Badlands Fieldcraft: Junk on the Bunk: Buttpack contents

Originally appeared on Badlands Fieldcraft. -NCS

For rural, dismounted patrolling I still like running a rig modeled after the LBE systems of the past. That being said, I’m always looking for a better way to skin the cat, and I feel that an ideal system gives good weight distribution, is comfortable, isn’t too bulky to move in, is quiet, protects the gear from exposure to the elements, facilitates rapid access to important gear and has enough room for everything you need to carry.

I don’t consider myself an expert on every piece of gear issued in the last 50 years, but I’ve had experience with ALICE and MOLLE enough to be able to pick and choose the components I like the best. One piece of gear that I’ve always liked since I first was issued one was the ALICE Buttpack. There’s been a few ALICE Buttpacks and the one I’m referring to is the more modern woodland camo one with fastex buckles.

This is a very durable piece of gear, made from the same tough nylon as military packs with strong webbing and one inch buckles. The compression straps are large enough to fit a large amount of gear inside. I still have a lot of room to go with the gear list above. At one point when I was doing foot patrols in wet rain forest areas I was able to fit an MRE, goretex top and bottom, socks and cleaning gear. At that point it was getting pretty full, and I dubbed it my “Ghetto booty pack”.

1. USGI poncho 2. OD space blanket 3. Wool beanie, thermal glove liners and wool socks in ziplock bag 4. Rifle cleaning gear to include: steel rod set, bore snake, Rand CLP, brushes and lens pen 5. Camo face paint and signal mirror 6. Uco Storm proof matches and exotac candle tin 7. 12” zip ties 8. BCB Fire dragon stove with three fuel bars 9. Surveyors tape and electrical tape 10. 30’ bank line 11. 100% deet bug spray in ziplock bag 12. Bipod (stored on top under straps) 13. Emergency ration bar and coffee in ziplock bag

Another feature I always liked was the expandable cuff inside is made of the same material at the USGI poncho, a nice way to keep rain out when you need to open it up to get something out in rainy weather.

It’s been a versatile design I always find myself going back to. At one point I had it off my gear in favor for a MOLLE utility pouch. I took a shoulder strap and hooked it to the butt pack and used it as a haversack for day hikes.

I’ve been out on enough patrols that were either FRAGO’d and extended by many hours, or where the weather turned bad suddenly to know that having some basic items with you while out in the bush is always a good idea. I like to have the kind of items that I would need if I had to get by for another 24 hours. Even if I only plan on being out for a few hours, this stuff comes with and it’s always packed.

It’s not necessarily a survival kit, but rather equipment that will help to stay in an extended fight that isn’t planned. I do have some survival gear in it though since you should be layering those kinds of items throughout your gear.

 

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About the Author: NC Scout

NC Scout is the nom de guerre of a former Infantry Scout and Sergeant in one of the Army’s best Reconnaissance Units. He has combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He teaches a series of courses focusing on small unit skills rarely if ever taught anywhere else in the prepping and survival field, including his RTO Course which focuses on small unit communications. In his free time he is an avid hunter, bushcrafter, writer, long range shooter, prepper, amateur radio operator and Libertarian activist. He can be contacted at [email protected] or via his blog at brushbeater.wordpress.com .

22 Comments

  1. Rucksack Rob July 27, 2020 at 08:38

    Good article, especially for those who may not have the field experience that some older vets or fieldcrafters do.
    After 24 years in the Army (w/ a 7 year break in service), I too bridged the ALICE into MOLLE kit, and when I first went in in 75′, my first station was (2 tours) in Alaska in (the only) Air Cav recon platoon in the entire state.
    At that time, we were still issued M-51 Korean era clothing and equipment and many of us used WWII items still available from the local surplus store to improve our kit. (like steel canteens vs. plastic for winter use)Lots of modifications too…

    Although (in winter) we ALWAYS carried a survival pack (only one sleeping bag instead of two, an extra C-ration, socks, etc. I / we used to pack our Butt packs so as to be able to ‘live’ out of our web gear if we had to dump our rucks. (even at -40 degrees below zero).
    One last bit of kit I always carried was a box of 20 rounds of ‘civilian mfg’ .223 ammo for survival ammo (wrapped in a water proof bag and taped closed with electrical or duct tape). That way, if ever found by a superior NCO or Officer during some stupid inspection, I couldn’t be accused of ‘stealing’ issued 5.56 ammo from the Gov’t.

    as you said “It’s not necessarily a survival kit”, but it’s definitely a sustainment kit.

