistol, in fact the majority of us do. However, at supply we were never issued pistol holsters, mag pouches, and we had to hassle the armory to get us magazines. So since I wasn't issued a holster, I guess I really don't need one. I guess I won't carry magazines because, I really don't need them, I mean, where would I put them anyways? (Note: yes, this flaw in thinking was brought up the chain, and little to nothing was done. We did get some magazines, but still nothing about holsters or mag pouches)

Besides the point (I'm not sure how long you were in, or how long you have been out), 75% of the gear we are issued isn't really designed with smooth operation in mind. For example, the green gas mask carriers (Example Link (http://www.specwargear.com/images/gasmask-M40-2.jpg)) aren't designed for fluidity, and they are difficult to keep secure against the leg. So Marines go out and buy better BlackHawk or other brand name gas mask carriers (Example Link (http://www.patriotoutfitters.com/img/products/12600/12690.GIF)) that are much easier to draw out the mask and don it.

I can give more examples, but I think the point was made.

[grunt0311]

Probably, hands down the best piece of equipment I have gotten is the Spec Ops over-armor vest. I can put all my other gear on it and then just slip it on over my body armor.

I have been thinking about purchasing something similar. The Interceptor vests don't have the MOLLE straps all across, so the middle of my body (which is easiest to grab things from) is bare, wasting valuable space.

[PhilK]

I have been thinking about purchasing something similar. The Interceptor vests don't have the MOLLE straps all across, so the middle of my body (which is easiest to grab things from) is bare, wasting valuable space.

I would recommend it. The one I got is a blank slate, so I can arrange my gear however I want. Also...if worse comes to worse, the gear can be dumped, but the IBA stays on.

[grunt0311]

The hardest part is choosing which paycheck I want to lose part of to buy it. :(

(Can't wait to get promoted)

[03_SHOOTER]

"If its not issued to you, then you really don't need it"

No offense but that is a major flaw in thinking.
Case in point, for me right now, I have a weapons card for a pistol, in fact the majority of us do. However, at supply we were never issued pistol holsters, mag pouches, and we had to hassle the armory to get us magazines. So since I wasn't issued a holster, I guess I really don't need one. I guess I won't carry magazines because, I really don't need them, I mean, where would I put them anyways? (Note: yes, this flaw in thinking was brought up the chain, and little to nothing was done. We did get some magazines, but still nothing about holsters or mag pouches)

Besides the point (I'm not sure how long you were in, or how long you have been out), 75% of the gear we are issued isn't really designed with smooth operation in mind. For example, the green gas mask carriers (Example Link (http://www.specwargear.com/images/gasmask-M40-2.jpg)) aren't designed for fluidity, and they are difficult to keep secure against the leg. So Marines go out and buy better BlackHawk or other brand name gas mask carriers (Example Link (http://www.patriotoutfitters.com/img/products/12600/12690.GIF)) that are much easier to draw out the mask and don it.

I can give more examples, but I think the point was made.

First things first, I got out in '84.

Second thing, if your arms room has pistols, but no mags, mag pounches, or holsters for those weapons, then your CO, XO, and Armorers all need to be buried up to their necks in sand, have honey poured over their heads, and left to bake in the sun for a week. There is NO reason in the world, NONE, for a Mongolian CLUSTERF**K like that! The flaw is not in my thinking, because we not only never had that problem, such a thing was never even a possibility, the flaw is in the incredible LACK of thinking on the part of YOUR CoC!

The "gag bag" carriers have always been a major P.I.T.A., and always will be, which is why the best place for the damned things is in your "sea bag" back in the barracks. Seriously, we were required to carry them on a daily basis, and the closest I was ever able to do it so that it wasn't in the way was to strap it to my LCE, so that it was up in the small of my back with the opening over the "weak hand" kidney, above one of my canteens.

[grunt0311]

First things first, I got out in '84.

Second thing, if your arms room has pistols, but no mags, mag pounches, or holsters for those weapons, then your CO, XO, and Armorers all need to be buried up to their necks in sand, have honey poured over their heads, and left to bake in the sun for a week. There is NO reason in the world, NONE, for a Mongolian CLUSTERF**K like that! The flaw is not in my thinking, because we not only never had that problem, such a thing was never even a possibility, the flaw is in the incredible LACK of thinking on the part of YOUR CoC!

They have them in supply, but the foresight wasn't there to have them issued to the Marines that would use them or need them. In our supply warehouse, they have BRAND NEW gear, that doesn't get issued out, because (wait for it)...THEY ARE BRAND NEW. If you can find real logic in that line of thinking, you could be the smartest man around. This is no sh!t, the grunts helped supply's lame-o selves inventory the warehouse, and we saw this and were like WTF, I need a new one of these. Try to exchange it and they give you another used one (unserviceable), try to exchange that, another used one that doesn't work right. If they DRMO'd the gear that needs it and issue out new gear when they need to, life would be simple.

