New Pack for Your Back

ILBE to Help Marines Shoulder Burden

First came the All-purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment pack. ALICE was small and compact, but not versatile or big enough for all a Marine's gear.

Next came the Modular Lightweight Load Carrying Equipment pack. MOLLE was larger with removable compartments, but complex to use and cumbersome.

So, true to its adaptable nature, the Marine Corps has designed a new pack that combines the best features of ALICE AND MOLLE, minus all the extra "baggage," and sealed it with a KISS – keep it simple, stupid.

The Improved Load Bearing Equipment is similar to civilian commercial packs with "Marine" improvements. The digital camouflage pattern covers a main pack, a detachable assault pack, a 100-ounce hydration system and various mission specific pouches for riflemen and machine gunners.

Specialized bags for corpsmen and reconnaissance units will also be available.

The new system will weigh 8.43 pounds and hold a capacity of 6,000 cubic inches – slightly smaller than the MOLLE pack at 6,8000.

The ILBE can hold up to 120 pounds and has room for 60 and 81 mm mortar rounds outside the main pack.

The Marine Corps has fielded 50,000 ILBE packs since December 2004, with 238,000 packs slated for release in 2005.

The Corps intends for the ILBE to become standard Marine gear, though MOLLE and ALICE will likely remain in service for several more years as the ILBE is phased into service.