Military Belt
One of the most important pieces of equipment in the field is the military belt. This wide belt usually consists of numerous MOLLE loops around it and offers two advantages: it allows its user to have quick access to their equipment without needing to search for it in their backpack or jacket, and it provides better weight distribution of the equipment, thus better comfort. But two big questions arise: How to properly configure your combat belt? How to know if this configuration will suit the situation?
A combat belt is configured in 3 parts:
- The survival part: this is the essential, the minimum required, namely a bit of water, some food, a fire starter, a knife, a survival blanket, and a self-defense accessory. All of this should normally fit into one or more pouches attached to the belt itself.
- The combat part: this is what you need to face the enemy, that is, your weapons, ammunition, handcuffs, or ballistic plates that can be added using a plate carrier vest.
- The bivouac part: this is the rest of your accessories that will allow you to set up a makeshift bivouac, such as a flashlight, a "fold up" cup, a mini hammock, and others...
Now that you have the basics to configure a military belt, we will focus on whether this configuration suits each situation. Because some emergency situations require drastic decisions about your equipment, for example, in the field, you may have to abandon your tactical vest by ejecting your ballistic plates to run faster. Or cut your jacket or backpack if it gets caught in branches and you need to extricate yourself from a dangerous situation as quickly as possible. The advantage is that by wearing a combat belt, you will have the possibility to keep a minimum of equipment on you to survive or face an enemy.
The situation dictates the type of configuration to apply to your equipment. And for this reason, it is first recommended to use a combat belt with MOLLE or PALS type attachments, which can be quickly modified for a specific mission. But one thing is certain, regardless of the mission, there are certain pieces of equipment that must absolutely be attached to your combat belt:
- A holster. If you plan to carry an automatic pistol, you should always have at least one holster, whether it is directly attached to your belt or adapted on a thigh platform. Moreover, if you wear a jacket that covers your combat belt, it is even advisable to favor the thigh holster for quicker access to your weapon.
- Magazine pouches. If you go on an operation with an assault rifle and a combat vest that includes magazine pouches, add some to your belt, because if you have to abandon your combat vest in the field, you will at least keep some ammunition on you to face other enemies. It is better to have more ammunition than not enough, so if possible, add at least 3 pistol magazines in addition to your assault rifle magazines.
- A medical pouch. You should always have at least a first aid kit on your belt. And if you have a bit of space left, do not hesitate to add a small emergency pouch for bandages and other dressings, for example.
- Water. After having to abandon your assault vest with your hydration reservoir, what will you do without water? To avoid being in this delicate situation, attach a military canteen or a Nalgene bottle to your belt. Having 2 would even be optimal, but it all depends on the remaining space on your belt. Also, consider taking water purification tablets, they take up almost no space, and many canteen pouches have a small compartment. Being able to carry a water filter (such as an Aquamira filter) would be a must, but again, do you have enough space left?
- A flashlight. Do not forget to take a small flashlight with you, preferably with a white LED and a red LED.
- A foldable pouch. It can be used to hold empty magazines and thus not mix them with those still containing ammunition.
- A multi-purpose pouch. For all the small accessories such as spare batteries for the flashlight, matches, or a compass.
Other tips
- For better weight distribution of the equipment, you can also attach a harness or military harness to the D-rings positioned on top of the belt.
- Choosing a combat belt that can accommodate the maximum amount of equipment is good, but do not forget to also choose a comfortable one. Take the time to see if the inside of the belt is padded mesh, for example.
- Also, pay attention to the buckle of the military belt, ensuring it is secure to avoid an untimely opening.
