More on the Soldier's Load: Pounds Upon Pounds
In the comments section of my recent article Are We Gearing Up to Lose the Next War? Overmatch, Part 2: Bullets & Backbreakers, two of TFB’s readers shared documents that help us describe the problem of the modern soldier and Marine’s load. The first, from reader cwolf, is a 2007 report by the Naval Research Advisory Committee entitled Lightening the Load. It is available on Slideshare here, or for download here. The second, from ReanerF, is a GAO report on personal protective equipment (PPE, i.e. body armor) from March of this year. In this brief post, we’ll be taking a glance at these reports, which I highly recommend interested readers make time to read in full.
Lightening the Load describes the problem of the Infantry’s (specifically: the Marine’s) increasing load in great detail. It outlines not only how much the Marine is carrying into combat, but the proper approaches to addressing the problem. The paper recommend approaching the Marine Rifle Squad as the “unit” of the system to be addressed, rather than the individual (an approach I agree with, and might even recommend extending to the platoon in the case of the Army due to their differentiated squads). It breaks possible solutions into three different approaches: lightening the load, transferring the load, and enhancing human performance, and notes that of the three, the last is the least effective (although still important). Much, much more detail is presented in the paper, and I do recommend reading it.
The GAO report helps emphasize one conclusion from the NRAC study, which is that the dramatic increase in soldier load can be attributed largely to the addition of heavy body armor. It also gives us an updated figure for the modern soldier’s average load, that being approximately 119 pounds (117 for the Marine’s average load). The report offers an in-depth look into the current and near-future state of body armor and other PPE, and is, like the NRAC report, well worth reading.
Thanks to cwolf and ReanerF for the tips!
Nathaniel is a history enthusiast and firearms hobbyist whose primary interest lies in military small arms technological developments beginning with the smokeless powder era. He can be reached via email at nathaniel.f@staff.thefirearmblog.com.
More by Nathaniel F
![[GunCon 2024] Stuff & Things’ NEW STizon Kit For 9mm AKs](https://cdn-fastly.thefirearmblog.com/media/2024/07/01/08201/post.jpg?size=350x220)
![[GunCon 2024] NEW Pistols From Walther - PDP PRO-E & PDP Steel Match](https://cdn-fastly.thefirearmblog.com/media/2024/07/01/08331/post.jpg?size=350x220)
Comments
Join the conversation
The US military needs to take a CLOSE look at what ultralite backpackers carry.
Our packs are durable (but maybe not totally "Marine Proof") and we use mainly light but strong synthetic clothing. All our gear is ONLY what is necessary.
EX. For a 7 day backpack hunt this year in upstate Nevada I'll carry a 35 lb. load (not counting 10 lb. scoped rifle) in my Osprey EXOS 58 pack, Osprey's lightest at 2.5 lbs. So their next heavier and more durable pack weighs in about 1 lb. heavier but still fairly light and very durable.
** You do not need to make EVERY cloth panel of a pack from heavy duty Cordura, just the bottom. Lighter ripstop nylon is fine in other areas.
Webbing straps and buckles can be narrower and lighter and still be VERY strong. Two 1" wide pre-curved aluminum frame braces are all that is needed in a lighter MOLLE pack.
Truly, arms and gear designers for the military absolutely must test the new gear themselves! Consider the FN Five Seven pistol that shoots very light cartridges that WILL penetrate Level III-A body armor, unlike the century-and-a-half old 9 mm round.
The Army's Nautick labs have been trying mightily to reduce the soldier's pack weight BUT new electronic gizmos keep getting added - and to my own pack as well! (eg. Steripen, GPS, camera, LRF capable binoculars... )
Yes, the grunt can still use the AR type rifle - or the better SCAR - and with 6.5 Grendel ammo will not need to carry any more ammo weight B/C of the Grendel's ability to reach WAY out and touch someone lethally. Less ammo expended may eventually mean less carried. True the 6.5 Grendel ammo is a bit heavier (heavier bullet) than 5.56 ammo but it has a greater lethal range by several hundred yards. Less "spraying and praying".
the US Armed forces have over loaded our troops for about forty years now...
in Viet nam they carried a THIRD of their standard gear and were much more mobile.