43 Essential Items Marine Corps Officers Bring To Battle | Loadout | Business Insider
TLDRCaptain Zachary McCormick of The Basic School, Marine Corps, details the essential gear carried by officers for a 72-hour field operation. This includes protective wear like Kevlar helmets and plates, tactical accessories such as a hydration system and M4 carbine, and survival equipment like a knife and first-aid kit. The loadout is designed for various conditions and tasks, ensuring officers are prepared for any scenario they may encounter.
Takeaways
- 🛡️ Marines use Kevlar helmets for protection during firefights and heavy equipment operations.
- 🔫 Officers carry standard-issued weapons like M4, M16, IAR M27 rifles, and machine guns.
- 🎒 The plate carrier and Kangaroo pouch are used for note-taking gear, maps, and essential tools.
- 💧 Hydration systems and canteens are crucial for maintaining water supply during operations.
- 🥾 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is essential for handling heavy equipment and using weapon systems.
- 🌌 Night-vision optics and goggles are attached to helmets for low-light or nocturnal operations.
- 🍽️ Meals Ready-to-Eat (MREs) provide around 1,300 calories and have a heating system for main meals.
- 🧴 Hygiene kits include items like sunscreen, ibuprofen, foot spray, and baby wipes for field use.
- 🏥 A Field First-Aid Kit (IFAK) contains tourniquets, Combat Gauze, and H bandages for medical emergencies.
- 🛸 Camouflage netting and adaptive clothing layers are used for environmental concealment and temperature regulation.
Q & A
What is the purpose of the Basic School as described by Capt. Zachary McCormick?
-The Basic School is where all commissioned officers or appointed warrant officers come to train after their commission or appointment, before moving on to the Fleet Marine Force. It provides essential military training and skills.
What are the primary functions of the Kevlar helmet mentioned in the transcript?
-The Kevlar helmet provides protection during combat and other operations involving heavy equipment. It also supports mounting night-vision optics and has cat eyes on the back for visibility in low light conditions.
What is stored in the kangaroo pouch on Capt. McCormick's plate carrier?
-The kangaroo pouch on the plate carrier holds note-taking gear, notebooks, maps, laminated papers, and tools like a knife, providing easy access to essential items.
Why is paracord wrapped around the knife gifted by Capt. McCormick's father?
-The paracord wrapped around the knife can be used to build a shelter or handle other emergency situations, making it a versatile survival tool.
What does the hydration system on Capt. McCormick's gear entail?
-Capt. McCormick's hydration system includes a hose attached to his flak with an external hydration pouch, ensuring he has a water source readily available during operations.
What is the role of the IFAK (Individual First Aid Kit) in Capt. McCormick's gear?
-The IFAK contains essential medical supplies like tourniquets, combat gauze, and H bandages. It also includes a quick reflective blanket for signaling or extra warmth, crucial for immediate medical response and survival in the field.
Describe the multi-layer sleeping system used by Capt. McCormick.
-The sleeping system includes a bivy sack, a woobie (internal lightweight blanket), a medium-weight brown bag, and a highly insulated black bag. This system can be adjusted based on weather conditions, providing necessary insulation and waterproofing.
What are the key features of the compass used by Marine officers as explained by Capt. McCormick?
-The standard-issue compass has a bezel ring with illuminated markings for night navigation, a scale for map measurements, and a thumb ring for stability. It is used for accurately shooting azimuths and navigating in the field.
Why are Capt. McCormick's clothes designed with specific materials and layers?
-Capt. McCormick's clothing layers are designed to manage moisture, provide insulation, and maintain body temperature. The layers include a Frog material base layer for wicking moisture away, followed by a waffle top and bottoms for insulation, and waterproof Gore-Tex outer layers.
How does Capt. McCormick emphasize the importance of immediate accessibility to equipment during operations?
-Capt. McCormick highlights the training protocol where equipment must be immediately put back after use to ensure readiness in sudden combat scenarios, emphasizing the importance of quick access and organizational discipline in field operations.
Outlines
🛡️ Equipment and Gear Overview
Capt. Zachary McCormick introduces himself as a war-fighting instructor at The Basic School on Marine Corps base Quantico. He outlines the standard equipment a trained officer would carry for a 72-hour field operation, starting with the Kevlar helmet for protection in firefights and heavy equipment operations. Additional gear includes 550 cord for attaching optics, illuminated fabric for visibility, PPE like eye protection and gloves for handling weapons, and a standard-issued plate carrier with a kangaroo pouch for note-taking gear and maps. He also describes a knife gifted by his father, highlighting its features and utility in various situations. The hydration system and gas mask are also detailed, along with cammie netting for camouflage and the contents of his assault pack, including a TBS Student Field Guide, tools, and a red-lens headlamp for minimal signature.
