PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-703
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 703
JUNE 2011
48
PS 703
JUN 11
Where You Wear It
While wearing a tightly cinched, padded,
rucksack waistbelt, you can reduce the load on
your shoulders. Use the load-lifter straps to adjust
the pack while you march. You can transfer the
weight of the pack from the shoulders to the hips
by cinching the 1-in webbing down. You can
transfer weight from the hips to the shoulders
by adjusting the non-slip buckle to loosen the
webbing.
When you’re carrying a heavy load, the load-
lifter straps let you reduce numbness in your
arms by transferring some of the weight to your
hips. When your hips get tired, you can shift the
weight more to your shoulders.
How to Pack It
Pack dense, heavy objects high in the rucksack. Put them as close to your back as
possible. The straps that secure the radio inside the ruck are located high and close
to your back. That’s because the radio’s heavy. Never carry heavy objects placed
low and away from your back. That can make your muscles tire quickly.
A Heavy Load
A full rucksack is
a heavy load all by
itself. Add a hydration
system and a couple of
sustainment
pouches
and
you’re
facing
75
pounds
of
dead
weight.
That’s
too
much weight to sling
onto your back with
one
arm.
Here’s
a
better way:
Use
the
buddy
system. Ask a friend
to help you put on the
rucksack. Then return
the favor.
MOLLE…
Some Rules for
the Rucksack!
Use buddy system
some-
times you
don’t
have
much say
in things.
take, for instance, the
components of your modular
lightweight load-carrying
equipment (molle).
you normally don’t get
to choose the packs,
pouches and bags you
wear on a given mission.
nor do you choose
their arrangement.
often, those
decisions are made
at the company
level or higher.
but you
do
have some
say about a
couple of
things…
one
is how you’re going
to heft the molle’s
large rucksack onto
your back.
another
is how
you’re going to
wear the rucksack
and pack frame.
703.48-49.indd
1-2
5/13/11
1:45 PM
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