On the Run

[The Reaper]

Looks like we are moving from the weapons to the ruck and load contents.

IRT ODNT's question, some of you have the idea of multiple layers of gear, but not exactly what goes in them. We have discussed this before, but for the benefit of the latecomers, let's review.

There are three primary layers or "lines" of gear.

Your first line is what you have on you. This would be in your pockets or attached to your pants belt. This layer would include your clothes, boots, hat, belt, primary firemaking gear, some signaling items in your pockets, a knife and/or multitool, some cordage, a flashlight, microlight, or headlamp, a pocket survival kit, your map, compass, a pocket first aid kit, EDC litter, pistol (if worn on your pants), pistol ammo pouches, maybe a power bar or some hard candies, etc. Possibly some water purification tabs. Basically, you can survive at a very reduced level with your first line. Most people would try and carry at least one weapon on their first line. I have used first line gear ranging from pocket items and a belt with multitool to a war belt with suspenders, a dump pouch, larger knife and pistol, spare ammo, flashlight, etc.

Your second line gear is generally your fighting load consisting of your weapon and LCE or vest, to include your body armor and items carried on your LCE like ammo, a trauma kit, binos, a large knife, a handheld radio in a pouch, water, etc. You might drop your second line while in camp, unfasten it for water ops, or other activities where you were relatively secure. Try to have enough stuff here that you could, along with your first line, make it to your objective without the ruck.

Finally, your third line loadout would consist of your sustainment gear, with your ruck, and its contents. This contains your shelter items, food, additional water, spare batteries, etc. Your third line would likely be dropped for actual combat requiring quick movement.

You need to figure out what you absolutely have to carry to survive, and build your first line around carrying that.

Then what you need to fight effectively, and how to carry it for your second line.

Everything else goes in your ruck as third line gear.

You guys have the concept, but might want to tune it a bit before jocking up and moving out.

Don't forget that there is a weight limit. Frankly, if you are carrying more than 1/3 of your body weight, unless you do that for a living, you are a pack mule and are tactically ineffective.

Try putting everything on your list on you or in your ruck and hit the woods with it for a few hours or perhaps overnight. You might wind up making a big pile of it on the floor and figure if you didn't take it out of the pack for an overnighter, are you really going to need it when you are on the run?

Slingshots are handy. But a survival situation is no time to be learning how to use one or to count on it to put food in the pot.

A pistol is a close range back-up weapon. I would not be storing my spare pistol mags in a butt pack. You might not live to regret that. Same for putting rifle mags in pockets. Put them on your rig and practice tac reloads and speed reloads. If you want to hide them, wear another garment over them.

If it were wet or winter weather, a large overcoat, raincoat, or greatcoat (large enough to wear over your second line and maybe your pack) might be a good thing to grab and throw on when you are on the way out. Less conspicuous than a poncho.

Glad to see everyone remembered the TP. With the potential for bad water and questionable food, you could use a lot of it quickly. And it beats the hell out of leaves. If you are on an MRE diet, you might find the opposite problem, but thankfully, each MRE has its own TP supply. If you have a few extras, or find some accessory packs, take several TP packs and put them in a sealed Zip-Loc bag to keep them dry.

Leg holsters look cool, but unless you wear one every day, I doubt that you are going to be making much distance before you pull it off and chuck it.

One thing to remember about rucks is that the load usually grows to fill the space available. A big ruck may have room for things you find along the way, but it weighs more and you will likely find things to fill it.

Good to see people are thinking about their loads and what to bring, as well as what to leave behind.

TR