Gear and Equipment: The Line System

The Line System is the most practical and redundant method of organizing your gear and equipment. Better organization can lead to better planning during equipment acquisition and more efficient distribution of kit within your load plan.

While poorly executed redundancy can lead to an unnecessary excess of weight, redundancy done right can mean a fail-safe in the event of equipment failure or degradation. The Line System is explained in more detail below.

3RD LINE: These are your sustainment kit items, usually contained in a ruck or pack. The 3rd line should be man or vehicle portable. Typical 3rd line items include: tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, stove, mess kit, etc. This is the equipment you live off of.

2ND LINE: The 2nd line's primary purpose is a fighting platform. It is usually contained in a chest rig or some other form of load bearing equipment such as ALICE LBE, MOLLE Fighting Load Carrier (FLC), etc. The 2nd line at minimum should have ammunition for your selected weapon systems.

The 2nd line also typically includes such items like communication equipment, navigation equipment, observation devices (binos, monoculars), and signalling aids (strobes, smoke grenades, chem sticks).  Because the 2nd line is your fighting rig, you should also include trauma equipment like QuikClot, tourniquet, and pressure bandages.

1ST LINE: These are the items that are on your body, on your belt, and in your pockets. These are the bare essentials like: pistol, first aid kit, survival items, flashlight, knife and/or multi-tool, small compass, etc.

The philosophy behind the Line System is to maintain your survivability as the situation changes. LIVE off your 3rd line, FIGHT off your 2nd line, and SURVIVE off your 1st line.

For example, if you have to ditch your ruck, you can fight and survive off your chest and belt rigs.
If you have to ditch your chest rig, you can defend yourself and survive off your belt rig. In the event that you have to ditch your belt rig, you damn sure better have sufficient knowledge and skills in your head to overcome whatever the situation may be.

The line system is very much like layering cold weather clothing; you have the ability to adapt as your environment changes. If you have no idea how to start putting your gear together, the Line System of organization is an excellent place to start.