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Improved load-bearing equipment

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"ILBE" and "Ilbe" redirect here. For social website located in South Korea, see Ilbe Storehouse.
Marine wearing the ILBE during a training exercise in 2007

The improved load-bearing equipment (ILBE) is a United States Marine Corps program that had included individual load carriage equipment, individual hydration systems, and individual water purification.

Since the rucksack was the first component of the program to be issued to Marines, the rucksack is commonly referred to as simply the ILBE. The ILBE rucksack was designed to replace the long existing all-purpose lightweight individual carrying equipment (ALICE) packs and newer modular lightweight load-carrying equipment (MOLLE) packs.[1]

Development

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On August 14, 2002, the US Marine Corps presented a Commercial Area Announcement (CAA), soliciting designs for an Improved Load Bearing Equipment (ILBE) system. The Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) determined the top two designs of those submitted from the commercial vendors were those of Bianchi (Gregory) and Propper International (Arc'teryx).[2]

Arc'teryx's design weighed 8 pounds (3.6 kg) and carried 5,000 cubic inches, while the Gregory design weighed 10 pounds (4.5 kg) and carried 4,520 cubic inches.[3] From January 2003 through June 2003, a Field User Evaluation was conducted, seeing 900 systems from each vendor (Gregory and Arc'teryx) tested across Marine units.[3] The US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM) performed a series of biomechanical tests to evaluate the two selected packs and to compare them to the existing MOLLE packs.[2]

Parts of the ILBE system were derived from items in Arc'teryx's Law Enforcement and Armed Forces (LEAF) product line.[citation needed] The finalized ILBE system was designed by Arc'teryx, and was later manufactured by Propper.[4]

Fielding

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Marine at the very right is wearing the assault pack component of the ILBE pack

In January 2004, ILBE began the process of being fielded.[5][6]

In 2005, ILBE's initial operational capability (IOC) was reached, signifying the initial units who received ILBE had received necessary training on the system and that its repair parts were available.[6]

In April 2006, ILBE had a monthly production rate of 4,700/month.[6]

The full operational capability (FOC) of ILBE was forecasted to be reached in mid 2007.[7][8] The FOC having been reached would imply that the majority of the force had been outfitted with ILBE, and would also have received the necessary training and adequate access to spare parts.

Components

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The assault packs, with their smaller volume and lower weight capacities, are intended for wear in combat, while the larger main packs are intended to carry everything needed by a unit on the march.[3][9]

The backpack is made from 725 denier Cordura material (725 D), with the MARPAT camouflage pattern printed onto it. The pack is also covered with a wide grid of the Pouch Attachment Ladder System (PALS), for the attachment of smaller modular pouches. It includes a main pack, a detachable assault pack and a 3-liter (3L) capacity, 100-ounce (6.3 lb), water reservoir as part of the hydration system.[1]

The ILBE system includes 6 types of packs:[10]

  • Main pack (75 liters or 4,600 cubic inches)
  • Recon main pack (90 liters or 5,500 cubic inches)
  • Assault pack (27 liters or 1,600 cubic inches)
  • Corpsman assault pack (CAP) (39 liters or 2,400 cubic inches)
  • Recon assault pack (39 liters or 2,400 cubic inches)
  • Recon accessory pouch (5 liters or 310 cubic inches)
  • Hydration system (3 liters or 180 cubic inches)

These packs are paired with waterproofing bags[10] in 56 L or 3,400-cubic-inch, 65 L or 4,000-cubic-inch, and 9 L or 550-cubic-inch capacities.[citation needed]

The ILBE can hold up to 120 pounds (54 kg) of weight,[citation needed] and has room for both 60mm and 81mm mortar rounds outside the main pack. Additional irregularly-shaped gear such as skis, snow shoes, or shoulder-launched multipurpose assault weapons (SMAWs) can also be attached.[7][8] Specialized bags and pouches for corpsmen and reconnaissance units are also available.[11][10][12]