Anyways, you see my point, where there are times when gear needs to be bought for yourself.

A good thing with that is, you keep that piece of gear until it dies. And because you bought it, you take better care of it, and it lasts longer. You always know how it works, know you can trust it when you need it, etc.

[03_SHOOTER]

They have them in supply, but the foresight wasn't there to have them issued to the Marines that would use them or need them. In our supply warehouse, they have BRAND NEW gear, that doesn't get issued out, because (wait for it)...THEY ARE BRAND NEW. If you can find real logic in that line of thinking, you could be the smartest man around. This is no sh!t, the grunts helped supply's lame-o selves inventory the warehouse, and we saw this and were like WTF, I need a new one of these. Try to exchange it and they give you another used one (unserviceable), try to exchange that, another used one that doesn't work right. If they DRMO'd the gear that needs it and issue out new gear when they need to, life would be simple.

Anyways, you see my point, where there are times when gear needs to be bought for yourself.

A good thing with that is, you keep that piece of gear until it dies. And because you bought it, you take better care of it, and it lasts longer. You always know how it works, know you can trust it when you need it, etc.

Buddy, if they're playing some damned "monkey fuc***g a football" game like that on you guys, and your CO is letting them get away with it, then as far as I'm concerned you've got bigger problems than gear, you've got a problem with your CoC, and somebody needs to have their brain housing group adjusted with an appropriate application of a size 12 Corcoran jumb boot!

Look, we had our fair share of old worn out gear, and we didn't get much new gear, but that's because there simply wasn't any new gear to be had (thank you very much Mr. Peanut), so we made due with what we had, wore it out, patched it up, and wore it out again, so I feel your pain, but if there's new gear to be had in Supply, and they won't issue it out, your CO needs to be up the Base CO's ass every day until supply breaks loose with what you need.

[grunt0311]

Agreed. However I feel that call is a bit over my head

[Des]

So somebody essentially came up with a new fangled, "high speed, low drag" version of the time tested trued and proven M-1961 "butt pack" that doesn't even have a WP liner or a full cover? What a PIECE OF JUNK!

I'm not sure what you're saying here. That the butt-pack was a piece of junk, or that the dump pouch is.

The dump-pouch, for what it is, works.

When in a contact, and doing tactical mag-changes, you don't have time to follow the old range drills of "remove full-magazine from pouch and load into weapon, placing (partially)empty magazine in pouch, and closing cover on the pouch, continue firing".

You want your rounds going downrange as fast as possible. Change mag, drop your empty or partially empty mags in the dump pouch, and go on. No messing around with flaps, reaching around, or worrying about dropping mags.

As far as buying equipment when you have supply. Well, once again, I am not a Marine, but I imagine your military is very similar to ours in this respect.

The equipment we have, while it's makers are generally the makers for political reasons, and not those of quality, are also making outdated equipment.

Equipment that we have was designed for the last war. For example, we have a new tactical vest that came out in the last couple of years. Latest and greatest, It's what the Queen gives you, so it's the best you can have and all that.

The thing holds 4 rifle mags. My combat load is 10. So yeah, I can toe the party line, hold 4 ready mags, and keep the other 6 in a backpack.

Or I can use my personally purchased, modular, better-quality, combat Vest to hold my combat load at the ready.

I'm a huge gear slut, but everything I purchase, I purchase for a reason. If it can make me just seconds faster, or have just that much more time on trigger, I'll spend my own money. Because in the end, it's my life, and the life of my mates.

[HairyEyeball]

Thanks for the trip down memory lane, guys...I heard the same thing 40 years ago, we went through the same thing 40 years ago: Damned near everything from our 'tin pots' to our boondockers were WW II issue, the '782 gear' had seen service in WW II and Korea (we could tell by the faded names and service numbers on some of it). There was newer gear to be had - just check out the Army REMFs and garritroopers at Freedom Hill and China Beach - but it rarely if ever found its way to front-line combat units.

We also had 'mama-sans' on base (some of whom actually weren't VC by night) who could always manage to 'find' material and sew exactly what we needed or repair what we had. I do take exception to the suggestion that one 'takes better care of personally owned gear than issued': Unless the 'important part' of war has changed drastically, everything you take into the field has a purpose, most of which is to ensure you come back in the same condition you left. To that end, you made damned sure certain that everything worked the way it was supposed to (if not necessarily the way it was designed by some puke who never got closer to 'war' than the Saturday matinee). It was issued to you, it was your responsibility, and unless there was a damned good reason it was damaged beyond reasonable repair (like a bullet hole in it and a matching one in you), it was 'surveyed' when and if non-functional, or returned in condition to be reissued to your replacement.

