When I was in the Marines, I was issued a variety of load carrying options. I had plate carriers, the Interceptor vest, the MOTV , and the LBV (Load-Bearing Vest) "ELL-BEE-VEE", also known as the FLC (Fighting Load Carrier) "FLICK" in the Army. I found the LBV to be an ideal method of carrying all my crap while leaving my plate carrier slick. This allowed me to shed the added combat load without dropping my body armor with it. I found it clumsy and odd to attach all my pouches to my armor and then try to get into a vehicle and drive for hours, just to have to then go on a patrol or go on post for four hours. I was just standing there in a Hesco tower, so it was ridiculous to have all my ammo ON me when I could lay out my LBV and take a load off my back, knees, and feet. Overall, I was able to turn my body armor into Line 1 and have my LBV as my Line 2 gear, making it more accurate to call it the Fighting Load Carrier (FLC). This worked out well and I have carried this concept forward with me. For the remainder of this article, I will use the acronym FLC, since I believe it describes the gear more accurately. DESIGN AND FEATURES The FLC is a modular load-bearing system built to offer the soldier a way to carry their fighting load in a lightweight, 'one size fits all' vest format. The FLC is covered in MOLLE, offering the user a wide range of loadout options based on their role/needs.
There is a mesh pocket on the bottom section of the vest that can hold small items. There is a single Velcro strap keeping the internal panel from flopping around. Perhaps a compass, multitool, or other slim item(s) can be held in these pockets. I personally would recommend using dummy cord to keep these items from getting lost during movement.
The belt of the FLC is held in place by nylon tabs built into the rear sleeve of the MOLLE panels. The front of the MOLLE belt has a snap buckle on long adjustable straps attached to the MOLLE chest panel using a polymer tri-glide the excess strap must run through before exiting the front of the chest panel. Higher on the front is a small buckle and a zipper that runs up halfway the FLC.
RIFLEMAN LOADOUT I did not have a FLC set up for a dedicated rifleman, but I will do my best to describe how I would modify the above loadout to better accommodate a rifleman in their role. I would remove the pistol mag pouches and add a smoke grenade (smoke grenade) and flashbang pouch (monocular). I would fill in the right chest panel with a pouch identical to the one on the left. These pouches would house a canteen and utility items camo cream, chem light, multitool, etc.). I would not have the hydration bladder either. I would also replace the magazine holders with one individual pouch Velcro flap pouch (2) alongside a SAW pouch to carry more ammunition (5-6). I would also run a butt pack to carry field sustainment gear (spare pair of socks, food, survival kit, weapons cleaning kit, electrical tape, bug repellant, etc.). The rifleman loadout would also presuppose that the role would include an assault pack (line 3). SCOUT/POINT LOADOUT A scout in my area is going to be best outfitted with a semi-auto shotgun and a pistol. For my loadout, I have it setup to run heavy on shotgun shells (55 shells total) due to the role of the point man/scout to lay down suppression with cover shooting techniques using buckshot. Keep in mind that the scout should be set up lighter than the other patrol members due to his role to move with agility and finesse while attempting to find the safest and best route for the patrol. The utility pouch on the right holds a canteen, camo cream, some medical gear. The little utility pouch above it holds a multitool, compass, and pace beads.
LIMITATIONS OF THE FLC The FLC is designed to carry the bulk of your fighting load on your torso, much like a chest rig. It distributes weight much better and offers more ways to carry a combat load. The problem is that space is very limited on the tapered sections as it gets closer to the shoulders. Of course if you need more stuff on a patrol/mission, you can always take it in a patrol pack and forget about crowding the FLC with more pouches. During my training with Max Velocity Tactical, I found the FLC to be limited in ammo carriage capability compared to something like the British belt kit. To carry an equal amount of ammo on the FLC would raise the weight to a burdensome level and rob the FLC of room to carry and balance other essentials such as water and medical equipment. The FLC is better suited as a quick mounting option for the fighting load alone, designed to facilitate carrying an assault pack on the back to complete the soldiers loadout balance and gear necessities, to include an ammo bandoleers, spare clothing, rations, extra medical, sustainment, etc. CLOSING THOUGHTS
I have used the FLC in training and in combat, and I find it to be quite efficient for dynamic fighting. You will not always need to have ammo on you when you wear your armor, but you will more than likely find yourself needing to wear armor quite often. Regardless, the FLC was designed for the soldier, and it works really well for what it was designed to do. These load carriers typically can be found new for only $20 if you get the UCP versions. I recommend doing a dye job, as you can tell I did myself. Or you can go on eBay and grab a USMC surplus version, like I did. Either way, the FLC is not an outdated concept, and it is available now for great prices, often coming with pouches sold as a set. I got a killer deal that had 11 items (assault pack, butt pack, FLC, 3 rifle mag pouches, flashbang pouch, 2 grenade pouches, two canteen pouches) all for just $50 NEW! It was in UCP but it only cost my $15 in dye to change the color of all the pouches and gear. Let me know what you think of this gear. Is it a relic of times past, or is it still something you would consider using?
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