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One more small but helpful tip I have picked up from Mick (if this seems trivial I apologize) is keeping the bottom button of your cover shirt unbuttoned. It keeps whatever you have on your belt from printing as much and helps cover an owb holster when you sit down. I don't tend to carry as much shit on me, but I do like actually covering what I got.
RE - Concealment
In general; dark colors are better than light colors and patterns are better than solids for hiding shapes. What you can hide and where you can hide it depends on your build.
I clear my cover shirt by pulling straight up (this will most likely pop buttons on a button front shirt) with one or both hands, depending on how tight the garment is (button down with the bottom buttons undo only needs one, athletic cut softshell probably needs two).
I work with guys that modify their clothing to aid in quick access. Lining the inside of the shirt on your gun side with Duct tape gives the shirt less "flop" if you clear by sweeping the garment back with your firing hand. Sewing the buttons onto the outside portion of the shirt and then attaching velcro to the inside with Shoe Goo or something similar can allow a closed front but still let you sweep the shirt out of the way if that's your preferred method.
RE - Mindset/Expendable items (rubber bands/batteries)
This is a little bit more of a "mindset" deal but it's part of my routine.
I'm a big fan of, for lack of a better word, Rituals. By that I mean the time that you I set aside to perform a predetermined set of tasks to mentally orient myself. This could be a cup of coffee in the morning while reading the news, a glass of whiskey in the evening to close out my day when I'm home, or a couple of deep breaths through my nose and setting my feet to go through a door.
Over the last several years I've developed a particular routine. When I get in country I take the first night and lay out all my gear. I replace the rubber bands that hold the TQs on the rifle stocks. I put new TQs in/on my gear. I check the expiration date on my medical supplies and replace items as needed. I put new batteries in everything. I load all my magazines to ensure they have the right rounds in the right amounts. Finally, I put kit on and work through some dry practice making sure nothing's changed since I left.
All of this serves two purposes.
First, it ensures that all my gear is ready to go. Exposure to dust and sunlight has a way of degrading materials and velcro. Changes in temperature decrease battery life. While I'm 99% sure that my T1 would be fine if I only put a new battery in it once every 18months or so, this way I know damn well that the battery is fresh.
Second, this is the time when I'm mentally preparing. there's an old saying; "He who whets his steel, whets his courage". Preparing my kit is also my time to prepare myself spiritually and emotionally. It's my time to get my mind right. It doesn't ruin my day if our OP tempo doesn't leave room for that right away. But I greatly prefer it when it does.
Thank you for this thread.
Have you developed an awareness to any pre-fight cues? Similar to Southnarc's MUC, but in foreign lands.
Thanks again.
The fight is usually on when the IED goes off. ;)
Seriously, TTPs (Tactics, Techniques and Procedures) can vary wildly from one area to another. Stand alone IEDs, IED initiated ambushes, complex attacks at natural choke points, manufactured delays to set up an attack and the classic 1km small arms ambush. Any and all can be in play or a combination. If the locals are hip to the scam then you might see decreased civilian presence and "wary" looks from people as you go by. If I'm in a car I'm a big fan of the "smile and wave" test. I smile and wave and see what kind of reaction I get. Sometimes the reaction is telling, sometimes it just means the westerners who've been through there before me were douche bags.
When I'm out and about on foot I sometimes ask some guys a couple of questions (I'll usually pick someone who looks like an alpha male). What I ask about doesn't matter. I just want to see how they respond. The Afghans put a lot of stock in hospitality... as long as they think you rate it. If they're sure you don't rate hospitality (which may mean they consider you an enemy) they might be pointedly rude. Again, this might mean that something's up, or it might mean that the guys cousin got the business from a westerner and he's not the "forgive-and-forget" type.
Honestly, the biggest thing (as always) is just having a handle on the "norm" and recognizing when things are outside of it. Whether it's body language or the situation on the street. If something feels "off", it probably is. That doesn't mean the fight is on, it just means something is off.
I hope that answers your question (as I sidetrack my own thread). [panic]
This is a cool thread to read. Thanks Mick.
Sent from my teepee using smoke signals.
Another quick question, gloves or no gloves? I am sure it's situation and weather related, but wanted your take on them.
Still enjoying the thread, thanks for sharing your insight.
You nailed it. Situation and weather dependent. I don't like the loss of dexterity but sometimes it just can't be helped.
The most dexterous gloves I've used in wet/cold(ish) weather are the Hatch Specialist gloves. They're cheap, the neoprene is warmish, and the palms stick really well in wet conditions. However, they're not really warm, they wear out quickly and they're not Fire Resistant (important for use aboard aircraft that might crash or vehicles that might get blown-up).
The OR Overlord gloves are fairly dexterous, fire resistant and hold up very well. But they're expensive as hell and they're not cold weather gloves.
I've been issued both the Cam SV and the Tactician AR gloves from Arc'teryx. The Cam SVs are my favorite for cold weather (Note - In Arcteyx speak; SV denotes gear made for Severe weather. AR denotes gear designed for All around use). The Tacticians are good gloves but they're kind of a "jack of all trades, master of none" pick. They're not really warm or really dexterous. But they are warmer and more dexterous than an option that does one or the other really well. If I could only have one pair that might be my choice.
I've used the Mechanix gloves for training at home and they worked fine but my favorite were the Southwest Motorsports hot weather gloves. When Camelback bought SWMS the gloves went away for a bit. Camelback now makes the Vent Glove. It's almost identical to the old SWMS offering except in black. I haven't played with the Heat Grip from CB but I might try a set when I'm at home next time. And of course there is the old standby of military issue Nomex Aviators gloves. Which, if you can find them for the right price (under $20 for me) are probably one of the most cost effective solutions out there for a "disposable" tactical glove.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mick-Boy
love your posts i bought the mayflower chest rig based off your recommendation its comfortable as hell....why do you prefer a chest rig over having mag pouches at your side????
why do you carry a 14ga needle? and is it a sewing needle or a syringe????
I would bet it's to release the pressure from a sucking chest wound. (Edit: I don't carry one because I've been told that if you don't know what you are doing it is real dangerous.)Quote:
Originally Posted by cofi
I am guessing its to do, among other things, a needle decompression of a tension pneumothorax (look up needle thoracostomy). SuperiorDG is correct - unless you have recieved specific training, and do ongoing practice, in how to do one you need to stay away from this technique. For most situations a chest seal is the preferred method for dealing with a tension pneumothorax. But I am guessing MickBoy knows what he is doing, has had the training, and has chosen to use this technique for his particular situation.Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperiorDG