Sometimes, I think I have great ideas, but then a customer sends a question, and I realize I am nowhere near as creative as some of our customers. A recent customer asked about the equipment and loadout of specific roles in a military-type squad but from a civilian perspective.
What would you need if the world ended and you and your friend, family, or community formed a paramilitary-like force to maintain security? I approached this from a modern minuteman’s perspective. The first part of the series will focus on the basic gear everyone should have.
When you look at a squad of Marines or soldiers, you’ll see some differences between individuals, but they all have the same general issue gear. Instead of copy-pasting this to every single squad infantry role, let’s start the series by establishing the gear everyone should have regardless of their role.
General Issue
The basics are the core gear most squad members carry. One important factor in planning to outfit a squad of modern minutemen is to ensure compatibility between gear. Standardization simplifies logistics, and while tactics win battles, logistics win wars. When at all possible, use standardized gear. This lowers training time, improves expertise, and allows for cross-compatibility.
Body Armor and Carrier
In 2024, obtaining high-quality body armor, including rifle-rated plates, is easy. Now more than ever, we have easy access to high-quality armor and plate carriers to tote those plates around. There are lots of options out there, and we could spend all day discussing the pros and cons of high-quality brands. Let’s keep it short and simple with a few suggestions for high-quality gear.
Personally, I’m a fan of RMA Level IV NIJ Certified Plates and the Crye Precision JPC plate carrier. These are two simple suggestions, and there are certainly others. Spiritus makes great plate carriers, and so does Defense Mechanism and a dozen other companies. Try to avoid companies like Condor, who make gear more aimed at airsoft than serious use. On the subject of armor, you want ceramic NIJ-certified plates.
Steel might brag about its multihit advantages, but steel armor causes something called “spalling.” The round it stops has to go somewhere, and it often explodes, sending copper and lead in different directions. That direction can be up and into your neck. Spraying a steel plate with a truck bed coating isn’t going to prevent spall either.
NIJ certification means your armor has been certified by an independent third party. Don’t be fooled by stuff claiming to be built to NIJ standards. You want it NIJ Certified. Don’t skimp on lifesaving gear.
Helmet
You have to protect your noggin—not just in combat situations but also from falls, falling objects, and short doors! You can find helmets everywhere, and among those two types are “bump” helmets and armored helmets. Bump helmets are not ballistically rated but do provide some basic protection. Armor helmets provide even more protection, especially from fragmentation and other ballistic nightmares. Here’s a ballistic and bump helmet suggestion:
Bump Helmet: Team Wendy Exfil LTP
Ballistic Helmet: Ops-Core TBH-2
Like armor, helmets come in a variety of quality levels. I’d stick with an American-made brand well known for its quality and design. You can also purchase more modern military surplus helmets that tend to be heavy but will provide excellent protection. Helmets also allow you to mount night vision if that’s something you’re planning to utilize.
Magazine Pouches
Magazine pouches make it easy to carry your ammo. A combat load utilizes seven magazines, so you need enough pouches to carry at least six magazines. Personally, I suggest:
Single Mag Pouches: HSGI TACO Mag Pouch
Double Mag Pouch: HSGI GEN 2 X2R TACO Mag Pouch
Skimping on magazine pouches is easy because a cheap pouch works well enough. It might, for a bit, but they will wear faster, and you won’t exactly have a resupply available. A good pouch provides excellent retention and easy access to your mag. You’d be surprised by the difference a quality pouch makes.
Like helmets, you can also find affordable surplus options. They tend to be slightly dated but will work well and be quite durable. Those old Eagle dual mag pouches are fantastic.
Backpack
A backpack allows you to carry any extra gear you may have. The size can vary depending on your mission. A basic backpack can carry extra ammo, your sustainment gear, rifle cleaning equipment, batteries, etc. For a high-quality pack, see the Grey Ghost Gear Lightweight Assault pack.
Sustainment
Sustainment gear is a generic term to cover the gear you need to survive. It includes (among others):
Adequate Water
Food
Poncho
Blanket
Bedroll
Batteries
Rifle Cleaning gear
IFAK
IFAK stands for “Individual First Aid Kit.” This kit is designed to treat any wounds you might sustain, which just might save your life. You can build your own kit, or you can purchase a pre-made kit. It should be focused on stopping the bleeding and traumatic wound care. We aren’t purchasing a Walmart white box with a red cross on it. Always go with high-quality gear from reputable manufacturers. I typically carry the Live the Creed Responder IFAK with TQ, but there are literally hundreds of options out there.
Flashlight
A basic flashlight is super handy to have in the field. A handheld flashlight like the Surefire G2X Pro can be super handy, from finding dropped gear to digging a latrine in the dark. With that said, always remember to utilize light discipline when necessary.
Multi-tool
High-quality multi-tools from companies like Gerber and Leatherman are must-have tools. They are super handy for a variety of situations. There are tons of great options out there. Don’t cheap out on this tool. I prefer the Leatherman Rebar Multi-Tool. It has a variety of survival tools and just might save your life.
Knife
A good fixed-blade knife is an outstanding tool and another ultra-valuable piece of gear. It should be well-made, durable, and super strong. If you want a working knife, I suggest a fixed-blade knife like the ESEE 4.
E-Tool
The war in Ukraine showed us that it’s easy to return to the trenches. An E-Tool per team allows for easy entrenching and defensive positions on the fly. Plus, you can bury trash, human waste, and other potentially revealing information. I typically use the Gerber E-Tool Spade, but there are a multitude of options out there.
Nice-to-Have Gear
This is self-explanatory. However, it might not be feasible or necessary for an entire squad of civilian minute men. Some of these items are legally restricted, some are expensive, and some are just nice to have.
Night vision
Night vision gear is at the top of this list, and I debated putting it in the mandatory section. The only reason it’s not mandatory is the price. Quality night vision is expensive stuff. Even a few night vision optics amongst a squad would be extremely handy and allow the unit to own the night, so to speak. Night vision devices require night vision-compatible optics and IR laser units. It gets costly too quickly to make it mandatory.
Sidearm
Sidearms are nice to have but aren’t mandatory. Most engagements will be well outside of the handgun range, and the rifle will better settle engagements inside the handgun range. Most people probably already have a handgun, so they will be prevalent. However, as the GWOT and every war have proven, handguns aren’t all that necessary.
Rifle Suppressor
Suppressors are locked behind the NFA and are not legal in all states. That makes them nice to have rather than mandatory. A suppressor can improve team communication in a firefight and make a rifleman harder to locate. Suppressors are great tools to have, but they can be tough to get.
Radio
A form of communication within the squad is necessary, but only some members need a radio. Team leaders can relay instructions from squad leaders or higher. It might be nice to have a radio, but it is not entirely necessary. In a civilian context, having encrypted radio systems will be difficult anyway, and you won’t know who is listening to open comms.
Battle Belt
A battle belt can help supplement your gear loadout. You can shuffle magazines, an IFAK, and more to the belt to keep your plate carrier lighter and put the load on your hips instead of your shoulders. A battle belt with MOLLE or a similar attachment system can be super handy and does allow you to remove your armor while keeping some portion of your gear on your body.
The General Issue
The above suggestions are just that—suggestions. You might have an experience that takes you in a different direction. If that’s the case, feel free to check in. Do you agree with my general issue requirements? Do you think something should be added or removed? If so, chime in below. As a community, it’s easier to spread knowledge and experience to improve each other.
