A total of 27 years active duty US Army over the entire spectrum of threat - I retired in August '98. I'm not sure if I agree or disagree with you... in any event, the first thing is that we try to carry entirely too much gear. I used to jump with gear that nearly equaled my body weight - not including the 'chutes. This overburden has been widely documented, particularly during and immediately after WWII... I can elaborate at length, but for the armchair generals, look at the images of Soldiers and Marines deployed to active theaters - not riding around in Bradleys and Amtracs, but patroling on foot (espec. Afganistan).

The answer is not to make the gear somehow lighter (a good idea if done well), but to reduce the amount of gear. I learned to get by with a lot less gear in very cold weather than the system believes is needed - gee, the Germans learned to do that in Russia in WWII (the hard way) - it's not new. I learned to get by in extraordinarily hot conditions without shelter and "creature comforts". Is it as comfortable as having all the stuff? Heck no! But one adapts - hardship is relative.

There is some great gear in service. There is some worthless gear. But mostly there is too darned much gear.

Nyco uniforms are unappreciated until one spends some serious extended time out with lesser clothing. The present issue canteen cup is a very good and useful gadget, despite its weight. And so on... when it comes to individual equipment, I don't place much stock in the idea that somehow military gear should be a whole lot different than civvie stuff.

And probably any 10 soldiers/marines will come up with 15 different ideas of what is "best" - just as we all have preferences...

Guess I agree in principle with you.

Regards,

Tom