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We used to Camp Guard/Scotch guard the shelter halves. It helped. If you were in a boat company you would find out how NOT water proof the WP bags were.
I served a compulsory military conscription in Cyprus and I'm actually blown away by the similarity of everything. The tactical rig, the compass, the shovel, the tent, the backpack, the canteens. I mean everything is exactly how it was given to me back in the day. I remember sharing that tent with one of my squadmates and camping out for exercises and honestly this video brought back so many cherished memories. I wanted to learn more about my gear and how to pack it properly but turns out I took a quick trip down memory lane.
Mine was somewhere around 90 lbs. It goes without saying that I carried my rifle everywhere I went (with the ammo on my LBE belt). I carried all of the stuff the corporal showed, but I had a mummy bag, plus a Wool blanket, five pair of underwear, five T-shirts, BDU pants, BDU shirt, 5 pair of socks, mess kit with utensils, toiletry bag, a spare pair of boots, dirty clothes bag, PT gear (with running shoes), spare ammo and cleaning kits for my Squad. I was Squad Leader. That's the Army's idea of a promotion-- more shit to hump! I'm amazed at the TH-cam videos that say that your bugout bag shouldn't exceed 25-30 lbs. ?!? What f'n planet did they beam down from???
This is one of the best channels on TH-cam regarding a person who really gets what they are talking about. Way to stay centered and grounded. And thanks for making videos that teach and help people to actually learn. HOORAH!
I carried all that kit. And I often wonder if many survival "experts" know about or ever use any of this old but functional gear. Great video series! Thanks
When I was in the Army I was usually the only female in my unit and so had to carry both shelter halves myself. They wouldn’t let a female share a tent with a male.
My trouble was that I was Army Guard and in my first unit we 1) had an odd number of people in my 8 inch SP Howitzer Gun Section and 2) everyone in my section but me had the older Shelter halves with buttons and mine had snaps.
That's how many of us started out...and partially still do today as a hobby :). Nothing "light" about the "light infantry" equipment.Thanks for bringing back the past!
Outstanding! Spent Thanksgiving of 2018 in Havasupai (Grand Canyon) with my large ALICE pack that I have been using for over 30 years. I know people that can’t stand how they ride, but years of being Infantry and as a Scout that pack has trained my back. It has been to the Jungles of Panama, Iraq, all of the US and the US Mexico border. It is still in great shape.
We first got the folding E tool in 1974 with the XVIII Airborne Corps. I still have mine but have never seen it used as a seat before. We had the air mattresses which worked well. Mine gave out in 2005, it was dated 1968. Your carry weight was on the nose. Figured 100 lbs plus weapon. The guy carrying the pig was spared the community supplies.
You've never really used (or should I say... been used by) an Entrenching Tool till you've dug a full depth 2 man foxhole with full para pit with a couple of them. OMG! We didn't have the MSS when I was in service... you either had an intermediate sleeping bag (still have one), or an extreme cold weather bag with a basic cover. We didn't have wool bags... ours were chicken or goose down filled... some kind of feathers... I've eaten enough of them to know. Same roll mat, though. Still have a couple of those. Woobie was mandatory! oh yes!!! Still have a full pup tent... haven't set it up in several years. Maybe I will soon. Lost the shitty ropes though... thank goodness for paracord. Great job on showing the setup, by the way! Old school gear is still cool. My main camping bag is still a Large Alice Pack with frame. Great series!!!
MSS came out while I was in, but I never had it issued to me. My understanding was that if you're over 6' (I am) you were better off with the old bag. MSS was made for average sized people, and the tall guys couldn't get full coverage. A couple of guys I knew called them nipple frosters after some winter use...
I just missed the MSS, the grunts and the tankers got them before us anyway. One summer out in Graf, I used a poncho liner and a hammock for my system as I spent most of my time on call for overnight refueling runs that summer.
Thanks. The last two videos about retro military gear brings back a lot of memories, both good and bad, of my eight years as an army grunt. Much appreciated!
I was an 0341, I luckily became the section leader and didn’t have to hump any mortar gear. (60mm) Well my plotting board. In the first gulf war, we were some humpin’ mofo’s. Outstanding channel you got here. Learned a lot of new info and refreshed on some others.
@@waywardson8360 It's not that much. You need to remember that our Vietnam Forebears were lugging a lot more. My Dad had 25lbs of gear and a 35lbs radio. I consider this my template for emergency readiness.
Damn good pack. Excellent presentation. I rocked that for years. Over the beach. Jump it. I got 5 days with about 24-28 pounds if there was water in the field. Don't stop your channel. Great info, and a trip down memory lane.
Very good. It was largely ignored or unknown, but folks were supposed to sleep head to toe in the pup tent. No "front" or "back" end to the tent. People were supposed to be facing opposite directions when laying in the tent. That made the tent roomier and was tactically smarter by allowing two way visibility. Thank you very much.
Outstanding as always! My health doesn't permit me to go out and train at the moment so your videos are just what the doctor ordered. I can't thank you enough! Much gratitude Cpl Kelly! Semper Fi 🇺🇸🇨🇦
I noticed according to your set up, in the late ‘90’s the sleep system was attached by laying it on top of the pack and using the pack’s straps to secure it. Fourteen years earlier we were still using the M-1956 “spaghetti strap” sleeping bag carrier to secure it to the top of the pack by cinching it to the frame and the pack.... man, I’m old!
I was 11B in the Army which is Infantry, I love my TA-50, thats what is was called when I went to basic in "88, I have Couple sets of the LBE gear and a few ALICE Packs, hard to beat the tried and tested military gear, Great video, brought back many memories for me.
I have your video playing in our office and everyone is learning while we sit at our desks, crunching numbers, and dreaming of being outside. Thank you for your videos
Wow, throwback brother. That old gear sucked, but it’s all we had and we didn’t know much better. Do more with less, right? My ALICE pack was 165 lbs in the Mog circa ‘93. Seems like I had the kitchen sink in it. PRC-77, extra radio batteries, mortar rounds, hundreds of machine gun rounds for the M60, damn mortar baseplate, sight box, and all my personal gear. I set my pack down once and broke the frame on it. Had to fix it with 550 cord and 100mph tape. Route step humping that pack down a long sandy beach to get on a waiting LCU sucked. I’d do it again in a heartbeat though.
mikemaccoy mine broke on the rivet and actually ripped the very bottom of the tubing (from the rivet hole and below) off. I just dumped the pack on that corner, so it was my fault.
