Most of the new equipment has been 'tailored to local needs', or
to drop the euphemisms, they have been downgraded to cut costs.
When first fielded, the new LBVs and Field packs were made by Force
21 and they used better materials and had more QC. Now they issue
the ones made by D&G, and frankly they are more prone to
failure. The waterbags were originally from Source, a reputable
Israeli brand, now also made by D&G and leak more often. The
SOGs that are issued have fewer tools than the original version--
IIRC Sheares supplies both types, but the full version that I
bought costs SGD 126 while the issued version costs 74 credits,
which theoretically equals to SGD 74.
Some of the cost-cutting makes sense, but some don't-- for
example, the rate of water bag failure/leakage is ridiculous. The
Source water bag that I was issued at OCS is still going strong 2
years later, but D&G water bags hardly last 1-2 months. I'd
recommend everybody to go to a sports store or beach road and get a
Source or Camelbak water bag instead-- you may have to spend some
money, but at least you won't suddenly lose your water and
potentially get your No.4 and everything in your field pack
wet :(
shit lo.. they issue me LBV and those stupid equipment but hold
back water bag and the new knife.. don't want to issue us lo.. that
was during service hor.. :(