ACU or tan gear?

[BronzeBow]

Out of curiosity, does it matter if private gear is ACU or tan? Thanks.

[crazycajun]

Doc, I'm sorta confused about your question. Are you talking about taking personal gear on deployment? If so, some units may prescribe a particular color for your carry-on bags, usually it's black/cayote brown/green. Just depends, some people purchase bags to closely match the color of the uniforms they will be wearing. If you need more info just ask.

[BronzeBow]

Just to clarify, I'm not a doc yet. It looks like most non-issue gear such as packs and pouches come in OD, tan, or ACU, and I was curious if there are any restrictions on what type of camo your gear is.

Thanks Crazycajun, the info here is invaluable.

[crazycajun]

Look at it this way, if you go to the Marines, you will be issued most of the gear needed for field use. You main pack and a day pack. You'll more than likely get a Medical Bag of some sort. I wouldn't spend a lot of money on these types of things until you get to the command you'll start your career at. Because it would be wasteful if you purchase some of these things, which can be costly, and you never use them. I've never needed more bags than I received from the basic gear issued by the Consolidated Issue Facility (CIF).

The one thing I will tell you, is that once you are done with training, make sure you have at least two sea bags.

[BronzeBow]

Thanks.

[DocHayes]

If you're looking for personal gear- backpacks, hydration packs, day bags, etc... there are plenty around that are in both the desert and woodlandMARPAT, and not that god awful Army ACU pattern.

Personally, I own a backpack and hydration system that are in MARPAT. I got them from Lejeune as present to myself for graduating FMSS (plus to help pack up all my crap). The hydration system itself comes with removable outer shells in both the woodland and desert patterns.

Crazy Cajun is right, you'll be issued everything you'll generally need. Most guys take it around when traveling to classess and schools, and what not. You can hold just about everything in it.

Gimmie a couple of days, and I'll look up where I got it from.

[BronzeBow]

DocHayes wrote:
Gimmie a couple of days, and I'll look up where I got it from.


Great, thanks Doc Hayes.

[HMC-FMF-PJ]

BronzeBow wrote: Just to clarify, I'm not a doc yet.
My advice is to wait! Throw that money in TSP or some other account until after you have graduated Corps School, FMSS, and reported for duty at a FMF unit.

A lot can happen between boot camp and the time you might actually see service in the field. The gear you might buy for the Wing is different than what you'll use as a Grunt, which may vary from what you'll want at LAR. Buying hundreds of dollars of field gear before you are a field Doc makes about as much sense as buying a bunch of trauma gear before you graduate Corps School -- but at least it is better than buying a 14-inch Rambo knife immediately after signing your enlistment contract... (Yes, I've seen more than one person do that too.)

Another bit of gear trivia learned through the hardship of others, is the burden of proof to prove you own a piece of military issued equipment is on the individual. It is assumed that the military owns all military issued gear. If you do not have a receipt for the purchase of issued gear (ie. proof you own it) then the military can claim it as their own and take it from you. The military can also claim your gear if you purchased it from a source suspected of selling stolen government property. Obviously this will mostly apply to high value items or gear like helmets and body armor, but the military can lay claim to just about any piece of military issue gear and you have to prove lawful ownership or you'll lose it.

Realize too, that all gear becomes disposable when you deploy. People who have invested a lot of personal money in their gear tend to try REALLY STUPID stunts to prevent abandonment or destruction of their gear when the bullets start flying. Instead of risking your life for a damn bag, take a complete inventory of all gear you deploy with (issued & purchased) so you can file a claim for reimbursement if the gear becomes a combat loss.

[BronzeBow]

That makes sense HMC-FMF-PJ, thanks for the advice. (I actually wasn't intending to buy anything, but that's probably the impression my post gave.)

A friend from ST7 is PTing with me because I want to have a shot at Recon. My focus now is to get in shape and learn all I can. (The gear question was just out of curiosity.)

[Da-Chief]

Everyone listen to what HMC is saying..

Keep proof of purchase, I know it is a drag, but all you need is a ANAL S-4 Officer and you will lose all your crap.

And like he said, the mission is much different in the wing vs. the grunts.

Best of to wait until you report and get with your SNCO and query them.

Da-Chief.

For what it's worth the "1" thing most of us buy are "SHOULDER OR LEGHOLSTER" for our weapons, this has changed a bit as well as as our Juniors are now carrying 16's etc..

DFC

[HMC-FMF-PJ]

BronzeBow wrote: A friend from ST7 is PTing with me because I want to have a shot at Recon. My focus now is to get in shape
SARC Screening and Evaluation Criteria
http://www.sarcforum.com/nec/screening.htm

[BronzeBow]

Thanks for the link Chief.

[bubba68]

i have to agree with HMC....but alot of guys i know use thier day pack on patrol as a med bag. they're small, low profile, and hey you look like the rest of the boys!(remember those youtube videos) normally, they'll use thier blackhawk as a re-supply bag. also, check out north american rescue products... www.narescue.com they've got a bunch of low profile belly bags, ctbs, and leg rigs that won't cost you an arm and a leg. take care bud, and good luck@! semper fidelis, semper forits, semper gumbi! doc country

[HMC-FMF-PJ]

The "day pack" is the "assault pack" portion of the Improved Load Bearing Equipment (ILBE)

The Marine version is called the Assault Load Carrier (ALC). The medical version is called the Corpsman Assault Pack (CAP). The bag itself is the same, but the ALC is just a pack with a hydration system (Camel Back) while the CAP has the hydration system plus internal pockets and carriers for medical supplies.

The Corpsman Assault Pack (CAP) was previously called the Medical Assault Pack (MAP).

Unfortunately it seems many units do not know to order the CAP for their Corpsmen so everybody gets the ALC. Other units know about it, but don't dedicate funding to buy it.

[HMC-FMF-PJ]

http://www.marcorsyscom.usmc.mil/sites/pmice/Armor.asp

I have yet to see anybody carrying the Recon ILBE or Recon ALC.