Damn, Dude! I was a "Leg." I thought my was heavy at 90 lbs.-- f'n mortar rounds?!? Shit! It was always the designated Ratelo guy that humped the prick-77 in the Infantry.
Outstanding! Yes I have purchased all the gear you shown off. I was a garrison Marine mid 1990s and when we went to the field to play Marine and drive around in our hummers we were issued the old 782 gear from our battalion supply. The good and latest gear was rightfully issued to the deployable Marines. Love the Guidebook for Marines in your thumbnail, still have my boot camp issue with my name stamped in it ☺
Great video thanks mate. Large sized ALICE packs were used by some individuals in the Australian Army during the 80’s and 90’s. Mainly by infantry soldiers and SF operators.
Awesome video series if I may call it that. Early 80s Army Infantry had the down fill sleeping bags. If you got it wet enough you were rucking a semi. Thank you for your service and what you do now.
Found this pack at a surplus store almost a year ago and love it! My favorite part is the available space in the main part and the fact that behind the outer pockets dual as an axe sleeve.
I remember that tent very well. I had a buddy touch the tent in a heavy rain . As you know it leaked like crazy . I love the old school gear. I have both the medium and large alice packs .
That was exactly what I was mentioning in the questionnaire you asked us to give input. Awesome, outstanding, please keep the old school stuff going ! I just purchased a med Alice pack with large aluminum frame all the bells and whistles ,woobie and poncho, coffee pot and cook kit. The Pathfinder canteen kit and alcohol stove plus a fantastic 10"fry pan from a local Asian market. I have a good wool blanket but I need a mat and oversized bag ( 6'3"and about 395£ ) my local surplus store has great gear all used but in excellent condition some brand new never been issued. And the pack and frame with all the amenities only ran me 45 $ ! I thought it was more than fair price. Again an outstanding job and presentation ! Thank you sir! There is so much I bet you could bring to light on gear shown . Like the etool ! Never never new it could be a stool. Or how the Alice could be loaded to balance the weight to keep it tight and comfortable with a load.
Just wanted to say that I really enjoy your videos!! My grandfather was in the Army, my uncle was a Navy seal and my cousin was a Marine! I have heard lots of great stories and some that weren’t so great. It’s amazing to know the things that a human can survive! It all comes down to know-how and gear! I believe everyone should have training in survival and a bag with the absolute necessities! Thank you for teaching us about these things!
Thanks for your service brotha and thanks for sharing the loadout. I wasn't able to serve in the Marines due to my right hand getting mangled in an industrial accident as a teenager in 1990 but I love the old school gear because that's what the guys I looked up to ran. My son is in Boy Scouts and runs deuce gear for a day pack and a medium ALICE pack for camping. Good gear never goes out of style.
Thanks for taking the time to make these videos. I like old school military gear, and it's good to see someone take the time to show us how they were used.
I once lived in a county park for three months (11weeks) in a square tent made from three shelter halves with a poncho roof. One side was open, but could have enclosed the entire square if we’d had one more shelter half. Had room enough for a cot inside on one side. Built it around a tree stump which made a great little table in the center. Wasn’t really homeless, just between apartments.
Had that gear when I was in the 82nd, 84-87 Bought it all when I got out . Even after getting out I used it for camping trips , all the way up to 1998 , unfortunately some one stole it all 🤬 that year. Thanks cpl. Kelly for this video, brings back a lot of memories and a lot of thoughts of old time friends . Well appreciated ! Have a good day!
Love seeing the Old School gear! Brings back memories for sure! I don't ever remember anyone in my command that seemed too worried about how much my pack weighed. Thanks for the Outstanding videos!
Appreciate the video! My pops has one of those shelter halves and I didn’t know how to set it up OR the fact that it was just one half of the shelter. Thank you again boss!
Your videos brought back memories about the pack and war belt. With Kilo 3/8 weapon plt. Never took the shelter half or tent stakes. Just a poncho hooch and liner to keep warm. I was always amazed on how muck gear we could hang on ALICE.
even though I know all that stuff from my time in service, I still enjoy watching your video ... I miss being in the Army so much. Good job brother keep on making these videos
Love the woobie! I still have my dads that he had modified during his Vietnam days in 64-65! Camped with my dad in the ol pup tent many times in the national forests of Washington state.
Oh my the memories ! I'd have a prc-77 in there with a few bricks and 3 days c-rats. Yep I was kicking it old school. Thanks and a big Semper Fi brothers and sisters
Great video. I’ve got an ALICE pack and it’s great as long as I keep the weight to around 45 pounds or less. That said, I noticed you didn’t do the “quick load” at the end of the video. If you’re wondering what that is it’s where you reach between the shoulder straps, with the top of the frame toward you, grab the sides of the frame and raise the rig over your head. If done correctly when you let go of the frame the pack will put itself on you and all you have to do after is buckle the waist belt and cinch all the straps to your desired fit. The green tick is still a good load carrier for me on weekend trips (even though I’ve got other packs for longer hikes).
I ended up with an Alice pack minus the frame. The e-tools we had back in the 60’s and 70’s always seemed to break at the worst possible time right at the hinge. The shelter half never left the barracks. Most everyone took a lightweight tarp with some parachute cord. The jungle provided the needed poles or one tied up to the trees. We had ponchos but no poncho liners. No one got a 2-qrt canteen, but you could get an extra 1-qrt if the supply sarge had one to pass out. We had Korean War vintage C-rations. The cigs were dust wrapped in paper. The Chiclets just as dry. Love the video if only to see what I missed.
Ode to the Woobie By R. Lee Linebarger, SFC (Ret) Oh woobie Oh woobie How I love thee How I long to lay with thee Oh woobie Oh woobie You keep me warm at night When evening comes, I want you in my sight Oh woobie Oh woobie How precious you are to me So soft, so warm, oh so silky Oh woobie Oh woobie You wrap around me You hold me tight Oh woobie Oh woobie You are my best friend You are the best of me Oh woobie Oh woobie I would search the world for thee No stone left unturned looking for thee Oh woobie Oh woobie You keep the cold ground away from me You protect me Oh woobie Oh woobie You are the world to me Share you I cannot to thee Oh woobie Oh woobie Camouflage in color you come That is blessing to me Oh woobie Oh woobie When I wash you Oh how I miss thee Oh woobie Oh woobie Never, never leave me Without I could not be
I love those poncho liners! They are the best blankets I've ever used and I have three of them here at the house. One thing about them, though... the dog will steal them when you're not looking!
