5.11 Bail Out Bag

In my search for an active shooter bag for law enforcement work, I came across the 5.11 Bail Out Bag.The Bail Out Bag is a sling-type bag, and is a good size for an active shooter scenario. The Bail Out Bag keeps rifle magazines readily accessible on the front of the bag, and offers plenty of interior space for chem sticks, trauma kit, and other gear.

 With the exterior magazine pouches, you can stow two in the pouch with the flap tucked inside (there is not enough velcro for the flap to secure two mags), or one in the pouch with the flap tucked or secured.

The shoulder pad on the strap has MOLLE webbing on the outside and a non-slip material on the inside.

The shoulder strap has a slot for you to attach anything with a belt clip, demonstrated with a Gerber folder.

On the front where the shoulder strap attaches to the bag, there is a small mesh pocket. The 5.11 catalog says it was intended for a compass, but I stowed four Surefire batteries instead.

Each end of the bag has a medium sized exterior pouch with MOLLE webbing. On the front pouch, I used the MOLLE webbing to hold three chem sticks.

The back of the bag has a belt attachment point if you have the need to secure the bag to your belt. It also features comfortable padding with mesh-type material.

On the inside of the bag, one wall has a soft material intended for attaching velcro items (such as a holster). The other wall has MOLLE webbing for additional pouches if necessary.

The bag holds a pretty substantial amount of kit for it's small size. I really like this bag.

Voodoo Tactical Shooting Mat And Rifle Drag Bag

Let me preface this post with this: I am no longer in the military, I was never a sniper, nor will I likely become one.

That being said, a couple of years ago I purchased a Remington 700 in order to get into long range and precision shooting. This was my first scoped rifle aside from M16s/M4s with 4x ACOG optics. I needed a case to protect the rifle during transportation, and I was also looking for a shooting mat of some kind. Enter the Voodoo Tactical Shooting Mat And Rifle Drag Bag.

Voodoo Tactical is clearly not a high-end, optimal choice for a drag bag. For my needs however, it was sufficient. It protected my rifle on the way to the range, and offered me a comfortable shooting mat.You can wear the bag as a back pack while getting into position, or to leave your hands free to carry an alternate weapon.

The bag features loops concealed on each end in order for it to function as a drag bag. I don't feel that I'll ever use the bag in this manner, so I'm not overly concerned about how well the bag will hold up to being dragged.

The cylindrical shaped pouch on the front of the bag is intended for the storage of a spotting scope. In lieu of a spotting scope, I usually keep a couple of boxes of ammunition there.The square pouch is a padded pouch intended for a set of binoculars.

The rifle itself is secured by a velcro strap, protected inside overlapping layers of the shooting mat. There is additional MOLLE webbing inside the bag to accommodate additional modular pouches.

Again, this is not the best drag bag on the market. It suited my needs and requirements well during the time that I used the bag.

USMC ILBE Pack System

During my time in the Marine Corps, I've humped pretty much every pack and ruck that the Corps has issued in the last 20-30 years. I've humped the large and medium ALICE ruck, the MOLLE pack, and the newest Improved Load Bearing Equipment (ILBE) pack.

The ALICE is tried and true, and many military servicemen still prefer it over the latest and greatest. The MOLLE had it's issues (read: frame prone to cracking) but in my opinion rode well and had a huge capacity.

The Marine Corps' newest ILBE pack is quite impressive, and progressive in the fact that it's the first internal frame pack that the Marine Corps has issued. 

After having to turn in my issued ILBE pack, I have recently acquired a brand new ILBE pack for personal use.

The ILBE is an extremely comfortable pack, with an almost excessive amount of padding. Being the first internal frame pack that I've ever used, I felt the load being closer to the body lead to it being more comfortable and agile to walk with.

The ILBE actually comes as a system, with a detachable assault/3-day pack. I have not bothered to purchase one of these for personal use, as I've never really cared for them. There are far more superior 3-day packs on the market.