A set of packs typically consists of a main pack, an assault pack, and a hydration system. These three items together cost more than $600 when the ILBE system was first fielded,[3] making it the most expensive single soldier pack system used by the US armed forces.[9]

Criticism

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Because the ILBE was fielded before the creation of the Modular Tactical Vest (MTV), the pack did not integrate well with the fighting systems at the time (such as the Interceptor Body Armor), and excessive stress in conjunction with the wearing of body armor could cause discomfort and injury.[citation needed]

Future

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The Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) announced that a replacement was forthcoming in 2009,[13] with possible replacements, including two entries from Mystery Ranch, Granite Gear, and the United States Army improved variant of MOLLE.

In 2011, the Corps had finished testing and evaluation, releasing a solicitation for prototypes under the designation Family of Improved Load Bearing Equipment (FILBE), outlining design requirements that are similar to the improved MOLLE system.[14][15][16][17]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Improved Load Bearing Equipment webpage". ciehub.info (clothing and individual equipment). Archived from the original on 13 May 2025. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  2. ^ a b LaFiandra, Michael; Lynch, Suzanne; Frykman, Peter; Harman, Everett; SPC Ramos, Hipolito; Mello, Robert (20 June 2003). "A Comparison of Two Commercial Off the Shelf Backpacks to the Modular Lightweight Load Carrying Equipment (MOLLE) in Biomechanics, Metabolic Cost and Performance". archive.org. Military Performance Division, US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM), Soldier Systems Center (SSC), Natick, MA. pp. 1-2 / pdf p. 8-9. USARIEM Tech. Rep. T-03/15. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 May 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2025 – via Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC). On August 14, 2002, the United States Marines Corps presented a Commercial Area Announcement (CAA) soliciting designs for an Improved Load Bearing Equipment (ILBE) system. The Marine Corp System Command (MARCORSYSCOM) determined the top two designs of those submitted from the commercial vendors were Bianchi (Gregory) and Propper International (Arc'Teryx). USARIEM was contacted by MARCORSYSCOM to perform a battery of tests aimed at evaluating these two Commercial off the shelf (COTS) and to compare these packs to MOLLE.
  3. ^ a b c d "ILBE page | Olive Drab". olive-drab.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2006. Retrieved 13 May 2025. Arc'teryx weighed eight pounds four ounces and carried 5,000 cubic inches while the Gregory weighed nine pounds 10 ounces and carried 4,520 cubic inches. Field User Evaluation was conducted January through June 2003. Nine hundred systems from each vendor were tested across Marine units. Biomechanical testing was conducted at U.S. Army Soldier Systems at Natick, MA who also compared the performance of the ILBE candidates to the MOLLE system.
  4. ^ "ILBE wear and care instruction sheet" (PDF). ciehub.info (clothing and individual equipment). Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 September 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  5. ^ "ILBE | USMC Concepts and Programs 2005" (PDF). ciehub.info (clothing and individual equipment). 2005. pp. 206 / pdf p. 1. GPO-127-210. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 May 2025. Retrieved 12 May 2025. Milestone C approval for full-rate production of the pack occurred in August 2003. The equipment was fielded in January 2004. A contract award for the Assault Load Carrier (ALC) element took place in second quarter FY 2004, with production starting in third quarter FY 2004. (The existing Fighting Load Carrier will continue to be used until the ALC is fielded.) Initial operational capability was achieved in fourth quarter FY 2004. Full operational capability is slated for first quarter FY 2009.