You are not kidding! My Lab Rufus would get all fired up when I would pull it out for nap time. Sometimes, if I didn't let him on the couch with me I'd wake up cold and find he'd stolen it from me, and he'd be balled up on top of it on the floor and snoring away. Miss that boy badly.
Love it! I overland with surplus gear that was in the inventory when I served. Not the lightest, but plenty sturdy! I still use the hard canteens; don’t carry the e-tool, though. I camp with an M 416 trailer, so I just carry along an axe and a shovel.
It's amazing how far out technology has come! I can't believe we were still using stuff like that at the turn of the century. My dad was using that stuff in the 70's!
Excellent vid from a former Army grunt ('90-'97). We only used the shelter halves while in basic. After that, we used our poncho and bungee cords, tied the four corners out and the hood up to make a hooch. Even during the winter (10th mtn).
I started off hoping freight trains with a large frame ALICE pack, then graduated to world traveling backpacker. For about 15 years if it did not fit in or on my ALICE it was not mine. The two straps make it work; they go form top to bottom and are more than twice as long as they need to be so if you are carrying a little or a whole lot the pack expands or shrinks to accommodate. No zippers, no Mickey Mouse plastic buckles, indestructible. The shoulder-strap adjuster cams make the pack super easy to get in and out of - best shoulder straps ever designed, most versatile pack ever made.
Ya. I used what is known as "Greenland Waterproofing" on mine. 5:1 paraffin-beeswax (smells good) hand applied and then melted into the fabric w/a blow dryer. Also sewed a couple zippers in one side on opposite ends inside the seems so's I can set it up as a Whelan tent. Weighs 12# w/stakes, poles, skeeter net and rope. I don't carry it but it fits in a waterproof bag like what the good Corporal showed here and I'll throw it in the Jon boat for float trips on the local river.
At Ft. Bennig, we had to dig a trench around the tent, because it rained all the time. We threw the dirt from the trench around the base of the tent to keep snakes out.
My Dad used to carry 25-35lbs of go gear when asked by Marines or Soldiers who relied on him to be their link to Saigon while out in Hostile Territory.
Thanks for showing how to set up the shelter half. I carried one as a teenager hiking in Colorado but I just used it as a ground cloth. My dad would just laugh and say "well you're half sheltered".
A highly motivating block of instruction! You might be surprised to see how many similar loadouts on Maryland AT section. Semper Fi, Corporal of Marines.
Always bugged me that Marines got leftover Army gear. We were issued most of this prior to 1990, in the Army. The sole exception is the modular sleep system. Wish we had that in early 90s. Still rocked the old school mummy. In the infantry, we never used the shelter-half after basic. Relying instead on the poncho almost exclusively. Great video.
I never had to carry a backpack while in the Air Force, but did work with both the Army, and Marine Corps and their equipment. The best I worked with was the Army Rangers was the best as their equipment pallets was correctly weighed and marked. The grunts was the worst with their pallets not weighed and marked correctly, and we had to do it for them. Those guys was not disciplined and only had one sergeant who helped us two airmen, and two sailors repack the pallets, and while the rest of that group was sitting on their butt smoking in a NO SMOKING area. Their commander could not control them either. I was use to working with Marines and they was always disciplined and knew what they was doing. With them we just had to stop them from trying to lift pallets by hand and putting them on the airplanes.
I don’t know what grunt unit you were talking about but maybe it was national guards? My old infantry units were far from your description. Maybe today’s army is like that though.
Being a vet, I have a soft spot for milsurp. I probably have most every pack except the latest one. I have a strange one I took to a tanker buddy and he said that was what they used. They didn’t have to carry them much though, they strapped them to the outside of the tank, it’s a huge beast in woodland. I like the ILBE, I modified most of my ALICE packs with straps and waist belts from the molle pack. They call them hellcats. Really makes the Alice comfortable.
You are an excellent teacher, & I have benefited from your knowledge. I have watched your ALICE pack load out video, & I understand where to put things in it. Your ALICE pack would be way too big for me. I needed something much smaller for a day pack, so I bought a mini ALICE pack. The size is perfect for me but I don't have any idea how to assemble it. It came without any instructions. There are cordage ties in the bottom of the main compartment, & I don't know what they are for. I need to understand how to assemble it properly so I can use it. At the moment I have a canvass bag with straps attached to it that are not connected anywhere. I hope you can help me.
I remember my first bivouac in basic training back in 1971. Issued shelter half, tent pegs and poles, I even remember who I partnered with. We snuck a can of sterno to keep the inside of the tent warm. Would get in big trouble if caught. What a huge difference in gear now.
I was in Weapons Company, I carried all that , my M60, 600 7.62x 51 for the 60, plus my M16 and 180 5.56... not including all the rest... glad I didn't get stuck with .50 cal receiver at 65lbs..LOL..!!! Outstanding..!! video.. brings back memories for us old grunts
I love the old Alice gear. I really like the feel and quietness of the cotton gear by appreciate the weight of the newer nylon. Trade offs. While I have a full military sleep system in my inch bag, I go camping with a lightweight (2 pound) water resistant nylon and polyester warm weather commercial bag supplemented with a woobie and ground mat. Saves about half the weight. I use a light weight commercial tarp for shelter. Tents are okay, but a tarp is adaptable to the environment. Great video. Military surplus gear it tried and true. Especially U.S. or western European.
That shelter halves brought back alot of memories. ARMY basic training back in '89 at Ft. Sills, OK. Overnighter training Op. Was a nice night watching lightning bugs flying all around our camp. And bam at 3am woke up to pouring rain (Hurricane)andwinds. Sounds of our compares getting out of there shelters complaining of flooding. We were the only ones sleeping comfortable as we were on a slight island while our camp was in a depression. Had to get out and head back to the barracks. One crazy night.Thx for the video
I have most of that gear. I did the wildcat mod with the ALICE pack and its much more comfortable. The modular sleep is great but weighs a ton, though it will keep you toasty when its colder than a well diggers rear end. I wouldn't be too keen on the half shelter, because water soaks through. The entrenching tool is solid as a rock. I want to use a harness system for a day hike system down the road.
