Planning considerations for lightening the soldiers’ load

[MikeL]

http://origin.adsinc.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/SoldiersLoadHandbook.pdf

some excerpts from the document

Introduction
The purpose of this reference guide is to consolidate well-known and
validated practices through established fundamentals and principles that
help manage and configure the Soldiers’ load in a combat environment
according to Mission, Enemy, Terrain and weather, Troops and support
available, Time available and Civil considerations (METT-TC). The data
contained in this guide provides a tool for Soldiers and leaders to derive
ideal load set-ups for individual load carrying platforms through application
of fundamentals and principles with regard to load management
configurations. It will supplement, not replace, existing SOPs, doctrine,
fundamentals and principles, with a reference of consolidated applicable
information to help guide Soldiers and leaders through load configuration
challenges.

1. Mission Critical Configuration Items (MCCIs)
Key items requiring accessibility while in combat firing positions
(i.e., standing, kneeling, prone) are:
• Magazine pouches
• Radio
• Marking systems
• Navigation items
• Water/Hydration systems
• Immediate self aid items (tourniquet)
NOTE:  The items identified represent systems that are critical to
conducting combat operations and providing Soldier survivability.
2. CONFIGURE these items for ease of access.
Ensure Soldiers configure their body armor platform and
supplementary items with access in mind. Leaders should consider
allowing flexibility in configuration as long as the Soldier’s ability to
function properly is enhanced or un-impeded. Recognizing the impact
that body type has on location and distribution of mission items is
critical to Configuration.  Leaders should understand Soldier
physicality (different heights, weights, body shapes) affect the ability to
access critical mission items. Therefore, leaders should be willing to
accept each Soldier’s kit configuration assessment within reason.

4. TAILOR the load for Soldier fit, form and function.
All Soldiers and leaders should review the combat load out to
ensure the fit form and function of individual platform is
streamlined. Give particular attention to the Soldier’s ability in the
following areas:
• SHOOT
o Can the Soldier easily shoulder the weapon and
accurately/effectively engage targets?
o Can the Soldier easily access and change magazines
quickly and efficiently?
“Slow is smooth, smooth is fast; speed is the
efficiency of motion”
• MOVE
o Can the Soldier run, climb, fit through
doorways/windows and negotiate obstacles?
o Can the Soldier comfortably fit in vehicles and aircraft
and maintain easy access to mission essential items?
• COMMUNICATE
o Can the Soldier easily access communication
systems?
o Consider size of comms package
o Does the Soldier’s load impede the ability to
communicate or conduct hand and arm signals?
o Can the Soldier access and employ marking systems?
• SELF MEDICATE
o Ensure Soldiers can easily access emergency self-aid
critical items: tourniquet and Individual First Aid Kit
(IFAK).
o Place tourniquets in pockets on each extremity to
ensure rapid application.

 

[Jarnhamar]

some excerpts from the document

o Place tourniquets in pockets on each extremity to
ensure rapid application.

I was surprised when a medic told me there has been only one instance of a CF member in Afghanistan applying a tourniquet to themselves.

Also reminds me of a gooft section commander who made his section leave the wire with 8 C.A.Ts loosely applied to their arms and legs.

Interesting read though.  I find ideas like this start out with good intentions where a bare bones kitlist is handed out. Then revised versions start to pop up with a slow but steady increase in kit and weight.

 

[MikeL]

Also reminds me of a gooft section commander who made his section leave the wire with 8 C.A.Ts loosely applied to their arms and legs.

How long did that last for? 

Interesting read though.  I find ideas like this start out with good intentions where a bare bones kitlist is handed out. Then revised versions start to pop up with a slow but steady increase in kit and weight.

Yea that usually happens,  just need to have people enforcing a minimal kit list.  Probably just old mentality,  plus everyone gets trained up that way on course as well.  Socks and rain gear in your webbing/tac vest, etc

 

[PuckChaser]

I was surprised when a medic told me there has been only one instance of a CF member in Afghanistan applying a tourniquet to themselves.

I can see that though, with everyone combat first aid qualified and at least for Op Attention we had 1 in 5 pers qualified TCCC. Injured members probably don't have time to perform self-aid as someone is already there.

 

[daftandbarmy]

http://origin.adsinc.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/SoldiersLoadHandbook.pdf

some excerpts from the document

Amusing.

Reminds me of the long lists of stuff we were supposed to carry but, when it came down to actually doing the business, we went out with what we were wearing, ammo, rations, water, radios and ditched everything else (including helmets and flak jackets, shock-horror).

 

[Old Sweat]

I'm not sure how relevant this is, but a friend called a few days ago. He served in 1st Light Battery, later Z Battery in the early 50s. After being forced to hump their kit back to the terminal through deep snow at Churchill after a RCAF Boxcar had an engine failure on takeoff and spun out and skidded about 800 metres off the runway, he ordered that the maximum weight to be carried in their rucksacks was 44 pounds, or 20 kilos.

 

[daftandbarmy]

I'm not sure how relevant this is, but a friend called a few days ago. He served in 1st Light Battery, later Z Battery in the early 50s. After being forced to hump their kit back to the terminal through deep snow at Churchill after a RCAF Boxcar had an engine failure on takeoff and spun out and skidded about 800 metres off the runway, he ordered that the maximum weight to be carried in their rucksacks was 44 pounds, or 20 kilos.

Interesting coincidence: a guy I know who was with the SAS in Borneo said they set a strict weight restriction of 40lbs for the bergens of the patrols heading out into the ulu, and had a weigh in prior to leaving the base. Anything heavier would result in undue wear and tear on the troops, which showed up in the MIR. This helped to reduce the amount of 'snivel kit' that made it's way into the bags.

Of course, this was in addition to the ammo, water and other chattels in their belt kit.

 

[Old Sweat]

He made that point. I put my winter gear on before leaving home and weighed myself, sans weapon, ammo and radio, and found as a pretty fit major in my early thirties, I was lugging 72 pounds.

 

[a_majoor]

A very old argument.

SLA Marshall wrote "The Soldier's Load and the Mobility of the Nation" in 1949. B.H. Liddel-Hart wrote "Paris, or, the future of war" in 1925, and touched on the theme again in "Deterrent or Defense" I'm sure there are other works through the ages which advocated lighter loads for the soldier.

Of course, the actual loads of the Infantry have been pretty consistent over the ages, Greek Hoplites carried about 30kg of armour and kit, so did "Marius' Mules", and so did many British and Canadian Infantryment going "over the top" in the Great War, and so do many of us today. It would be nice for the reformers to win the argument once and for all, I'm getting pretty old to be hauling all this stuff around.

As the saying goes: "When I was a private, I had to carry 100 lbs of heavy stuff everywhere. Now I only have to carry 100 lbs of really ight stuff"

 

[MedCorps]

I was surprised when a medic told me there has been only one instance of a CF member in Afghanistan applying a tourniquet to themselves.

This statement is just not true.

MC

 

[brihard]

Also reminds me of a gooft section commander who made his section leave the wire with 8 C.A.Ts loosely applied to their arms and legs.

Wow. Anyone I know?

 

[daftandbarmy]

He made that point. I put my winter gear on before leaving home and weighed myself, sans weapon, ammo and radio, and found as a pretty fit major in my early thirties, I was lugging 72 pounds.

And that's dry weight...