Building your kit. Back to the basics!

Discussion of load-bearing equipment, tactical gear, holsters, BDUs, and other gear related to Airsoft.

Building your kit. Back to the basics!

Postby Jerm_G » Mon Aug 22, 2011 3:55 am

So gents I have been busy over the last year only to make my rare fleeting appearance around the fields. Usually only to assist BSP for administrative, event development, and just to share some hard learned knowledge. However that does not mean I have been stagnant. Working, training and teaching professionals on real guns has had me spending a lot of time changing how I look at my personal protective equipment and how it’s being used. Although the solution to my problems may be different than yours. The process which I used to identify those issues and fix them may help you.

First off, a little background on my drive to do some serious reassessment. For those who don’t know me or not up to speed on my current shenanigans, here is an update. After transitioning from Marine and then military contractor, I have found myself now owning my own armed security firm and teaching firearms training courses all while juggling being a full time college student. Plus doing a little consulting every once in a while. With this change I have found myself behind a gun more now than almost ever before. I found I needed to be able to go from concealed carry, open carry, concealed soft armor, concealed hard armor, and all the way up to full armor and slinging a rifle. This is depending on the job/and or class I’m teaching or training for. Needless to say I needed to make some changes.

Now the purpose of this post is not to brag about my gear but to teach all of you how to assess what you have/ need, what you need it for, and how to put all that information into a solid load out that works for you. Now if you decide to stop here and continue no further than the most important thing I can teach everyone is that the KISS system applies and should be followed. What’s the KISS system you ask? It stands for KEEP IT STUPID SIMPLE. Meaning, bring only what you need and leave everything else in the car or at home. For those that decide to read on, keep this rule in mind as we go further in depth.

Mission

The first step in gear selection is deciding what your mission or gambit of missions are. Obviously if you are slithering around in the bushes as a sniper/ spotter role your gear is going to be different than the guy who kicks in doors, clear rooms and takes names. If you do both then you need to compensate for that. In my case I found myself changing my gear to meet the mission. Me for example, if I’m teaching a pistol course my gear is going to be slightly different from a rifle course and different again if Im conducting an client escort operation and I don’t want my client seeing all my tools of the trade.

The Tiered Gear System

The system used though out the professional world is known as a tiered gear system. This system is designed to allow the end user to raise or lower his way through the system based on the mission and the threat level. There are three lines to this system labeled as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd line gear. All though each layer has its own components, they are designed to stack on top of each other. The first layer is the only true stand alone system. Both the second and the 3rd layer need the first in order to function. Because of this, the first layer is the most important section.

First Line Gear

First line gear is the lowest rung in the ladder. Being the lowest, it provides the least protection and is the lightest in weight. What makes up your first line gear? Good question and normally many get it wrong. It is the operator’s primary weapon systems and a minimum of 2 spare magazines in magazine pouches along with any other belt or pocket carried gear. Normally a knife, wallet, pen, paper and small flash light are added as well. If the operator has a secondary weapon system such as a handgun, this would be included. For airsoft always include your eye pro in this section.

2nd Line Gear

The second line gear is more difficult than the first. Your second line gear is your armor, extra ammo, first aid kit, water, and the gear that hauls it all. This is where you also have to decide on what that gear hauler is. As an operator you have a choice between a chest rig, soft armor, a plate carrier, or a full vest. This depends on the threat level and what armor you have access to. In the case of airsoft, if you have replica rifle plates or not would be a good base of judgment. No interest in rifle plates? Go with the chest rig. Have, plates, want plates, or doing an impression with plates? Go with the rig that fits your purpose or impersonation for those who are into that. But if you run a plate carrier, GET PLATES! You look stupid without them and the carrier will not function to its maximum capability. Neither is better than the other for airsoft. However the chest rig will be lighter and allow more breathability for the user and at a more affordable price.

What goes on my rig and where?

First and for most is ammo. Without it your gun is just a paper weight. That being said only carry what you need. If you burn ammo like a wild man and run standard caps, you likely will find yourself trying to slap on as many as you can. If you rarely shoot, run hi-caps (I hate those) or just shoot and actually hit what you aim at when you pull the trigger, only carry as much as you think you will need. Don’t forget you will have a couple of magazines on your belt from your first line gear. For me, 3 to 4 mid caps on my gear is enough. Plus the 2 on my belt and 1 in the gun, that gives me 6 to 7 magazines total. Make sure these are placed in pouches that do not allow the magazines to fall out when running and are easily accessible with your non shooting hand.

The next piece of kit is just as important. It’s your first aid kit. All though airsoft is not a contact sport, accidents do happen. Your first aid kit should be placed where you can reach it with both hands and does not impede your ability to draw magazines. In every person’s kit they should at least have band aids, a roll of gauze, a tourniquet, and at least 1 cravat along with any medication you need for the day or in case of an emergency. Every player should know basic first aid and know what and when and how to apply their first-aid equipment. Only have and use what you have been trained to use. If all you know how to do is put band aids on than that is your limit. If you are a doctor, nurse, or EMT then do what you do so well and carry what you feel you need. If you are not trained to use it, leave it at home. Also ensure your first aid kit is clearly labeled and has your blood type and any allergies or health issues listed at minimum on a piece of laminated paper inside your kit. It is even better if it is labeled on the outside of your kit and plainly visible. If you have a problem, it is your kit that trained professionals are going to use. In short this is the only "real" gear you need and need to work when it's being used.

Last of the three most important bits of kit is water. YOU NEED TO HAVE WATER! Regardless of how long you are out on the field, how close to your car or what the temp outside is, you need to be drinking water. Dehydration is no joke and the only way it can be avoided is by drinking water. This does not mean two canteens of Dr. Pepper on your war rig, this means H2O. A good way to know if you are properly hydrated is to look at your pee (I’m not joking). If your piss is not clear, then you’re not hydrated, so start drinking more water. This also means start drinking plenty of water the day before you hit the field. The last thing anyone wants is to have their day spoiled by a trip to the ER.

Other Gear

This is where the kiss theory comes in to play. This is other stuff that you can’t afford to leave at the spawn point or need immediate access to. In my case I always have a map, GPS, Compass, multi tool, flashlight, electrical tape, black and red permanent markers, 6 glow sticks and gloves. If you run a radio, this would also be included. The important thing to know is that whatever you carry it is placed so it doesn’t interfere with your ability to shoulder your weapon, and impede you from drawing magazines. Also remember the more crap you carry the heavier your gear weighs. By the end of the day ounces will feel like pounds and pounds will cause pain. So leave your extra bags of bbs, snacks, propane tanks, snivel gear, and your big macs in your backpack at the spawn point or in your car.

3rd Line Gear

I’ll keep this section short and sweet. If it doesn’t belong in your 1st line or second line gear it belongs here or at home. Your third line gear is everything else that you need and goes in a back pack. At minimum you should have more water, wet weather gear, change of socks, more water, and your food for the day. Don’t forget extra ammo and batteries as well. Did I say more water? Again you may find yourself carrying this a ways so remember KISS and that ounces = pounds and pounds = pain.

Closing

So in closing what changes did I make this year? Well first I stripped down my first line gear to my handgun, 2 magazines, a knife, flashlight, wallet, and paper and pen. Holsters change depending on the need and if I find myself needing my rifle, a magazine in a kydex pouch gets added. For my second line gear I added a lvl 3A PACA with SAPI pockets which is currently on order. With this I can tier up or down with plates and go overt or covert depending on my needs. If you see me around others with rifles you can bet Im wearing lvl 4 rifle plates even if you cant see them. From there if the mission or class dictates I upgrade by adding my Eagle PC over the PACA or run with just plate carrier.

The Plate Carrier is set up as light, low profile and stream lined as possible. 3 M-4 mags up front along with 2 pistol magazines ensure I have enough ammo to last me for anything I have to deal with. If I need more all I have to do is dig into my reserves in my 3rd line gear. In reality If Im stuck in a situation for the exception of the range where Im burning through more than one or 2 pistol mags…. FML because I need to evaluate how I got in that situation in the first place. I also keep a fully stocked IFAC with 2 tourniquets, and EMT shears. A Benchmade strap cutter and my Gerber multi tool are also right up front. On the back panel I run a 2 liter hydro system, a radio, and a small GP pouch that has spare batteries for my lights and optics, head lamp, emergency blanket and compass. I also have a chem lights, zip ties, and a permanent marker as well.

My third line gear has at minimum wet weather gear, extra ammo, extra batteries, extra cuffs, food for the duration of the event, and any other necessities I may need. The bag ranges in size from my gunslinger monsoon to my full 6800 cubic inch ruck. What I bring depends on what I'm doing.

Don’t count on seeing this stuff very often on me at any airsoft game unless I’m doing some equipment testing. This is my real world work gear for use with real guns and designed to stop real bullets and they are real world expensive. For games I run as stripped down as possible. I run my normal first line gear and Eagle active shooter chest rig with 4 rifle mags, 4 pistol mags if I’m not lazy and an IFAC. A simple Camelbak carries all the water I need. Contrary to common perception, unless you are trying to create a certain impression or look, you don’t need to invest in hundreds of dollars of gear. Just what you need to get you through the day.
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"Sometimes it is entirely appropriate to kill a fly with a sledge hammer." -Major I.L. Holdridge USMC
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Re: Building your kit. Back to the basics!

Postby Ripjaw » Thu Sep 24, 2015 12:11 am

I think MHCC is looking for concealed carry instructors if you're looking into that.
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