  2. Gafarmboy July 27, 2020 at 13:34

    Thanks for the “Old School” post. I have run across many younger combat vets that have what I call the Humvee resupply mindset. Everything they need is on the humvee. They carry a light load of ammo and water, because it’s on the humvee. I don’t know how that works because I never have even rode in a Humvee. But, I had the luck of being trained by older vets that wore Alice gear, carried two canteens, two knives, butt packs (canvas) and enough ammo to start a small revolution. It was beatened into my head that ammo and water are #1 and #1 on the “survive the bush” list. We often had ” borrowed” ponchos from some of the boys in the Bundeswehr just because at the time, they had better gear. Just my two cents from an old and unimportant bush Hunter.
    God bless America. It’s still the best place on Earth. I know this from first hand experience in many a shit hole.

    • NC Scout July 27, 2020 at 15:08

      You absolutely hit the nail on the head brother. I was one of those guys back when I was a line Infantryman. It’s a totally different mindset when you are your own resupply.

  3. Alan Burquist July 27, 2020 at 13:56

    Found this website thru Mike Adams, I like it.. First comment here, so I’ll see how it goes.. I’m a 60+ US Army veteran, kinda old, but I stay in fighting shape.. Been involved with the “Freedom/Patriot/Militia/Tactical, movement” since the mid 80s.. Back then, there was no Internet, so we made contact with other like minded people by classified adds in SOF Magazine.. LOL, being a tactical Geezer, makes me kinda prone to use oldschool terms like “Webgear”, which is still what I call this stuff..

    I have also made the transition, from ALICE to MOLLE/PALS equipment.. But generally, I’ll use whatever works, or is close to hand.. I have always built a set of LBE to support whatever Rifle/Pistol combo I am using.. My first was an ALICE rig, adapted for Norinco SKS and FEG Hungarian P9R Hi-power clone.. The 80s classic all black SWAT style, head to toe Ninja suit, LOL! Still have the guns and black webgear to match, like a museum exhibit now.. Soon as I saw NFAC, made me bust out laughing, looks like us in the 80s.. Hahahahaha!

    Guns wise, I am a buy and keep, instead of a buy and sell kinda guy.. So over almost 40yrs, I have added a lot of guns and webgear rigs to my collection.. Newest is a Condor and SPLAV Molle rig for a VEPR12 and a Taurus PT45 double stack .45.. Because of the VEPR12 10rd mags, I had to order SPLAV pouches from Russia to fit.. Holy Smokes, those SPLAV mag pouches are the nicest I have EVER seen! Their “Quick Klick” attachment system is a major improvement on the regular MOLLE system, but perfectly compatible with standard MOLLE.. The pouches actually have an inner lining that is smooth, no exposed seams, so the mags come out like greased lightning..

    OK, lets see if this will post..
    FoxWhiskeyAble5 out for now..

    • NC Scout July 27, 2020 at 15:06

      Thanks for finding us brother!! I’ve got a SPLAV AK vest somewhere around here. Good stuff.

  4. Anonymous July 27, 2020 at 15:38

    4.5

  5. Anonymous July 27, 2020 at 16:47

    5

  6. Pineslayer July 27, 2020 at 18:53

    I like that Enhanced LBV 88, it is my current MinuteMan set-up.
    I believe I said this on another recent post, they are very affordable on Ebay.
    Buy an extra for a friend.

  7. Ray Gun July 28, 2020 at 06:23

    Good article. For years my hiking and light backpacking rig has been the rugged and inexpensive ALICE suspenders, a butt-pack, 2 canteens and 2 ammo pouches. I agree with your kit, but I replaced your stove/fuel bars with a 6 inch FERRO-ROD + bag of cotton balls in vaseline. For COMFORT I added a PARACORD HAMMOCK and PONCHO LINER. A tiny paracord hammock makes an instant chair or bed for R&R.

  8. Veritas July 28, 2020 at 07:29

    I thought the butt pack was the coolest addition to my LBE/LBV when I got my first one back in my Woodland BDU army days and indeed it is a good piece of kit. I think the important thing for folks that don’t have experience with them to realize is they work best if that is all you intend to use in terms of load carrying gear. What I mean by that is I found them to be obstructive if you go to throw a ruck on, sometimes you can adjust your straps low enough to get the frame (in the case of an Alice pack) to sit just above it but it can kind of turn into a quagmire.
    The example given here was a perfect use case, you are out cruising the woods without your pack and want to be prepared for an unexpectedly extended patrol.

