The Premier Military Magazine for Professional Adventurers
Issue #13

Index

What Every Grunt Needs...

This article began in loud, smoky corner of a Regina bar. Rondo Pfieffer was in the middle of one of his famous 'there I was' stories. Rondo was in typical form, the deck was awash with beer and bullsh*t, and I was trying to catch the eye of a cute little E-6 who was showing off a spider she'd had tattooed on her...attribute. Rondo was finishing up with "...fortunately, I just happened to have my trusty old burdizo". If you don't know what this piece of equipment is, relax, I didn't either. You're better off not knowing.

This did, however lead to some consideration about what a grunt should have in his kit. The space in a trooper's pack, and the weight he can carry is limited. He has to make choices. As we sat there suggesting stuff for our 'perfect pack', I kept hearing my companions, all former Army legs and local mercs, talking about 'the hunter', and what he carries. Asking for enlightenment, I was informed that they were speaking of 'Hunter' as in 'Capt Berk Hunter, Imp. Army Ret." Hunter is a local merc renowned as a fantastic shot with a rifle, whose 'colorful' language had been known to peel paint and kill nuns at over 200 meters. He also has a reputation of always having everything. I arranged an introduction for the next day.

Captain Hunter turned out to be a decent guy, despite not having served in the Marines. I found out he'd served 6 terms in the Imperial army, mostly in the commandos. He'd come in as a buck private -- it was that or the poky -- and risen to sergeant, then OCS and officer, before retiring with his captain's bars. He was pretty wild and loud, but when talk changed to 'shop' he became deadly serious. This was a troop with a lot of field time, mostly down in the dirt doing counter insurgency work. He'd had a few terms to figure out his load. As we chatted about the stuff a grunt needs, he mentioned every item the five of us had thought of the previous night, plus one or two items more. I asked him to share his thoughts on what a grunt should carry...

The Basic Load

Captain B. B. Hunter, Imperial Army Commandos (ret.)

A lot of grunts pack a ton of crap around that is totally useless. Worse, they aren't carrying the essentials. When vacationing in exotic foreign land full of locals who'd like nothing better than to see you dead or worse, you'd better not plan on picking up anything you left back on Regina at the local A&P. A poorly packed kit is an anchor. A well packed one will save your worthless ass. This list of junk is pretty much the kit I and my fellow commandos hauled around during the last Big One. We learned it from NCOs who'd done the same in the BIG One before that, and so on back to when Sgt Og led his squad of cro-mags in the first Big One, or close enough. This is basic gear for normal environments. If you are in PF, vary accordingly.

UNIFORM
Field Uniform or CES
Field cap or boonie hat
With IR tape sewn in Socks
Sock/boot liners
Blousing bands
Boots
Heavy or light Gortex jacket
Wristwatch
Wrist compass
ID tags
ID card
Sunglasses
Scarf, net
Protective glasses
Knee pads
Black leather or Nomex gloves

1st LINE GEAR
(in pockets or on pants belt)
Rigger's belt w/safety ring
Pen flares w/4-6 flares
Survival kit
Pocket knife/multi-tool
Compress bandage
Pistol holster w/mag pouch
Pistol
Pistol magazines (2)
Signal (orange) cloth
Note pad
Pen and pencil
Ear plugs
Lighter
Whistle
Signal mirror
SOI/CEOI
Compass, lensatic w/case
Map or map box
Colored markers
Penlight
Emergency rations
Spare parts
gold coins

2ND LINE GEAR
(carried on web gear)
(short term supplies if ruck ditched)
Battle rifle
Rifle magazine (1-2)
Load bearing vest or harness
Pistol belt
Belt pad
Rifle magazine pouches
Rifle magazines, 30 round, (7-13)
Rifle magazine, 20 round, (1) Rounds, rifle, 4x1 tracer, 210-390
One quart canteen w/cover
Water purification tabs
Bottles taped to canteen
Canteen collapsible 100 oz w/drinking tube, backpack
Strobe light w/case & batteries (2)
Knife, utility/survival w/sheath
Sharpening stone
Camo paint compact/stick
Pistol holster (if not on 1st line)
Pistol magazine (2)
Pistol magazine pouch (double)
Snap link, locking D (2)
First aid kit, individual w/case
Compress bandage w/case
Cravat bandage (2)
Flashlight, mini w/filter and case
Chem lights (2-4)
Butt pack
IV set
M.R.E./combat rats
50 - 150 ft of 550 cord
Lighter
Ground recognition panel (VS-17)
Insect repellent (SSS)
12 ft nylon utility web strap
Grenade pouch (1-3)
Grenade, fragmentation (4)
Grenade, smoke, white
Grenade, smoke, colored
Grenade, thermite/white phosphorous (opt)
RAM grenade rounds (12-15)+special rnds
RAM grenade pouches/carrier
Flare, parachute (1)
Wristwatch (2)
Garrote

3rd LINE GEAR
(in backpack)
Rucksack w/frame or CFP-90
Sleeping bag system w/cover
Ground pad, cut and folded
Ground sheet/space blanket
Hammock

3rd LINE GEAR (Cont.)
Tent/bivy shelter
Bandoleer w/120 rnds rifle ammo
Rations, 3 days, MRE or LRRP
Portable stove
Utensils (spoon)
Wool socks (3 pr)
IR chemlights (5)
Canteen, 2 qt. w/case
Water purification tabs
Goggles
Waterproof bag (2)
Poncho (light or heavy)
Poncho liner
Lightweight Gortex top and bottom
Polypropylene top and bottom
Field jacket liner
Wool watch cap (black)
Field uniform, seasonal (1 set)
Foot powder
100 mile/hour tape
Wire
Snap link (1)
Personal hygiene articles w/case
Sunscreen
Multivitamins
Weapons cleaning kit
Tire repair kit
Field-exp antenna kit
Wire saw
Entrenching tool (1/buddy team)
Machete (18 in.) (1/buddy team)
Sling rope (Swiss seat), 12-15 ft
Rappel gloves
Plastic bags, sealable
FO Binocs

4th LINE GEAR
(stowed gear at base)
Duffel bag
Climbing gear kit
Net, camo, 5'x9'
Net, general purpose
Barracks bag
Extra Field Uniforms (2 sets, 1 pressed)
Extra socks
Polypropylene, top/bottom
Civilian Uniform (2 sets)
Swim suit
Towel, brown (2)
PT clothes
PT shoes
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Overshoes
Gortex boots
Work gloves
Bivisack/sleeping bag
Padlocks (2)

5th LINE GEAR
(mission essential gear)
Batteries
Commo Gear
Entrenching tool
Pick
Machete
Cameras
Film
Binoculars
Formats
Demo bag
Blasting caps
Firing train for special munitions
Maps
M-5 aid kit
Neo-Morph
Claymore mine kit
M-14 mines and booby traps Anti-intrusion devices
Night Vision Goggles
Helmet
Vest, protective, fragmentation/ballistic
Carrier, trauma plate
Protective (gas) mask
MOPP gear
Air items
Single point release system
Lowering line
Quick release assembly