  6. ^ a b c "Information Paper - Family of Improved Load Bearing Equipment (ILBE): Standard ILBE" (PDF). ciehub.info (clothing and individual equipment). 11 April 2006. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  7. ^ a b "ILBE | USMC Concepts and Programs 2006" (PDF). ciehub.info (clothing and individual equipment). 2006. pp. 214 / pdf p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 May 2025. Retrieved 12 May 2025. The Improved Load Bearing Equipment (ILBE) is designed to provide a durable and lightweight means for deployed Marines to transport their individual combat clothing and equipment. ILBE is a modular system consisting of a 4500 cubic-inch main ruck sack, a 1500 cubic inch detachable assault pack, and a 100-ounce On-The-Move hydration system. The main ruck sack has two side pockets with associated compression straps for irregularly shaped gear such as 60mm or 81mm mortar rounds, skis, snowshoes, or Shoulder launched Multipurpose Assault Weapons. This program replaced the Modular Lightweight Load Carrying Equipment system. Major improvements include superior durability, greater comfort of wear, reduced system complexity, reduced system weight, improved sustainability, and better integration with the Outer Tactical Vest. Additionally, a reconnaissance variant of this pack system is in production for the reconnaissance community and a medical bag version of the assault pack, the Corpsman's Assault Pack, is in production to replace the MOLLE med-bag. (...) The equipment began fielding in 2004. Initial Operational Capability was achieved in 2005. Full Operational Capability is slated for third quarter FY 2007.
  8. ^ a b "ILBE | USMC Concepts and Programs 2007" (PDF). ciehub.info (clothing and individual equipment). 2007. pp. 203 / pdf p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 May 2025. Retrieved 12 May 2012. The Improved Load Bearing Equipment (ILBE) is designed to provide a durable and lightweight means for deployed Marines to transport their individual combat clothing and equipment. ILBE is a modular system consisting of a 4500 cubic-inch main ruck sack, a 1500 cubic-inch detachable assault pack, and a 100-ounce On-The-Move hydration system. The main ruck sack has two side pockets with associated compression straps for irregularly shaped gear such as 60mm or 81mm mortar rounds, skis, snowshoes, or Shoulder launched Multipurpose Assault Weapons. This program replaced the Modular Lightweight Load Carrying Equipment system. Major improvements include superior durability, greater comfort of wear, reduced system complexity, reduced system weight, improved sustainability, and better integration with the Outer Tactical Vest. Additionally, a reconnaissance variant of this pack system is in production for the reconnaissance community and a medical bag version of the assault pack, the Corpsman's Assault Pack, is in production to replace the MOLLE med-bag. (...) Milestone C approval for Full Rate Production of the pack occurred in 2003. The equipment began fielding in 2004. Initial Operational Capability was achieved in 2005. Full Operational Capability is slated for third quarter FY 2007.
  9. ^ a b "Salute ArcTeryx — all analysis of ILBE Pack System". imilitarypack.com. Imilitary pack. 3 July 2016. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  10. ^ a b c "Battlebook | PM ICE, MCSC" (PDF). marcorsyscom.usmc.mil. 2008. pp. 22–28, 32. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 August 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  11. ^ Carney, William (2007) [presented from 10-11 May 2007]. "Advanced Planning Brief for Industry (APBI)" (PDF). marcorsyscom.usmc.mil. Program Manager Infantry Combat Equipment (PM ICE), Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC), MCB Quantico, VA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  12. ^ Rottman, Gordon (2011). The M16. p. 71.
  13. ^ McCullough, Amy; Curtis, Rob (14 December 2009). "Replacing Your Pack: Corps to consider range of rucks for ease of use, better wear". Marine Corps Times. pp. 22–23.
  14. ^ "Solicitation Number M6785411R3019; USMC Pack". Marine Corps Systems Command. Federal Business Opportunities. 8 April 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  15. ^ Lamothe, Dan (8 December 2010). "Corps looks to field 100,000 new packs". Marine Corps Times. Archived from the original on 18 January 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  16. ^ "Breaking News – USMC to Buy New Pack". soldiersystems.net. Soldier Systems Daily. 8 April 2011. Archived from the original on 11 April 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  17. ^ Sanborn, James K. (9 May 2011). "Your New Pack: Testing Finished for Unpopular ILBE's Replacement". Marine Corps Times. p. 16.

Further reading

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  • Eward, J. Kenneth, US Marine Infantry Combat Uniforms and Equipment 2000-12, Osprey Publishing, 2012.
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