  9. Matt Bracken July 28, 2020 at 08:59

    I just saw Black Hawk Down again last night.
    A memorable early scene was just before the mission.
    “You won’t need that, we’ll be back before dark.”
    [Extra water, NODs, etc. were left behind because of this always bad advice.]

    • Johnny Paratrooper August 9, 2020 at 14:02

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFwivrpFHE0

      This video is a story told by Kyle Lamb and a few others about the famous battle of Mogadishu. A little different from the book and movie to be sure.

      Many, many of my instructors and my leaders in the Army were in that battle. Including Kyle Lamb, Chris McGee, and several others I have met. SFC Hulst is a other dude you won’t” read” or hear much about. He was in absolutely everything from the early 80’s to mid 90’s. Total Badasses every one.

      They killed ten thousand people in the Battle of Mogadishu. The casualty number cited at the end (The exact number escapes me) of the movie references an old text book or an old room number from Westpoint that discusses famous battles were one side was outnumbered, but still prevailed objectively. That same casualty number in the low 2,000’s is used in many, many battle textbooks and is cited to imply that so many people were killed, the Military doesn’t want to admit how decisively they won the engagement; numerically speaking. because frankly, its a bad look to the uninitiated.

      They didn’t forget their water, or ammo, or their night vision. They expended everything twice and the Skinnies wouldn’t stop. An amazing story to be sure.

      Mr. Bracken, Have you read “In the Company of Heroes” by Michael Durant? I bet you cry when you finish the last chapter of that book.

      Clearly, God has a plan for us all… RIP to Gary Gordon and Randy Shugart.

      https://erenow.net/ww/black-hawk-down/22.php

      Above you can read an excerpt about my old instructor getting some when everything was going to hell real quick.

      For OPSEC reasons these guys switched up their duty, positions, and titles. The story remains the same though. They were all SF and Delta working with SOAR and Rangers. While the SEALs were chillen in their boats off shore. They never went in. Another secret. Apparently The Dems, and Clinton, politicized your old unit a while ago.

  10. Him July 28, 2020 at 10:05

    One can use a large computer case with a shoulder strap. (17in. to 19 in. long.) It holds a Kel Tec PLR 16. and extra mags. Good for that urban shoot and scoot event. Most fighting should be urban. That’s were the bad guys reside. And you are still the gray man.

  11. ensitue July 28, 2020 at 16:16

    I’m married to ALICE for patrolling. Maxpedition used to make a super-butt-pack that was perfect for ‘arctic patrols’ where bulky items are a must.

  12. Badlands Rifleman July 28, 2020 at 23:15

    Lots of good discussion. One thing to note when it comes to fire items is that in a tactical situation you simply cannot have a wood fueled fire. The smoke and smell will give you away too easily. The fire dragon stove fuel gives off no smoke or smell and I can boil my stainless bottle full of water with one tablet. That gives be three bottles of water if I have to resort to that. My primary method of disinfecting water is my iodine tablets, then my filter, then boiling. If I’m not worried about giving away my position, then boiling is my first, followed by iodine, then my filters. If you read my water kit post, my line 2 water kit is in the bottle pouch directly to the right of my butt pack. It contains the stainless bottle, iodine tablets and a sawyer mini. With those items plus the fire dragon I can disinfect water 3 different ways including boiling without creating much of a signature on the landscape. The matches and candle tin are there for emergency fires only, and if I wrap up in the space blanket and poncho I can put the candle underneath and have a heat source. I do this is a fashion similar to what long distance runners do. I can also use the candle to illuminate the signal mirror at night. I choose Uco matches over a ferrocerrium rod because those matches will light literally in a hurricane. You can light them, throw them in water and they will stay lit. Ferro rods have their place, but in a real emergency you want fire instantly, although Vaseline soaked Cotton balls are a good tinder to use. That being said, I have a 1/2”x6” ferro rod in my chest pack, it’s silly not to carry one as well as multiple bic’s stashed in all layers of gear. I’m pretty sure I’m a pyro and I have many different ways of starting fires with me all the time, but don’t forget the good ole Bic, it’s the AK-47 of fire starters.

    • Johnny Paratrooper August 9, 2020 at 13:41

      I’m curious why you would use tablets before a filter. But I suspect the answer is “Too avoid having to protect the filter from freezing and cracking after use”.

