Weight of war

The rifleman, the core infantry soldier in the U.S. Army, may carry a basic fighting load of more than 65 pounds. But a 2003 Army study in Eastern Afghanistan
found that on longer missions they may carry an approach march load exceeding 95 pounds for several days.
In Afghanistan and Iraq, the Army has struggled to balance the need for body armor to protect against insurgent attacks with weight that can slow a soldier's
movements when he comes under fire. To increase the mobility of infantry soldiers in Afghanistan, the Army in 2009 began distributing lighter-weight vests
that include ballistic plates to protect vital organs but less protection of extremities. So far, more than 48,000 of those vests have been distributed to soldiers.
Here is a breakdown of a soldier's combat load as documented in the 2003 study.

Weight carried and worn Weight carried on fighting load carrier/ body armor Weight carried in assault rucksack
over uniform/body: FIGHTING LOAD: APPROACH MARCH LOAD:
(Carried most of the time)
Body armor Hydration
bladder
M4
carbine

*Full body
armor: Vest, Pouches for: Assault
neck, groin, Ammunition rucksack with
deltoid, lower Canteen attachments
back and side First aid
protection with Grenade
ballistic plates
weighs more
than 30 pounds. *Modular Lightweight
Load Carrying Equipment
POUNDS POUNDS
8.25 Ammunition for M4 carbine 8.75 MOLLE* assault rucksack or
6.30 Hydration bladder (100 ounces) commercial assault rucksack,
5.00 Two quart canteens with MOLLE* attachments:
2.00 MOLLE* fighting load carrier vest 5.34 Hydration bladder (70 ounces)
POUNDS
with modular pouches 4.25 60mm mortar round
17.50 Body armor:* Infantry soldiers on foot
1.62 Bayonet 3.19 Poncho and liner/or bivy sack
patrol often reduced it to a base vest
with two ballistic plates 1.25 Night vision equipment 3.00 Two Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs)
6.80 M4 carbine with loaded magazine, 1.00 Fragmentation grenade 2.50 Personal hygiene kit
Infrared target laser, advanced combat .50 First Aid dressing and pouch 1.69 Clothing
optical gunsights .50 Canteen Cup 1.50 500ml intravenous fluids bag
4.17 Clothing and gloves .25 Compass with starter kit.
3.75 Desert combat boots .18 Flashlight 1.25 Sling rope with two snap links
3.25 Advanced combat helmet .13 Chemlight .31 M4 cleaning kit
.19 Rigger belt .06 Flex cuffs for personnel .31 Rubber gloves
1.00 Knee and elbow pads under custody (PUC)
.86 Goggles 32.09 lbs.
.50 Folding knife/Multi-tool 27.04 lbs. + 65.59 lbs. (fighting + uniform/body)
.31 Dog tags + 38.55 lbs. (from uniform/body)
.19 Watch
.03 ID card
TOTAL: TOTAL: TOTAL:
38.55 65.59 97.68
pounds pounds pounds

Additional weight The weight carried by other infantry company soldiers

Depending on the mission, a
rifleman may also need to Combat medic Radio telephone 60mm mortar 108.76
carry one or more of these RECOMMENDED operator 98.38 pounds
ARMY GUIDELINES: 91.72 pounds gunner
special equipment items: pounds
March load 72 lbs. 64.98 63.79
10.75 lbs. Hooligan tool 54.53 pounds pounds
8.75 lbs. Combat life saver kit Fighting load 50 lbs. pounds
and pole-less litter
7 lbs. M18 claymore mine
6.92 lbs. M249 ammunition 0
FIGHTING APPROACH FIGHTING APPROACH FIGHTING APPROACH
3.31 lbs. Metal detecting wand LOAD MARCH LOAD LOAD MARCH LOAD LOAD MARCH LOAD
3 lbs. Entrenching tool
Sources: “The Modern Warrior’s Combat Load, Dismounted Operations in Afghanistan, April - May 2003” by U.S. Center for Army Lessons
1.10 lbs. Bolt cutters Learned; BAE systems; www.peosoldier.army.mil; “Lightening the Load,” Naval Research Advisory Committee, Sept. 2007

Reporting by HAL BERNTON Graphic by MARK NOWLIN / THE SEATTLE TIMES