This list is a starting place of what you should have. Though some items on the list are a must have, you will need to evaluate what you, your family, or your group will need.
1st, 2nd, 3rd Line Gear
1st Line Gear:
First Line Gear is the stuff that you want with you no matter what. Lets say you were doing a river crossing, and you lost for footing. Guess what, you will ditch your ruck, your rifle and your LBE/LBV so you can swim to shore.
Or you are on the run, and have already ditched your ruck and since you are out of ammo you have ditched your rifle and LBE/LBV. You know, run away and live to fight another day. And this stuff DOES happen. So plan for the contigency.
SO....1st Line Gear:
Compass (Silva Ranger Type or Lensatic)
Map of AO (factory folds, laminated, no additional marking - so if you lose it, it does not TOTALLY compromise the mission)
Small Red LED flashlight (the Micro lights work for this - this is to read the map with at night)
Riggers Belt
Watch (waterproof)
Swiss Army Knife/Multitool
BFK on Drop Sheath
Strong Side Drop Holster
Side Arm
1 Spare Mag for Side Arm
Water holder (small canteen - I use a collaspable 'Platypus' 1 liter container)
Remember to "dummy cord" as many of these items to you as it practicable.
Small First Aid Kit
* Band Aids
* Small Tube of Neosporin
* Couple Asprins/Motrin
* Compress/Tampons
Small Survival Kit
* Fish Hooks
* Fishing line
* Sinkers
* Fire starter (flint/steel/etc.)
* Packets of Top Ramen Mix WITHOUT NOODLES
* Snare Making Material (64 gauge brass wire)"
* Empty film canister full of dryer lint
* Water Purification Tabs
550 cord on Boonie Hat (25')
Blast Match
Flight Gloves
'Do Rag' (USGI Triangular OD Bandage worn 'bandit style' around neck)
TOTAL WEIGHT OF 1st LINE GEAR IS 9 POUNDS!ALL of this stuff is carried on YOU. In your pockets, on your belt, etc. NOT IN YOUR BVE/LBV or RUCK!!
Remember to 'dummy cord' everything to your body, so when you need it, it is still there (not 6 miles back for the enemy to find and use).
With these items you can literally survive to fight another day. Without them, your survival odds just turned against you.
Now my 'list' may vary somewhat from yours depending on AO's and our different needs, but this list is a good guidline to start from.
2nd Line Gear:
Remember 1st Line Gear is you 'Survival Gear', right?
Well, 2nd Line Gear is your 'FIGHTING GEAR'. So, here is my list of 2nd Line Gear:
LBV
Fighting Rifle
* Bushmaster M4gery
* Bushmaster Dissapator
* AKM
* FN-FAL
Magazines
* AR - 12 30 round mags
* FN - 8 20 round mags
* AK - 8 30 rounds mags
1 20 round mag of tracer (5.56mm when carrying Bushmaster)
GPS
Emergency Flares
Smoke Generator - White
Bug Repellent
Carabiner
20' of 1" OD nylon tubing (for expedient rappel harness)
Camo Pack (for face, neck and hands/arms)
FRS communication device
AA Batteries[list][*]On a 'per day basis'[*]2 for the GPS[*]6 for the FRS[*]2 for PVS-14
CR-1/3N Battery
* On a 'per week basis'
* 1 for Aimpoint
Weapon Cleaning Gear
* Rod/Pull Through
* Bore Brush
* Chamber Brush
* Patches
* CLP
Day/Night Flare
Water Bladder (Platypus Hoser 3 Liter)
Water Purification Tabs
550 Cord - 20 feet
OPTIONAL - Binos
Hearing Protection
Red Lense Flashlight (Mini-Mag or my personal favorite the plycarbonite Pelican AA model, weighs about 1/2 what the Mini-Mag does)
[i]And in the Butt Pack:[i]
Poncho Liner - Woodland Camo USGI
Poncho - Woodland Camo USGI
Stripped MRE's (approx 3)
First Aid Kit
* Gauze Bandages
* Mil-Compress
* 2 Suture Kits
* Motrin
* Lomotil
* Burn Cream
* Q-tips
* 2 packets of USGI 'Sodium Cloride - Sodium Bicarbonate'
Snake Bite Kit
Canteen USGI
Canteen Cup USGI
Canteen Cup Stove USGI
Canteen Carrier w/ Water Tabs USGI
4 Trioxane Tabs
With the above mentioned load - one is able to live and fight for a 1-2 day period without resupply.
REMEMBER TO DUMMY CORD ANY ITEMS TO YOUR LBV!
TOTAL WEIGHT OF 1st AND 2nd LINE GEAR IS:
* WITH M4gery w/ 12 + 1 mags (390 rds)- 56 pounds
* WITH DISSAPATOR w/ 12 + 1 mags (390 rds) - 57 pounds
* WITH AKM w/ 8 + 1 mags (270 rds) - 59 pounds
* WITH FN w/ 8 + 1 mags (180 rds) - 60 pounds
3rd Line Gear:
OK, with 3rd Line Gear (Heavy) - we mean you need to live out of your ruck for up to two weeks, or it is winter and you must carry more gear. This load out that I have here is for a winter scenario that lasts for 8 days or so.
Again, this is *my* list and your may vary from it.
This fits in my Eagle Large Becker, but will also work with the Large ALICE pack.
So...here goes for 3rd Line (Heavy)
4 10' lengths of OD bungee cord
20' of 550 cord
2 Liter Water carrier (civy wide mouth canteen)
Water Bladder Camelback Storm in Ruck
Water Purifier (I use a 'Pur Hiker')
Sleeping Bag (I use a Wiggy's Winter Bag - UltraLight in OD)
Sleeping Pad Thermarest
Bivy Shelter (I use a Sierra Designs - Light Year CD - it works great as a cold weather bivy)
4 pair of socks USGI OD
2 set of cammies (top and bottom)
2 OD Tee Shirts
8 MRE's - Stripped
6 packets of Top Ramen with Noodles
Gore Tex Rain Suit Top and Bottom
1 Packet of 'Bum Wipes' (Baby Wipes) UNSCENTED!
Small tooth brush NO TOOTH PASTE!
AA Batteries 24 pack
Extra Ammo in bandoleers
2 Pair Thermal Underwear (Thermax/Polypro,etc.)
Winter Gloves
Sleep Hat USGI OD
4 pair Thermo Socks
Snow Camo (I use West German Top and Bottom Over Garments)
TOTAL WEIGHT OF 1st, 2nd and 3rd LINE (Heavy) GEAR IS:
* WITH M4gery w/ 12 + 1 mags and 2 140 rd bando (670 rds)- 106 pounds
* WITH DISSAPATOR w/ 12 + 1 mags and 2 140 rd bando (670 rds) - 107 pounds
* WITH AKM w/ 8 + 1 mags and 280 rds boxed (550 rds) - 111 pounds
* WITH FN w/ 8 + 1 mags and 2 100 rd bandos (380 rds) - 108 pounds
This is a large load, and unless one is in good shape, it will overburden one to the point of exhaustion in short order. So...HIT THE GYM!