surplus load bearing vest attachments

[RT Ellis]

When I saw the image of the vest here, I had a sort of flashback to Ft. Polk around 1995 I saw one soldier, who I recall was a general officer, wearing the vest which I identified at the time as a component of the IIFS test equipment. I didn't ask him about it so I don't know if he was using as a matter of personal preference or still testing it, but he was the only individual using the equipment at the time. I recall he had no other equipment attached to the rear so the laces at the sides were plainly visible and was drawn tight so it appeared he was using it as a sort of back support. It is likely he was assigned to the unit that tested the IIFS, and continued to use it as a matter of personal preference.

The only equipment I am familiar with that was a component of the IIFS test was the canteen covers, which were manufactured in 1988 on regular contracts, substituting Battle Dress Uniform material for the OG nylon material normally used for canteen cover LC-2. Although I am always suspect of wikipedia you may get enough information from that article to determine what components you need to complete the vest. I think it an interesting project to put together a set of IIFS equipment.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

If I had to guess it was issued on a trial basis and discarded in short order. This might account for its avaliability currently ,cheap and in good condition. The placement of the mag pouches seems less than ideal but the infinate torso adjustment seems useful. Perhaps its fate was sealed by Velcro.

[Steinmeister1]

This vest was not a "flash in the pan" thing. I am sure I have pictures somewhere of me wearing it (in Germany, circa 1996) along with others. I am trying to nail down when I was first issued it, and I believe it was 1992, in 4-8 Infantry, Coleman Barracks, Germany. And I know I had it until I retired at Ft Hood, in Jan 2001. Shortly thereafter, the MOLLE came out, right about the time of "the second Gulf War".

[Steinmeister1]

Attachment 54694Attachment 54695Attachment 54696Attachment 54697Attachment 54698

I found a few pictures, and I would agree that LBE and LBV exsisted at the same time.


And another link

Individual Integrated Fighting System - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Thats it. Where is Rumsfields LBV?

[Steinmeister1]

Strangely enough, the caption of the picture didnt even mention Rumsfeld...lol

[browningautorifle]

I see...Germany...

[m4carbine]

I was given one of these in 1982 by a high school friend who was in the Air Force as a Air Base Ground Defense troop (ABGD). He was in from 1980 till 1990 and said he used them through his stint.

[shuvelrider]

I'll chime in as a new member and current Army. I used the H and Y style LBE during my active duty (81-85), had a big break in service and joined the Reserve side of the house in 1996. By that time the Army was using a combination of Y harness LBE and the new IIFS, what your unit was issued for TA-50 was determined by your unit's status at that time. I moved to MI in 2001, all I've since has been the IIFS vest, up to and after my deployment to Iraq in (03-04). Since then has been the MOLLE system, I used it in AfghanLand in 2011-2012. The IIFS had it's pro's and con's, I'm glad it went away, yet I still like the old H or Y harness.
Those BDU buttpacks were issued back in the 80's/90's, I remember seeing them in the supply cages, I did make up a set of LBE based on the H harness with an old OD buttpack I've had for years, wore that in the late 90's for range time. The buttpack was attached to the pistol belt, the H or Y straps are attached to the eyelets on top of the pack. The H harness also had a couple of straps higher up, those were used to attach a bedroll/sleeping bag above and supported by the buttpack. Kind of a patrol set up, hope this helps.