💧 Water and Food Supplies
The paragraph discusses the importance of hydration and food in the field. Capt. McCormick describes the standard-issued canteen and the use of Nalgenes for additional water sources. He also explains the storage of food, including Meals Ready-to-Eat (MREs) with approximately 1,300 calories each, containing carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and sugars for morale. He mentions the heating systems within MREs and the use of Jetboils for more convenient food preparation. Furthermore, he outlines the contents of his hygiene kit, including sunscreen, ibuprofen, foot spray, shaving kit, baby wipes, and toothbrush, emphasizing their importance for maintaining field readiness and self-sufficiency.
🌡️ Clothing and Insulation
Capt. McCormick explains the various layers of clothing used for insulation and protection against the elements. He describes the waffle top and Frog material for base layers, emphasizing their role in wicking moisture away from the body to prevent dampness and cold. He details the waterproofed rain gear made of Gore-Tex material, which is effective in keeping the wearer dry and preventing hypothermia. The sleeping system is also discussed, including the bivy sack, woobie, and medium-weight sleeping bag, along with their use in different temperature conditions. The black bag, suitable for freezing temperatures, is mentioned as an alternative sleeping option. The paragraph concludes with a brief overview of the tools used for navigation and the importance of proper equipment management during field operations.
📍 Navigation and Combat Tools
In this paragraph, Capt. McCormick focuses on navigation tools and combat equipment. He introduces the standard-issue model 3H compass used in the Marine Corps, detailing its features such as the bezel ring with illuminated piece for nighttime visibility, the ability to measure distances in degrees or mils, and the use of the string for shooting azimuths. The compass's role in teaching lieutenants for success in the Fleet Marine Force is highlighted. He also describes the E-tool or entrenching tool, explaining its use for digging trenches and fighting positions, and its serrated edges for cutting roots or branches. The paragraph concludes with a reminder of the importance of keeping equipment organized and readily accessible to respond effectively to combat situations.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Kevlar
💡Hydration system
💡Plate carrier
💡MRE (Meal, Ready-to-Eat)
💡Gas mask
💡Assault pack/day pack
💡CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, or Nuclear)
💡Multitool
💡Flak jacket
💡Cammie netting
Highlights
Captain Zachary McCormick provides an overview of essential items carried by Marine Corps officers for a 72-hour field operation.
The Marine Corps Basic School is where every commissioned or appointed officer trains before joining the Fleet Marine Force.
Standard helmet with additional Kevlar provides protection during firefights and heavy equipment operations.
550 cord or parachute cord is used to attach optics like night-vision devices to the Kevlar helmet.
Cat eyes are illuminated pieces of fabric on the back of the helmet for visibility in low light conditions.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is essential for handling heavy equipment and using weapon systems.
The standard-issued plate carrier is a crucial part of the officer's gear, often with additional pouches for maps and notebooks.
Hydration systems with external pouches are vital for maintaining water supply during operations.
Gas masks are standard issue for protection against potential CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear) threats.
Cammie netting is used for camouflage to break lines of sight and maintain a concealed position.
Assault packs or day packs carry additional gear and supplies for short field operations.
Red-lens headlamps minimize signature and are used for navigation and other tasks in low-light environments.
Ballistic eye pro and additional pouches for water sources are part of the standard loadout for Marines.
MREs (Meals Ready-to-Eat) provide high-calorie meals with heating capabilities for sustained energy during missions.
Jetboils and other portable stoves allow for convenient heating of food and liquids in the field.
Hygiene kits with items like sunscreen, ibuprofen, and foot spray are essential for maintaining health and comfort.
Field first-aid kits (IFAKs) contain tourniquets, Combat Gauze, and H bandages for immediate medical response.
Load-bearing vests or fighting load carriers offer lighter, more expeditionary options for carrying gear.
Waterproofing bags and rain gear made of Gore-Tex material are used to keep equipment and the individual dry and prevent hypothermia.
The E-tool or entrenching tool is a versatile piece of equipment for digging trenches and chopping through roots or rope.
Sleeping systems including bivy sacks, woobies, and insulated bags ensure warmth and protection during rest periods.
M4 carbine rifles, M16 rifles, and M27 automatic rifles are standard-issue weapons for Marine Corps officers.
The model 3H compass is standard issue for navigation, with features for night use and calling artillery fire.