I also agree completely with 03 - if supply has the gear and won't issue it, and your CO doesn't have a size 12 up someone's 'seat of knowledge', dereliction of duty charges should be the least of his worries - and it should be a major one...and on that note, while far be it from me to suggest going outside of the chain of command, I do recall all sorts of 'investigations' prompted by irate parents writing their Congresscritter because some mean Drill Instructor used harsh language to their little treasure. This appears just a slight bit more...shall we say 'relevant'?

[mtnsldr]

The problem is that gear is evolving now that the private sector has found a niche selling it. When NATICK labs (or its predecessor) was the only game in town, you got what you got.

Now the contract companies have generated a bunch of hometown sewing junkies to create new stuff. The military can't keep up.

I have non-issue kit. Its set up the way that works best for me as a rifleman. The Army has found that it makes more sense to adjust the gear for the rifleman, not the rifleman's techniques for the gear (it also enables that warfighter to be more effective by enhancing his natural tendencies).

You can talk smack about gear, and thats fine, but for those dedicated warfighters, this is one of the best things thats ever happened to enhance the individual rifleman's effectiveness. Its just too bad it takes the Army soooo long to get it fielded.

That being said, I'm glad to see that guy get thrown out and jumped on everywhere he goes.

[JohnP]

The problem is that gear is evolving now that the private sector has found a niche selling it. When NATICK labs (or its predecessor) was the only game in town, you got what you got.

Now the contract companies have generated a bunch of hometown sewing junkies to create new stuff. The military can't keep up.

I have non-issue kit. Its set up the way that works best for me as a rifleman. The Army has found that it makes more sense to adjust the gear for the rifleman, not the rifleman's techniques for the gear (it also enables that warfighter to be more effective by enhancing his natural tendencies).

You can talk smack about gear, and thats fine, but for those dedicated warfighters, this is one of the best things thats ever happened to enhance the individual rifleman's effectiveness. Its just too bad it takes the Army soooo long to get it fielded.

That being said, I'm glad to see that guy get thrown out and jumped on everywhere he goes.

In my short history, I’ve discovered that a good trooper will always find better and faster ways, long before the military decides to put it in use.

The most successful business men that I knew were parachute riggers. These men and women could sew anything. You come up with a design and they would make it out of existing equipment.

I had a few uniforms made when I was on Okinawa by these guys. The BDU at the time had a short shirt that didn’t allow access to the pockets when you were in the old web gear. Since we tucked our shirts in anyway, (required for rappelling), we took the pockets off and had them sewn on below the knees. This allowed us to keep an additional 2 “flash bangs” on each leg and readily accessible when in a crouched position.

We also took the Air Force Survival vest and modified it to carry different assortments of gear to include a side arm. This was Pre-Mole gear.

Some of the stuff we made worked, others didn’t. It is a matter of seeing a need and making it work.

[Wolfy]

In my short history, I’ve discovered that a good trooper will always find better and faster ways, long before the military decides to put it in use.

The most successful business men that I knew were parachute riggers. These men and women could sew anything. You come up with a design and they would make it out of existing equipment.

I had a few uniforms made when I was on Okinawa by these guys. The BDU at the time had a short shirt that didn’t allow access to the pockets when you were in the old web gear. Since we tucked our shirts in anyway, (required for rappelling), we took the pockets off and had them sewn on below the knees. This allowed us to keep an additional 2 “flash bangs” on each leg and readily accessible when in a crouched position.

We also took the Air Force Survival vest and modified it to carry different assortments of gear to include a side arm. This was Pre-Mole gear.

Some of the stuff we made worked, others didn’t. It is a matter of seeing a need and making it work.

Speaking of which, I'm currently modifying the Avionics Chief's thigh holster to his specs, making tool pouches for some of the civilian tech reps (they cost upwards of $100 for a tool pouch out in town), and making a guitar strap out of a rescue harness. :D

[SGM]

This is one thing about soldiers(all services) no matter where they are or what country they serve - they improve and adapt equipment to better service themselves. They usually lead the way in equipment improvements which later many have probably been mass produced. And I guess they will always continue to lead the way in equipment improvements.

[Des]

The problem is that gear is evolving now that the private sector has found a niche selling it. When NATICK labs (or its predecessor) was the only game in town, you got what you got.

Now the contract companies have generated a bunch of hometown sewing junkies to create new stuff. The military can't keep up.