The ILBE was intended to not only carry a heavy load, but to also make carrying odd-sized and cumbersome items (ammo cans, mortar/rocket rounds, mortar tubes, mortar bases, etc.) more comfortable for the infantryman to carry. This is why there is a lot of webbing and straps on the sides of the pack. The amount of straps is my only gripe about this pack, as managing them can be a pain in the ass.

Sleeping pads can be carried on either side of the pack, or as I preferred later, to be carried horizontally on the back of the pack. The square looking "pouch" secured by a snap closure on the front of the pack is actually a fold-out shelf to be used to secure the 3-day pack or ammo cans.The shelf has a fastex buckle that secures to a buckle under the lid of the pack.

On either side of the pack, there are side zipper access points, making it easy for you to get to your gear.The lid of the ILBE is detachable, and is able to be worn much like a butt pack. I like to keep essentials in the lid, so in the event that I need to ditch the main pack, I could retain the lid and quickly move on.

The ILBE is not widely available, and when found, are typically expensive (in complete and new condition, think $300-$400). If you come upon an opportunity to acquire one of these at a decent price, I would certainly jump at it!

UK MOD Basha Shelter

Having used the USGI poncho for years, I have routinely found it lacking as a shelter. The USGI poncho was designed as a garment, but can function as a shelter with the hood tied off.

With the military now issuing Goretex garments, the USGI poncho probably hasn't been worn as a garment since shortly after the Vietnam War. The Marine Corps has recently acknowledged this, and the new USMC Reversible Field Tarp (coyote brown on one side with woodland MARPAT on the other, with no hood) was put into circulation.

Since I have not been able to get my hands on one of these new USMC Reversible Field Tarps, I have been using the UK Ministry of Defense (MOD) Army Basha Shelter. I have one in woodland and one in desert, using the MOD's DPM camouflage pattern.

The Basha is lightweight, well made, and makes an excellent shelter. It has integrated handles for use as a stretcher, and heavy duty grommets and loops for tie-downs.

If you still find yourself using a USGI poncho as a field shelter, consider upgrading to the UK MOD Basha.You can find Bashas for a reasonable price online, namely through eBay.

USGI Gerber Entrenching Tool (E-Tool)

An entrenching tool (E-tool) is a handy item to have around, be it in your truck or attached to your ruck. You can dig, chop, or even use it as a field expedient toilet seat. I use the Marine Corps issued Gerber E-tool; it is lighter and just as effective as the old style E-tool. My particular E-tool came with a coyote brown MOLLE sheath.

The main difference with the Gerber E-tool is that the handle is glass filled nylon rather than aluminum. This makes the Gerber E-tool a light 53 oz. in comparison to the 2.46 lb. weight of the old style E-tool.

My E-Tool stays in my Jeep and I've beaten the crap out of it in the rocky desert areas that I frequent. It's certainly not as pretty as it was when I first got it, but it's still going strong.

MOLLE II Load Bearing Equipment (LBE)

This is one of the 2nd line rigs that I used to run in the Marine Corps, built up from standard USGI MOLLE II Load Bearing Equipment (LBE).

All USGI:
MOLLE II LBE
Camelbak
(2) Canteen Pouches, which can also serve as a utility pouch with the flap secured
(2) Canteens
Canteen Cup
Waist Pouch (butt pack)
USMC Bayonet
USMC Improved First Aid Kit (IFAK)
(2) Grenade Pouches, which usually held ear plugs or other miscellaneous items when frags weren't carried
(3) Magazine Pouches equaling the standard rifleman load of 6 magazines, with a 7th magazine in the rifle

I love chest rigs, but you really can't beat an old school MOLLE II or ALICE LBE for carrying a heavier load. They ride comfortably with the weight suspended upon your hips, rather than putting all of the weight front and centered on your torso. LBEs are also more comfortable in the prone position, though some chest rigs split open in the front to allow going prone comfortably for prolonged periods.

One limitation of traditional LBE loads is that they are not ideal for operating in vehicles. Chest rigs shine in this regard, because they keep your load up front, generally leaving your back side slick. This makes it more comfortable to sit inside a vehicle and exit quickly

MOLLE II LBE components are widely available online and in your local surplus stores. They are commonly available in woodland, 3-color desert, or the Army's ACU pattern. The Marine Corps' coyote brown MOLLE II rig is often harder to find.