Currently recouping from a broken leg and living the outdoors vicariously through your videos.. Also the music that was playing during the shelter half set up demo ... would you please let me know the soundtrack ,, very relaxing and enjoyable.. Thank you for your service for the Freedom of the U.S.A. Keep up the great work sharing your knowledge with others in a way that is no nonsense !
Love this!!! I really like the delivery and simplicity of this video. I will point my students to your channel for real insight on military life. Simper Fi #Armydog
Growing up my father and I would camp in the back yard inside a shelter half tent. He had two that he meticulously maintained. It was a bit older than your since it had buttons only and no snaps, and the pegs were wood not metal. Many fond memories, even in the rain.
I served in the US Army 89 to 93. We carried the same exact kit. It was most definitely more than 70lbs. Can’t forget the gas mask, NBC clothing, etc. The entire TA50 load out was so much more. I ended deploying with the Alice kit and 2 full duffel bags which normally ended up “lost in transit” for a couple of days. I learned very quickly to keep spare clothes, hygiene items, MREs and smokes in my pack instead of in my duffel bags. Gotta say one thing though, as much time our duffel bags ended up separated from us, they always contained exactly everything we put in. I mean nothing was ever taken (stolen) from us. We were all thankful for that. My favorite part of it all was my mess kit. While everyone normally ate their MREs cold I used the mess kit to “cook” mine lol. Hate cold food unless it pizza.
I really dig the "old school" gear you're featuring. It brings back some good/bad memories lol When I was in Army BT (Ft. Jackson, SC, 1983) my company was on bivouac somewhere in the land of the pines, and we had to set up at a site for the night. The rain started not too long after we set up. My buddy and I were in our tent and I kept touching the canvas with my head. He warned me to stop because he'd been in Boy Scouts and knew it would leak there. I didn't listen. Doom on me: that spot was right over my face when I racked out and it dripped on me all night. Lesson learned. Since it was summer in SC, we didn't take our sleeping bags; I don't think we were even issued any. We had a blanket from our racks, a sheet and the shelter half that we improvised into a bedroll/sleeping bag if needed. I spent a very brief night/early morning in it during the last part of our BT when in the field after a long night march and night firing before that. I closed my eyes and suddenly my DI was shaking me awake (he was a Guamanian Vietnam vet from the 25th Div). His last name is/was San Nichols. Someone called him "SGT Saint Nicholas" by mistake ROFL!!! He was pushing Ft Jackson for awhile and may have gotten it a few inches closer to the Atlantic for his efforts lol God love ya, and thank you for helping an old guy dig up some fond memories.
You're putting out some quality content lately. Keep it up! I just purchased a Scorpion HD, waiting for it to come in the mail. Look forward to your videos.
Never spent a minute under a shelter. Carried it, but never set one up. The MSS was one of the best adoptions the military ever made. That was a sad day when I gave up my LBE for the Interceptor Body Armor, but it eventually worked out for the better.
I like having a groundpad strapped to the bottom as well, but I fold it in half lengthwise before rolling so that it doesn't stick out the sides. Drives me nuts going thru brush, doorways, and especially a busy sidewalk or hallway.
Please Hit The LIKE and SUBSCRIBE BUTTONS as well as the NOTIFICATION BELL. Feel Free to Check out my Amazon Influencer Page and Follow Me on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Thanks For Watching.
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Check out Brent 0331 I would like to see you both get together and do a video.
He knows where to contact me. Thanks for watching
@@recall5811
EXCELLENT as always.
We used to Camp Guard/Scotch guard the shelter halves. It helped. If you were in a boat company you would find out how NOT water proof the WP bags were.
Twisted or Braided 36 Bank line? Which one is better?
"Which is outstanding by the way. Why? Because I made it."
- Corporal Kelly 2019
Preston Shaw i bust out laughing at that one. He even kept a straight face. Awesome!
With a straight face. No emotion. Yes, sir! It is amazing! WHY? Because you made it, sir!
I had a chuckle at the self propping lol
you beat me to the punch by two years
Seems quite arrogant.
I served a compulsory military conscription in Cyprus and I'm actually blown away by the similarity of everything. The tactical rig, the compass, the shovel, the tent, the backpack, the canteens. I mean everything is exactly how it was given to me back in the day. I remember sharing that tent with one of my squadmates and camping out for exercises and honestly this video brought back so many cherished memories. I wanted to learn more about my gear and how to pack it properly but turns out I took a quick trip down memory lane.
Cyprus is NATO, no? A lot of NATO gear is similar.
@@MrTangent Cyrus is not part of NATO and never had been. And if want to get into why it's super complicated.
Cyprus british arab?
@@stealthsnakes-2268 none, Greek Cypriot.
Civvies : How much did your pack weigh when you were in
Every Marine Grunt : Yes
My grandpa: I was the one forcing them to carry it!
Every mother fucker who had to carry it. I still have mine
Mine was somewhere around 90 lbs. It goes without saying that I carried my rifle everywhere I went (with the ammo on my LBE belt). I carried all of the stuff the corporal showed, but I had a mummy bag, plus a Wool blanket, five pair of underwear, five T-shirts, BDU pants, BDU shirt, 5 pair of socks, mess kit with utensils, toiletry bag, a spare pair of boots, dirty clothes bag, PT gear (with running shoes), spare ammo and cleaning kits for my Squad. I was Squad Leader. That's the Army's idea of a promotion-- more shit to hump! I'm amazed at the TH-cam videos that say that your bugout bag shouldn't exceed 25-30 lbs. ?!? What f'n planet did they beam down from???
This is one of the best channels on TH-cam regarding a person who really gets what they are talking about. Way to stay centered and grounded. And thanks for making videos that teach and help people to actually learn. HOORAH!
please share my channel with others and thanks for watching
I carried all that kit. And I often wonder if many survival "experts" know about or ever use any of this old but functional gear. Great video series! Thanks
A lot of the "experts" now, don't know their asshole from a hole in the ground.
When I was in the Army I was usually the only female in my unit and so had to carry both shelter halves myself. They wouldn’t let a female share a tent with a male.
wonder why, lol. Thanks for watching
My trouble was that I was Army Guard and in my first unit we 1) had an odd number of people in my 8 inch SP Howitzer Gun Section and 2) everyone in my section but me had the older Shelter halves with buttons and mine had snaps.
Sorry to hear that, must have been rough.
@@ethanstang9941 I just made a bed roll out of the shelter half, my sleeping bag and my poncho each night.
Thats because you shouldn't have been there to begin with. It's no place for a woman because you aren't physically strong enough.
That's how many of us started out...and partially still do today as a hobby :).
Nothing "light" about the "light infantry" equipment.Thanks for bringing back the past!
LOL! Like that line from the cadence said, "I used to drive a Cadillac. Now I hump it on my back!"
Daaaaaamn Cpl! Took me back to the days of our beloved Corps! Ooohhraa!
Hell yes he did. I loved it. Good memory.
Outstanding! Spent Thanksgiving of 2018 in Havasupai (Grand Canyon) with my large ALICE pack that I have been using for over 30 years. I know people that can’t stand how they ride, but years of being Infantry and as a Scout that pack has trained my back. It has been to the Jungles of Panama, Iraq, all of the US and the US Mexico border. It is still in great shape.
We first got the folding E tool in 1974 with the XVIII Airborne Corps. I still have mine but have never seen it used as a seat before. We had the air mattresses which worked well. Mine gave out in 2005, it was dated 1968. Your carry weight was on the nose. Figured 100 lbs plus weapon. The guy carrying the pig was spared the community supplies.
I have watched this video more than once. You do a great job of pacing in your videos, don’t ramble, and have great content. Love this channel
You've never really used (or should I say... been used by) an Entrenching Tool till you've dug a full depth 2 man foxhole with full para pit with a couple of them. OMG! We didn't have the MSS when I was in service... you either had an intermediate sleeping bag (still have one), or an extreme cold weather bag with a basic cover. We didn't have wool bags... ours were chicken or goose down filled... some kind of feathers... I've eaten enough of them to know. Same roll mat, though. Still have a couple of those. Woobie was mandatory! oh yes!!! Still have a full pup tent... haven't set it up in several years. Maybe I will soon. Lost the shitty ropes though... thank goodness for paracord. Great job on showing the setup, by the way! Old school gear is still cool. My main camping bag is still a Large Alice Pack with frame. Great series!!!
MSS came out while I was in, but I never had it issued to me. My understanding was that if you're over 6' (I am) you were better off with the old bag. MSS was made for average sized people, and the tall guys couldn't get full coverage. A couple of guys I knew called them nipple frosters after some winter use...
All we had was our wool blanket and or a poncho liner. Issued those POS mummy bags a couple times
I just missed the MSS, the grunts and the tankers got them before us anyway. One summer out in Graf, I used a poncho liner and a hammock for my system as I spent most of my time on call for overnight refueling runs that summer.
@@davidlinihan3626 what era ?
Thanks. The last two videos about retro military gear brings back a lot of memories, both good and bad, of my eight years as an army grunt. Much appreciated!
I was an 0341, I luckily became the section leader and didn’t have to hump any mortar gear. (60mm) Well my plotting board. In the first gulf war, we were some humpin’ mofo’s. Outstanding channel you got here. Learned a lot of new info and refreshed on some others.
Old school Alice Pack load out!..lol Makes me feel old, hard to beat the old stuff.
Gotta love the creek of ALICE straps.
After 25 years mine has aged well. Still has that old smell of whoop ass on it. 82nd Airborne 92-96
You gotta love that old gear until you have to carry it.
I love my ALICE.
@@waywardson8360 It's not that much. You need to remember that our Vietnam Forebears were lugging a lot more. My Dad had 25lbs of gear and a 35lbs radio.
I consider this my template for emergency readiness.
@@waywardson8360 El Paso to Los Cruces is more than 30 miles.
@@waywardson8360 than you're moving more than you thought
@@waywardson8360 Aspirin helps. My wife is pumping that on me because it is nothing but good for ya.
Damn good pack. Excellent presentation. I rocked that for years. Over the beach. Jump it. I got 5 days with about 24-28 pounds if there was water in the field.
Don't stop your channel. Great info, and a trip down memory lane.
Thanks for yet another truly outstanding video, Corporal!
Very good. It was largely ignored or unknown, but folks were supposed to sleep head to toe in the pup tent. No "front" or "back" end to the tent. People were supposed to be facing opposite directions when laying in the tent. That made the tent roomier and was tactically smarter by allowing two way visibility. Thank you very much.
Outstanding as always! My health doesn't permit me to go out and train at the moment so your videos are just what the doctor ordered. I can't thank you enough! Much gratitude Cpl Kelly! Semper Fi 🇺🇸🇨🇦
I noticed according to your set up, in the late ‘90’s the sleep system was attached by laying it on top of the pack and using the pack’s straps to secure it. Fourteen years earlier we were still using the M-1956 “spaghetti strap” sleeping bag carrier to secure it to the top of the pack by cinching it to the frame and the pack.... man, I’m old!
I was 11B in the Army which is Infantry, I love my TA-50, thats what is was called when I went to basic in "88, I have Couple sets of the LBE gear and a few ALICE Packs, hard to beat the tried and tested military gear, Great video, brought back many memories for me.
I have your video playing in our office and everyone is learning while we sit at our desks, crunching numbers, and dreaming of being outside. Thank you for your videos
Wow, throwback brother. That old gear sucked, but it’s all we had and we didn’t know much better. Do more with less, right? My ALICE pack was 165 lbs in the Mog circa ‘93. Seems like I had the kitchen sink in it. PRC-77, extra radio batteries, mortar rounds, hundreds of machine gun rounds for the M60, damn mortar baseplate, sight box, and all my personal gear. I set my pack down once and broke the frame on it. Had to fix it with 550 cord and 100mph tape. Route step humping that pack down a long sandy beach to get on a waiting LCU sucked. I’d do it again in a heartbeat though.
Have to replace the rivets in the frame with 1/4" sheet metal screws. The rivets are the only thing on that pack that break.
mikemaccoy mine broke on the rivet and actually ripped the very bottom of the tubing (from the rivet hole and below) off. I just dumped the pack on that corner, so it was my fault.
Damn, Dude! I was a "Leg." I thought my was heavy at 90 lbs.-- f'n mortar rounds?!? Shit! It was always the designated Ratelo guy that humped the prick-77 in the Infantry.
I still carry my ALICE pack, and I love it. It fits my back perfectly like no other.
