What kind of non-issue kit is allowed!

[Bill P.]

Hello everyone,
I am in the process of re-entering the CF, as a reservist(Calgary Highlanders), after several years off! Have completed most of the selection stages, test, interview, medical etc.. just need to arrange to do that CF Express Test.
Anyways I am just curious as to what kinds of non issue kit are permitted i.e. packs, chest rigs, Danner/Matterhorn boots etc. I know the informal policy is that if it's green/black, soon to include Cadpat, you can wear it(with permission from RSM). Just asking for a laundry list from those here who are currently active, on what "extras" they have? Thanks in advance,
BillP

[garett]

I think that you'd actually have to talk to someone in your unit to find out because it varies so much. The most that I've gotten away with is jungle boots. The more ex-RCRs in your unit the less non-issue kit you can wear.

[TonyM]

If I remember correctly, the Cal Hi's have very switched on RSM. Ex Brit army, been around, seen action, etc. I've heard he's not a by-the-book guy for kit either. You'll have to wait and see. DON'T show up looking like a extra from Blackhawk Down on your first ex. My motto for non-reg kit: Easy does it, a little at a time. Good luck.

[Enfield]

You'll have to play it by ear when you start. Non-issue kit is a no-no on QL2/3, for the most part.
Once your in, well, it varies. If it can't be seen your ok, usually. Otherwise, it's at the discretion of the RSM, and what's allowed is well known.

Personally, i have: neck-warmer, toque, gloves, socks, a goretex liner, old-style ruck frame, and a shemagh. I'm pretty conservative and keep telling myself that as soon as I go buy a chest rig and boots the following training night they'll issues the new kit.

[Biker B]

I've always tried to use the best kit available for the job, and often that means acquiring non-issue kit. Here's a few points I've learned from experience. Sometimes these just won't work. There are always mental midgets out there who can't think past the parade square, and believe initiative to be a direct challenge to their authority. If that is the case, you will just have to suffer.

1. Know the difference between the garrison and the field, and as such, the time and place for non-issue kit.

2. It must be as close to the issue colour or cam pattern. With OD that wasn't a problem, but it's more difficult now with CADPAT, but not impossible. Hopefully the USMC pattern will be close, because outfits like US Cavalry will produce items for sale. The Danish pattern is close, but they have no brown hues. If nothing else, there seems to be an after-market CADPAT kit underground for us to access.

3. Keep it neat and squared away. Self explanatory.

4. Tear off or cover up the manufacturers or foreign labelling. Sew on the little shoulder Canadian flags where they would normally be found. That way, it won't be as blatant. In one case, I passed my ARTKTIS chest webbing and SAS smock off as leftovers from a testing program.

5. If enough guys want to go in on it, get a deal from the supplier to reflect the quantity being purchased. Going through the kit shop will give this measure a bit of legitimacy. Give a set to one of the luminaries in the chain of command.

6. Don't ask for permission, just wear the bloody thing. As with most endeavors, especially in the CF, it's better to ask for forgiveness than to beg for permission. Keeping that in mind, you must measure the cost vs. the risk of being denied the chance to use it.

7. Last and most importantly: It must be functional. Actually, it must work BETTER than the issue alternative. A good example of this is PLCE magazine pouches vs. Canadian magazine pouches. If enough switched on guys will buy it, the rest will follow. This leads to a point that all reserve augmentees should keep in mind. There is a huge credibility gap between you the "militia fok", regardless of how much of any prior experience you have, and any member of the regular force, regardless of how much
of a whiskey-sodden gluebag he is, when it comes to having your own ideas.

In conclusion I would put in my 2 cents worth about these made-for-SWAT urban vests, and in particular the assaul vest. The obvious defficiencies in ammunition capacities aside, chest webbing is often counter-productive in the field. Hauling
around a toboggan in chest webbing in the dead of winter, for example, is not a good idea as you can't ventilate properly. Also, though chest webbing is great for a number of situations, (FIBUA, mechanized, and airmobile ops) it is not always the best setup, especially when flying metal slightly above ground level forces you to leopard crawl, scraping your magazines across the dirt as you move along and forcing you to roll on your side and present a bigger target when it's time to reload. Just my opinion, though, and hopefully not a huge concern for the CRIC.

[farseer]

I guess I should pipe in here, hey TonyM the brit guy you're refering too (if its the same guy) is now a captain very switched on guy and he carries a brit ruck with the meanest Gurkha knife i've ever seen.

But about kit for the new guys (me being one of them), just wear issue shit and introduce new shit peice by piece over time. The Cal high's don't (from what i've seen)really go for a lot of gucci or custom shit. Mostly 64 pattern rucks, US ammo pouches, just small shit. If you come in with a freaky web set up you will get mocked and probably told to join the eddies or something ;). Boots as long as there black anything goes, desert boots too etc.

any other questions lemme know,

[Enfield]

American mag pouches?? They attach to our web belts??? I've never seen that done before...

[TonyM]

I've never met their RSM, but that sounds like him. You can always tell a Brit that's been to jungle school by the Kukri. I got mine in Belize from a RM, traded a pair of US jungle boots for it.
And if you're in the Cal Hi's, stay away from a big guy named Douglas in the mess. Loads of fun but meaner that shit when drinking. Hahahahhahahahha...tell him the old guy out on the island says hi.

[farseer]

hahaha,
if yer talking about jack douglas he's did his para in nov.
he's part of the recce crew here. good guy, hardcore.
i'll let him know, and thanks for the warning.