That's because the private sector has the ability to evolve, and evolve quickly.

While government-sponsored research and development (not even going to get into manufacture) has so many levels of red-tape and bureaucracy, input from the fighting man, if it doesn't all-out change by the time it gets to the approval, takes forever to get back to the pointy-end in operational form.

Private industry has the ability to take the input directly from the operators, and almost immediately putting it into marketable manufacture.

Is it the way things are supposed to be? Not according to many Chains of Command, but it's what we've got.

Now, as much of a kit-slut I am, I always try to research or get some first hand use before I put my money into something. Don't buy kit just for the Look Cool Factor (Unless of course, they're Oakleys)

[ChestyMulletPuller]

Short answer, do not purchase anything.

1. The Corps has changed drastically since 2003, the current issued gear is nothing short of outstanding.
2. Once in country the Px's at the major FOB's are stocked with a dizzing amount of hi-end gear to choose from. From Uncle Mike's holsters to Black Hawk tactical gear to 5.11 tactical gear. If you feel you need it once in country, you can bet it will be available at the PX.
3. You will be replacing a unit, the Marines that you will be replacing will sell you all of their stuff for a fraction of the cost and you will have the added benefit of a first hand account of how well the gear will work for you.
4. And finally, you run the risk of spending your hard earned cash on gear that your 1stSgt/Co Gunny will not allow you to use.
5. Without knowing your mission, you cannot know what gear will serve you best. Will you be on foot patrols, mounted patrols, QRF, Convoy ops?

1stSgt

[killer]

What a polite, civil, and helpful post.

[ChestyMulletPuller]

What a polite, civil, and helpful post.

Shut it snake worshiper

[killer]

Yo momma worships snakes

[BOHICA]

Yo momma worships snakes

His momma swallows snakes! :D

[steelplateinmyhead]

Ahhh...yes.

It feels like home.

[wukong]

His momma swallows snakes! :D

Most likey the genus: snake, one eyed, spitting.

[YUTliness]

Haha. 1 guy that got out 25 years ago telling someone that's about to deploy in a combat zone what he doesn't need.

Then "Hairy-the-hero" with his China Beach and WWII & Korea gear stories. Wonder if he took a blooper and a KaBar as his weapons of choice when he was out in the Bush showing the Grunts how it's done (far and few between - the number of Purple Heart from hand-to-hand in The Nam).

AWESOME doesn't begin to cover it. YUTness is off the charts.

[Spider]

Everyone here has given you duff advice and the fact is what you need to be asking yourself is simply. Do I look cool in this? :devil:


Now, as much of a kit-slut I am, I always try to research or get some first hand use before I put my money into something. Don't buy kit just for the Look Cool Factor (Unless of course, they're Oakleys)

Wrong! Take five extra duties that man!

[03 Grunt 11]

bumping back to the top

[Javelin66]

The post says it all. I'm a Marine 0311 who has never deployed and is being involuntarily recalled from the IRR. Anything else I would not feel comfortable posting on the internet. I am looking only for replies from other USMC 03s who got out within the past year or are still in the Corps. No offense if you do not fit this description, but you are not qualified to answer my question if you are not a Marine which goes without saying, you are not qualified to answer my question if you are not a grunt because things are very different for grunts and POGs, and you are not qualified to answer my question if you got out more than a year ago because the gear issue is constantly evolving in the Corps. If someone does fit in the category described, I would greatly appreciate any advice you have for me. Thank you.

Translation: I am a complete fag, and have no idea what I am talking about. I was tough a few years back when I went to boot camp, and I have been living on those laurels ever since.

Frankly, I just want to look cool when I get to theater. As you can imagine, as an IRR Marine I will be sent directly to the pointy end of the stick where I will no doubt be put in charge of the hunt for UBL, despite the fact that I have no experience with my unit and have missed the first few years of the war due to my dogged pursuit of a higher education .

I need the latest cool guy gear so I can make the right impression on CNN. I don't want to hear from the other services (especially you Army guys, because as a Marine, I, (albeit an IRR who has not yet been to theater) am better, faster, and (let's face it) cooler.

You non-infantry types, even you EOD and Cav troops, can just keep your suggestions to yourself, because I have been watching the war on TV, and know what it will take to win it, and you are clearly not doing it. This will all change once I am in country.

Keep your eyes on these pages for updates, for I will surely be posting. I just hope General Odierno has time to read my thoughts.

[steelplateinmyhead]

A very enlightenting translation from dip shit to common every day English.

Thank you Javelin.

[03 Grunt 11]

Its very interesting

as thats the same type of post that got us here.

[killer]

Javelin doesn't pay attention.

[03 Grunt 11]

Obviously not