      I use my filters in winter. I have a longer line for the water pump portion. I keep the filter down my pants/shirt so it doesn’t catch a cold when in use, and keep it slung down my pants/shirt after use. I store it down my pants when I am sleeping.

      It’s uncomfortable, but there is no other way to protect it from freezing after use that I am aware of.

      And the answer is yes. I hate the way it feels when I use it, but day dreaming about killing commies keeps me warm.

      So banana tomato potatoes Amirite?

      • Badlands Rifleman August 9, 2020 at 15:49

        Well mainly because a filter works good, until it doesn’t, and there really isn’t a good way to tell when that change happens. Iodine tablets and boiling are 100% sure to kill everything in there, whereas a filter may or may not. That being said, I have a lot of faith in a new Sawyer or Grayl since I’ve used them a lot and have had zero adverse effects so far. This past weekend I was up at about 10,000 feet and filtering water out of mountain streams and lakes that was crystal clear, I didn’t bother with the iodine tablets up there. If I’m down in the flat land and am getting standing water from a ditch or cow dam, I’ll chemically treat it after filtering to be safe. Typically if it’s cold enough to have to worry about my filter freezing I’ll just plan on melting snow for my water anyways and not even bring a filter since that’s usually what’s laying around in cold weather in these parts. I think you’re correct in how to protect your filter in the cold, that’s about the only ways I’m aware of as well. The cold adds a totally new layer of difficulty doesn’t it??

  13. Badlands Rifleman July 28, 2020 at 23:16

    Rucksack Rob – Thanks for the good info, did you guys utilize pulks or sleds patrolling in the winter?

  14. Rucksack Rob July 30, 2020 at 08:36

    In reply to your question (many days later…) In Alaska (back in the 70’s) we had an ‘Ahkio Group’ (sledge or sled) it had the standard 10 man Arctic tent w/ liner, a ‘Yukon Stove, a squad size mess kit (which we only used to melt snow), pioneer tools (axe, shovel, bow saw, a 120’ climbing/rappelling rope, etc) a military ‘Coleman’ gas lantern, 5 gal fuel can, 5 gal water can, a ski and snowshoe repair kit and a few other things I can’t seem to remember…

    Yes we did train to pull the Ahkio as a squad and it could be quite humorous to watch but I can tell you, few things suck more than trying to pull a 250lb Ahkio with ski’s on, and of course, with training we did get better, (until you got a bunch of new guys, then you started all over again), BUT… being in the Air Cav, all we did was throw it on the Huey and let them do the heavy work… We also had a couple of Snowmobiles and I was lucky enough to be one of ‘licensed’ operators. Always a great excuse to tell your squad leader… ‘going over to the Motor Pool to pull ‘PMCS’ on the ‘Sleds’, which actually meant…’going out to ride our sleds today.’

    One last comment/suggestion to your question… to this day, I have a sled similar to this one on Amazon:

    https://www.amazon.com/Shappell-Camo-Fishing-Travel-Cover/dp/B01MQ5JEY9/ref=psdc_3473431_t1_B071ZHJZ9D

    I carry it in my p/u truck as my ‘Get Home Vehicle’ during my work travels here in the Northern Great Lakes. It’s been modified with rigid poles poles attached to a surplus waist belt from a MOLLE rucksack so as to be able to tow it while wearing snowshoes (no more XC skiing, knees are shot from 15 years Airborne). Works pretty well I must say.

    • Johnny Paratrooper August 9, 2020 at 13:34

      Added to that list was probably a few waxed canvas tarps. Considering the dates.

      Did you see any Wooly Mammoth running around?

  15. Badlands Rifleman August 3, 2020 at 13:10

    Rucksack Rob- Thanks for the good info again. I built a pulk similar to what you’ve described this past winter also. It’s an absolute must for winter time patrolling. I was able to pull twice as much weight as I could ever carry on snowshoes. I don’t think 100 pounds of gear would be unreasonable. I use the white magnesium surplus snowshoes although I’ve upgraded them with some better bindings, I’m thinking about getting a set of the military MSR’s for this winter though. Got any advice as far as good snowshoes?

  16. Johnny Paratrooper August 9, 2020 at 13:31

    “My Buttpack saved my life, you better have it with you, Lemme See Yo’ Buttpack Paratrooper” -SGM Dunkleberg

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