The soldiers would prefer mobility and ability to move fast and
preserve energy levels....such loads will consume their energy and
fatigue will set in much earlier.
Part & parcel of frontline gear, actually, as long as we're
a conventional force. If you read back the old war histories, it's
the OTHER personal equipment which the troops learn to discard.
Even to the extent of going spartan in vest & slacks plus flak
jacket, if you look at some pictures of the military contractors in
Iraq.
IMO The majority of troops -- of any armed forces -- will
realistically only wear the basic vest as body armor. The
neck/shoulder & groin protection in the pix look impractical,
unless someone come up with a revolutionary design &
material.
it was a simple webbing, m16, field pack and 7 items.. the
soldier can go to war.
We're not trained to fight like Viet Cong guerrillas, if that's
what you mean. Neither shall the majority of troops do covert ops,
like the CDOs.
