Why do Infantry Soldiers still weigh 250-300 pounds saddled up and ready to go?

CPT Jim Schwebach — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 12:19:24 -0500

Saw the numbers in a post regarding training standards. It's not too far off the combat loads we packed in the 60's and 70's, fifty years ago. Given miniaturization and lighter weight materials it would follow that the load would have decreased. What am I missing here?

Response by MAJ Jim Woods made Feb 18 at 2016 12:35 PM

MAJ Jim Woods — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 12:35:37 -0500

We really carried only the essentials back in the day and most of the weight was from water,
c-rats, and ammo (can't have enough of those). I am going out on a limb here but say that with the lighter weight gear, they are carrying some "nice to have" items.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2016 12:45 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 12:45:03 -0500

Great question. Let's say that a Soldier carries 100lbs of gear on their back. Not counting all of the other things (weapon, water, clothes, boots body armor, etc). Now, we make everything 50% lighter over the course of about 40 years. At the same time, we increase the size of the rucksack. Now a Soldier can still carry 100lbs, because that is what we have always done, right? So, we put more of the lighter weight material in there. We also add new weapon systems, new commo gear, new everything that didn't exist in the 70's. And...we come up with a load that weighs the same...we just carry more of it.

Response by MSgt John Taylor made Feb 18 at 2016 1:00 PM

MSgt John Taylor — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 13:00:58 -0500

Maybe we've increased the size of the Soldier?

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Feb 18 at 2016 1:24 PM

SGM Erik Marquez — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 13:24:29 -0500

Have a read
Its not perfect, or current, but it's a good way to understand in general
http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/modernwarriorload/ModernWarriorsCombatLoadReport.pdf

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Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Feb 18 at 2016 1:34 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 13:34:39 -0500

If you assume the average person is about 5'8" and weighs 160lbs, then you ad:
8lbs clothes and boots
10lbs Sapi Plates (Side, Front, Back) & Helmet
7.5lb Rifle
15lbs Ammo (180 round = 30x 6 mags)

That's 200.5lbs before adding a pack.

Water weighs 8lb per gallon (Camelbak is 1/2 gallon, each canteen is 1 Qt)

It all adds up fast.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2016 3:47 PM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 15:47:37 -0500

All the responses are pretty good but I will tell you that a lot of Soldiers carry more shit than they should. Not only Soldiers but leaders are just as guilty. Infantry guys are the worse because they fail to concentrate on planning logistics. It's all about the execution/actions on the objective when it's really not hard to coordinate for re-supply. Most operations these days do not require to RON, only occasionally will you spend more than three days outside a COP/FOB. Getting back into direct action operations are going to require more logistical planning to sustain continuous operations.

I can remember landing on or around an objective and spending three days living out of my butt pack. Rucksacks/supplies were slung in or trucked in after all pax and equipment landed. We have lost a lot of fieldcraft over the past 15 years. Leaders need to regain that knowledge and train their Soldiers.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Feb 18 at 2016 5:07 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 17:07:44 -0500

Yes, things weigh less than they did a generation ago....but now you simply carry OTHER stuff to make up for it. How many dudes in Vietnam wore body armor and coms gear on a routine basis? Weight is the price of having "cool stuff"....

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 18 at 2016 6:53 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 18:53:28 -0500

We are packing more and more stuff.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2016 1:38 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 01:38:29 -0500

Body Armor, batteries, radios... al things a typical Infantry bubba didn't have to carry back in the day. Making stuff lighter and smaller just means that there is room for more crap to carry.