Flash back to my time in the Marine Corps Infantry.... Thank you for the video.. 92-1998
Outstanding! Yes I have purchased all the gear you shown off. I was a garrison Marine mid 1990s and when we went to the field to play Marine and drive around in our hummers we were issued the old 782 gear from our battalion supply. The good and latest gear was rightfully issued to the deployable Marines. Love the Guidebook for Marines in your thumbnail, still have my boot camp issue with my name stamped in it ☺
Great video thanks mate. Large sized ALICE packs were used by some individuals in the Australian Army during the 80’s and 90’s. Mainly by infantry soldiers and SF operators.
Awesome video series if I may call it that. Early 80s Army Infantry had the down fill sleeping bags. If you got it wet enough you were rucking a semi. Thank you for your service and what you do now.
Found this pack at a surplus store almost a year ago and love it! My favorite part is the available space in the main part and the fact that behind the outer pockets dual as an axe sleeve.
I remember that tent very well. I had a buddy touch the tent in a heavy rain . As you know it leaked like crazy . I love the old school gear. I have both the medium and large alice packs .
That was exactly what I was mentioning in the questionnaire you asked us to give input. Awesome, outstanding, please keep the old school stuff going ! I just purchased a med Alice pack with large aluminum frame all the bells and whistles ,woobie and poncho, coffee pot and cook kit. The Pathfinder canteen kit and alcohol stove plus a fantastic 10"fry pan from a local Asian market. I have a good wool blanket but I need a mat and oversized bag ( 6'3"and about 395£ ) my local surplus store has great gear all used but in excellent condition some brand new never been issued. And the pack and frame with all the amenities only ran me 45 $ ! I thought it was more than fair price.
Again an outstanding job and presentation !
Thank you sir! There is so much I bet you could bring to light on gear shown . Like the etool ! Never never new it could be a stool. Or how the Alice could be loaded to balance the weight to keep it tight and comfortable with a load.
Just wanted to say that I really enjoy your videos!! My grandfather was in the Army, my uncle was a Navy seal and my cousin was a Marine! I have heard lots of great stories and some that weren’t so great. It’s amazing to know the things that a human can survive! It all comes down to know-how and gear! I believe everyone should have training in survival and a bag with the absolute necessities! Thank you for teaching us about these things!
God I love that old school, but i did the helcat up grade with the straps and use it all the time. Nothing beats ALICE
Amen.
Thanks for your service brotha and thanks for sharing the loadout. I wasn't able to serve in the Marines due to my right hand getting mangled in an industrial accident as a teenager in 1990 but I love the old school gear because that's what the guys I looked up to ran. My son is in Boy Scouts and runs deuce gear for a day pack and a medium ALICE pack for camping. Good gear never goes out of style.
Thanks for taking the time to make these videos. I like old school military gear, and it's good to see someone take the time to show us how they were used.
I once lived in a county park for three months (11weeks) in a square tent made from three shelter halves with a poncho roof. One side was open, but could have enclosed the entire square if we’d had one more shelter half.
Had room enough for a cot inside on one side. Built it around a tree stump which made a great little table in the center.
Wasn’t really homeless, just between apartments.
Thank you for the video, I love hearing from people who actually used the gear.
Had that gear when I was in the 82nd, 84-87
Bought it all when I got out . Even after getting out I used it for camping trips , all the way up to 1998 , unfortunately some one stole it all 🤬
that year. Thanks cpl. Kelly for this video, brings back a lot of memories and a lot of thoughts of old time friends . Well appreciated !
Have a good day!
Love seeing the Old School gear! Brings back memories for sure! I don't ever remember anyone in my command that seemed too worried about how much my pack weighed. Thanks for the Outstanding videos!
Appreciate the video! My pops has one of those shelter halves and I didn’t know how to set it up OR the fact that it was just one half of the shelter. Thank you again boss!
Your videos brought back memories about the pack and war belt. With Kilo 3/8 weapon plt. Never took the shelter half or tent stakes. Just a poncho hooch and liner to keep warm. I was always amazed on how muck gear we could hang on ALICE.
Ask and he shall receive! Love the older gear...Great video Corporal
even though I know all that stuff from my time in service, I still enjoy watching your video ... I miss being in the Army so much. Good job brother keep on making these videos
Great review my outdoors friend. You are a wealth of information. Take care, be safe and have fun.
🤗
Corporal, you are seriously bringing back some memories!
- A former Corpsman
Love the woobie! I still have my dads that he had modified during his Vietnam days in 64-65! Camped with my dad in the ol pup tent many times in the national forests of Washington state.
Oh my the memories ! I'd have a prc-77 in there with a few bricks and 3 days c-rats. Yep I was kicking it old school. Thanks and a big Semper Fi brothers and sisters
Nice and thanks for watching
Would that fit into the pocket under the flap ? I built a PR C clone. 11meter transceiver in a. M60 belt box. Fit right into that pouch, in the 80s.
Army friend of mine called the radio, a "Prick 77".
God I remember that rig , takes me back to a simpler time . That corporal AF
Great video. I’ve got an ALICE pack and it’s great as long as I keep the weight to around 45 pounds or less. That said, I noticed you didn’t do the “quick load” at the end of the video. If you’re wondering what that is it’s where you reach between the shoulder straps, with the top of the frame toward you, grab the sides of the frame and raise the rig over your head. If done correctly when you let go of the frame the pack will put itself on you and all you have to do after is buckle the waist belt and cinch all the straps to your desired fit. The green tick is still a good load carrier for me on weekend trips (even though I’ve got other packs for longer hikes).
I ended up with an Alice pack minus the frame. The e-tools we had back in the 60’s and 70’s always seemed to break at the worst possible time right at the hinge. The shelter half never left the barracks. Most everyone took a lightweight tarp with some parachute cord. The jungle provided the needed poles or one tied up to the trees. We had ponchos but no poncho liners. No one got a 2-qrt canteen, but you could get an extra 1-qrt if the supply sarge had one to pass out. We had Korean War vintage C-rations. The cigs were dust wrapped in paper. The Chiclets just as dry. Love the video if only to see what I missed.