The MOLLE II is sturdy and simple. If you are on a tight budget and need a rig capable of carrying a good amount of gear, take the MOLLE II LBE into consideration.

USGI MOLLE II Bandoleer

Bandoleers did not go out of style with Pancho Villa...

Nor did they go out of style in Vietnam...

The bandoleer is still around today...

The USGI MOLLE II bandoleer is part of the military's MOLLE II rifleman system of pouches and load bearing equipment. They are typically available in woodland, 3-color desert, coyote brown, and the Army's ACU.

In Iraq, in addition to the ammunition carried on our bodies, we would have multiple bandoleers inside each vehicle for grab-and-go, as a supplementary load in the event we had to duke it out in a prolonged firefight or resupply friendlies.

I sometimes carry a bandoleer inside my ruck on the very top...again, for a quick resupply. A bandoleer of six magazines carried inside your third line could definitely become useful.

This particular bandoleer can also function as a chest rig if you were to add a strap or length of para cord to tie around your torso, and wear the main strap around your neck. In this fashion, the bandoleer can be used to run somewhat slick, in lieu of wearing your full 2nd line. This way, you could roll with simply a war belt, rifle, and a bandoleer of six magazines.

An Old War Belt

This is the 1st line load that I used to run for a while. It consisted of:

(1) ATS Tactical War Belt, which is essentially a "sleeve" going over your pistol belt to give you the benefits of MOLLE modularity
(1) Pistol belt (riding inside the War Belt)
(2) Blackhawk! 1911 magazine pouches
(2) USMC issued canteen pouches
(2) USGI canteens
(1) USGI canteen cup
(1) Safariland 6004 holster with belt attachment point
(1) Gemtech pistol lanyard
(1) Black Leatherman Wave w/ pouch
(1) HSGI HSLD Suspenders
(1) VTAC large utility pouch

Contents carried on my last drill:

           
Laid out flat, it looks like the pistol is crowded up against the canteen pouch. However, when the belt is worn and everything rounds out and spreads apart, my pistol presentations were not impeded at all by the canteen.

As you can see, the layout of this battle belt is very reminiscent of the ALICE/H-harness rigs of generations past. You may have noticed that I wasn't running any rifle magazines on this rig. My intention for the rig was very simple: a minimalist grab-and-go belt. If I only had time to grab one thing, this belt would leave me with a pistol, ammo, water, canteen cup, food, and a multi-tool. This rig also fit nicely under the back seat of my truck, accessible when needed.

At the time, my 1st line load was set up to feed my pistol and provide survival essentials. My 2nd line load was set up to feed my rifle and provide tactical essentials. I will go over my current 1st and 2nd line loads in a future post, but this is where it all started for me.

And so it begins...

The first post.

Please bear with me, as this is really my first functional blog. I suppose blogs are traditionally a public internet journal, but mine will be more of a reference for practical knowledge and relevant gear reviews. I hope you stay tuned as I develop what hopefully will become a useful resource for many.

Introduction: I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at 17 years old, right out of high school. I deployed to Iraq twice to locations like Baghdad, Fallujah, Ramadi, Hit, Haditha, Al Qaim, the Syrian Border, and plenty of other small towns in between. I did see some action there, but I am by no means a high speed operative. I served a little over six years in the Marine Corps, and decided to leave at the rank of Sergeant to pursue other career aspirations.

Since leaving the Marine Corps, I've been working in a patrol capacity for a large Sheriff's Department in the Southwestern United States. It's a huge honor to be the one people call upon when they are scared and need help. I do not take this responsibility lightly.

Goal: I want this blog to be useful, relevant, and practical for the everyday person. I am not a member of the firearms or tactical gear industry, so you will not be seeing the latest gear that hasn't even hit shelves yet. While it's often interesting to read about what's in development or "coming down the pipe" from our favorite manufacturers, what good is a review of an unavailable product for the guy who needs a new piece of gear NOW?

 
So while you may not see the latest or most expensive equipment featured here, you will see what's currently available for the end user.

Thanks again for stopping by The On Point Resource.