Ode to the Woobie
By R. Lee Linebarger, SFC (Ret)
Oh woobie
Oh woobie
How I love thee
How I long to lay with thee
Oh woobie
Oh woobie
You keep me warm at night
When evening comes, I want you in my sight
Oh woobie
Oh woobie
How precious you are to me
So soft, so warm, oh so silky
Oh woobie
Oh woobie
You wrap around me
You hold me tight
Oh woobie
Oh woobie
You are my best friend
You are the best of me
Oh woobie
Oh woobie
I would search the world for thee
No stone left unturned looking for thee
Oh woobie
Oh woobie
You keep the cold ground away from me
You protect me
Oh woobie
Oh woobie
You are the world to me
Share you I cannot to thee
Oh woobie
Oh woobie
Camouflage in color you come
That is blessing to me
Oh woobie
Oh woobie
When I wash you
Oh how I miss thee
Oh woobie
Oh woobie
Never, never leave me
Without I could not be
37 years later and that's still what covers me...
I heart my woobie
🤓
Mat best- be my woobie
I was a 2531 radio operator. Don’t forget about the PRC 77, crypto gear, and extra batteries. And in my unit we carried four canteens on our 782 gear
I wasn't a 2531 but was in a Recon Bn. We carried exactly what you just described and a bit more water if in 29 Palms. SF
I love those poncho liners! They are the best blankets I've ever used and I have three of them here at the house. One thing about them, though... the dog will steal them when you're not looking!
You are not kidding! My Lab Rufus would get all fired up when I would pull it out for nap time. Sometimes, if I didn't let him on the couch with me I'd wake up cold and find he'd stolen it from me, and he'd be balled up on top of it on the floor and snoring away. Miss that boy badly.
WOOBIE!!!
Thanks for sharing, it was very cool seeing the way you set that up.
Love it! I overland with surplus gear that was in the inventory when I served. Not the lightest, but plenty sturdy! I still use the hard canteens; don’t carry the e-tool, though. I camp with an M 416 trailer, so I just carry along an axe and a shovel.
I served as a medic in army infantry 1990 to 1994 and humped all that gear, plus a lot more. Thanks for a stroll down memory lane.
My favorite guy to listen to and learn from. Thanks for all your insight.
It's amazing how far out technology has come! I can't believe we were still using stuff like that at the turn of the century. My dad was using that stuff in the 70's!
Excellent vid from a former Army grunt ('90-'97). We only used the shelter halves while in basic. After that, we used our poncho and bungee cords, tied the four corners out and the hood up to make a hooch. Even during the winter (10th mtn).
I started off hoping freight trains with a large frame ALICE pack, then graduated to world traveling backpacker. For about 15 years if it did not fit in or on my ALICE it was not mine. The two straps make it work; they go form top to bottom and are more than twice as long as they need to be so if you are carrying a little or a whole lot the pack expands or shrinks to accommodate. No zippers, no Mickey Mouse plastic buckles, indestructible. The shoulder-strap adjuster cams make the pack super easy to get in and out of - best shoulder straps ever designed, most versatile pack ever made.
Outstanding, corporal! I love the ALICE pack, its great for backpacking and hiking trips
You should do a vid on packing and securing everything on pack
I used beeswax and linseed oil to waterproof my shelter halves, since I'm not military. Makes for a solid bushcraft shelter.
Ya. I used what is known as "Greenland Waterproofing" on mine. 5:1 paraffin-beeswax (smells good) hand applied and then melted into the fabric w/a blow dryer. Also sewed a couple zippers in one side on opposite ends inside the seems so's I can set it up as a Whelan tent. Weighs 12# w/stakes, poles, skeeter net and rope. I don't carry it but it fits in a waterproof bag like what the good Corporal showed here and I'll throw it in the Jon boat for float trips on the local river.
At Ft. Bennig, we had to dig a trench around the tent, because it rained all the time. We threw the dirt from the trench around the base of the tent to keep snakes out.
Wonder if anybody's tried a modern wash-in treatment like Nikwax Cotton Proof?
Great info, as usual. Love the history that goes along with these old school gear vids!
Excellent video, Corporal! Would love to see an old school load-out with the 1941M Haversack/Field pack.
My Dad used to carry 25-35lbs of go gear when asked by Marines or Soldiers who relied on him to be their link to Saigon while out in Hostile Territory.
Thanks for showing how to set up the shelter half. I carried one as a teenager hiking in Colorado but I just used it as a ground cloth. My dad would just laugh and say "well you're half sheltered".
A highly motivating block of instruction! You might be surprised to see how many similar loadouts on Maryland AT section. Semper Fi, Corporal of Marines.
Finally a bushcraft that's not a 100 pounds soking wet lol ....nice this is my 2nd video they are very insightful man thank you
Please subscribe and ring the notification bell. Thanks for watching
Good video on military equipment. I have been using this equipment for years and it was made for hard use.Thamks
Hey man I love your videos, its good to see you are doing well. Keep up the good work brother!
Nice remix of "Lullaby for a stormy night." Perfect usage and setup for it. Love the wordplay.
Always bugged me that Marines got leftover Army gear. We were issued most of this prior to 1990, in the Army. The sole exception is the modular sleep system. Wish we had that in early 90s. Still rocked the old school mummy. In the infantry, we never used the shelter-half after basic. Relying instead on the poncho almost exclusively. Great video.
First video I have seen showing how 1 person can set up both shelter halfs.Thanks. Excellent video
USMC Baby. Thanks for watching
I never had to carry a backpack while in the Air Force, but did work with both the Army, and Marine Corps and their equipment. The best I worked with was the Army Rangers was the best as their equipment pallets was correctly weighed and marked. The grunts was the worst with their pallets not weighed and marked correctly, and we had to do it for them. Those guys was not disciplined and only had one sergeant who helped us two airmen, and two sailors repack the pallets, and while the rest of that group was sitting on their butt smoking in a NO SMOKING area. Their commander could not control them either. I was use to working with Marines and they was always disciplined and knew what they was doing. With them we just had to stop them from trying to lift pallets by hand and putting them on the airplanes.
@nick sweeney 5
You’re full of shit Chair Force pussy!
I don’t know what grunt unit you were talking about but maybe it was national guards? My old infantry units were far from your description. Maybe today’s army is like that though.
@@Joseywales414 This was in the late 1970's and early 1980's and I didn't want to work with the units other than the Rangers and Marines.
You didn't work at Ft. Benning, did you Sid?
Being a vet, I have a soft spot for milsurp. I probably have most every pack except the latest one. I have a strange one I took to a tanker buddy and he said that was what they used. They didn’t have to carry them much though, they strapped them to the outside of the tank, it’s a huge beast in woodland. I like the ILBE, I modified most of my ALICE packs with straps and waist belts from the molle pack. They call them hellcats. Really makes the Alice comfortable.
Haha you are definitely showing your age with this gear, I haven’t seen this gear since MCT, good old days! Awesome throwback!
You are an excellent teacher, & I have benefited from your knowledge. I have watched your ALICE pack load out video, & I understand where to put things in it. Your ALICE pack would be way too big for me. I needed something much smaller for a day pack, so I bought a mini ALICE pack. The size is perfect for me but I don't have any idea how to assemble it. It came without any instructions. There are cordage ties in the bottom of the main compartment, & I don't know what they are for. I need to understand how to assemble it properly so I can use it. At the moment I have a canvass bag with straps attached to it that are not connected anywhere. I hope you can help me.
Outstanding skills Corpora Kelly!!! ❤️❤️❤️👍👍👍👍
I remember my first bivouac in basic training back in 1971. Issued shelter half, tent pegs and poles, I even remember who I partnered with. We snuck a can of sterno to keep the inside of the tent warm. Would get in big trouble if caught. What a huge difference in gear now.
I was in Weapons Company, I carried all that , my M60, 600 7.62x 51 for the 60, plus my M16 and 180 5.56... not including all the rest... glad I didn't get stuck with .50 cal receiver at 65lbs..LOL..!!! Outstanding..!! video.. brings back memories for us old grunts
I love the old Alice gear. I really like the feel and quietness of the cotton gear by appreciate the weight of the newer nylon. Trade offs. While I have a full military sleep system in my inch bag, I go camping with a lightweight (2 pound) water resistant nylon and polyester warm weather commercial bag supplemented with a woobie and ground mat. Saves about half the weight. I use a light weight commercial tarp for shelter. Tents are okay, but a tarp is adaptable to the environment. Great video. Military surplus gear it tried and true. Especially U.S. or western European.
This is one of the best channels on TH-cam.
If Only TH-cam Felt This Way. Thanks for watching
That shelter halves brought back alot of memories. ARMY basic training back in '89 at Ft. Sills, OK. Overnighter training Op. Was a nice night watching lightning bugs flying all around our camp. And bam at 3am woke up to pouring rain (Hurricane)andwinds. Sounds of our compares getting out of there shelters complaining of flooding. We were the only ones sleeping comfortable as we were on a slight island while our camp was in a depression. Had to get out and head back to the barracks. One crazy night.Thx for the video
I have most of that gear. I did the wildcat mod with the ALICE pack and its much more comfortable. The modular sleep is great but weighs a ton, though it will keep you toasty when its colder than a well diggers rear end. I wouldn't be too keen on the half shelter, because water soaks through. The entrenching tool is solid as a rock. I want to use a harness system for a day hike system down the road.
Currently recouping from a broken leg and living the outdoors vicariously through your videos.. Also the music that was playing during the shelter half set up demo ... would you please let me know the soundtrack ,, very relaxing and enjoyable.. Thank you for your service for the Freedom of the U.S.A. Keep up the great work sharing your knowledge with others in a way that is no nonsense !
Love this!!! I really like the delivery and simplicity of this video. I will point my students to your channel for real insight on military life. Simper Fi #Armydog
Growing up my father and I would camp in the back yard inside a shelter half tent. He had two that he meticulously maintained. It was a bit older than your since it had buttons only and no snaps, and the pegs were wood not metal. Many fond memories, even in the rain.
Thank you I have that exact same shovel and never knew I could sit on it that's awesome again thank you
the man is just plain good 👍👍
These videos are well timed, I'm currently making a Nam loadout and these are a great reference
Great video! Could you make a video showing how to properly wear the Alice rucksack and the y suspender?
I served in the US Army 89 to 93. We carried the same exact kit. It was most definitely more than 70lbs. Can’t forget the gas mask, NBC clothing, etc.
The entire TA50 load out was so much more. I ended deploying with the Alice kit and 2 full duffel bags which normally ended up “lost in transit” for a couple of days. I learned very quickly to keep spare clothes, hygiene items, MREs and smokes in my pack instead of in my duffel bags.
Gotta say one thing though, as much time our duffel bags ended up separated from us, they always contained exactly everything we put in. I mean nothing was ever taken (stolen) from us. We were all thankful for that. My favorite part of it all was my mess kit. While everyone normally ate their MREs cold I used the mess kit to “cook” mine lol. Hate cold food unless it pizza.
I died laughing “Not good to go”. Love your videos!
I really dig the "old school" gear you're featuring. It brings back some good/bad memories lol
When I was in Army BT (Ft. Jackson, SC, 1983) my company was on bivouac somewhere in the land of the pines, and we had to set up at a site for the night. The rain started not too long after we set up. My buddy and I were in our tent and I kept touching the canvas with my head. He warned me to stop because he'd been in Boy Scouts and knew it would leak there. I didn't listen. Doom on me: that spot was right over my face when I racked out and it dripped on me all night. Lesson learned. Since it was summer in SC, we didn't take our sleeping bags; I don't think we were even issued any. We had a blanket from our racks, a sheet and the shelter half that we improvised into a bedroll/sleeping bag if needed. I spent a very brief night/early morning in it during the last part of our BT when in the field after a long night march and night firing before that. I closed my eyes and suddenly my DI was shaking me awake (he was a Guamanian Vietnam vet from the 25th Div). His last name is/was San Nichols. Someone called him "SGT Saint Nicholas" by mistake ROFL!!! He was pushing Ft Jackson for awhile and may have gotten it a few inches closer to the Atlantic for his efforts lol
God love ya, and thank you for helping an old guy dig up some fond memories.
You're putting out some quality content lately. Keep it up! I just purchased a Scorpion HD, waiting for it to come in the mail. Look forward to your videos.
Never spent a minute under a shelter. Carried it, but never set one up. The MSS was one of the best adoptions the military ever made. That was a sad day when I gave up my LBE for the Interceptor Body Armor, but it eventually worked out for the better.
I like having a groundpad strapped to the bottom as well, but I fold it in half lengthwise before rolling so that it doesn't stick out the sides. Drives me nuts going thru brush, doorways, and especially a busy sidewalk or hallway.