quote:

Originally posted by PonyGuard:
I'm working on my 8k tactical march right now, anyone know how much weight I should put in my ruck?

FYI....

On road marches it is NOT how much weight you carry or how far you march but how that weight is distributed on your back, how that backpack is packed, and how you care for yourself during the roadmarch. Not much of this is covered in the Army training so you have to ask someone experienced in the Army training.

When you get to WTC you want to find a former Infantry guy, because a lot of them know this stuff. I used to but it's been way too far back for me.

If you don't get an answer here then, second best suggestion...

If you live in a big city there is a store they give free in store workshops on this stuff as well (REI.COM). If you live near one of those stores, call and see when their next workshop is for adjusting backpacks and backpacking first aid, preventing blisters, etc. Learn the system they use for adjusting the packs, how they pack the packs, avoiding blisters, etc. For packing, I think it is light stuff on top heavy on bottom (can't remember that unfortunately), etc. If they have a free workshop, attend it. Their packs are probably NOT like Army packs but you will get the feel for how a pack should ride on your back and feel on your back with their workshops and what system they use for adjusting.

That info is priceless, IMO.

Thanks Erich, that sounds like very good advice, I will definitely look into it. My search here on the forum says 30-40 pounds of gear.

-PG

quote:

Originally posted by PonyGuard:
Thanks Erich, that sounds like very good advice, I will definitely look into it. My search here on the forum says 30-40 pounds of gear.

-PG

I ETS'd in 1987 and it was 35 lbs in the pack for the EIB 12 mile march then. I am sure they upped it a little with two wars going on. Not sure if you have any hands on with carrying ammo but it's very heavy. So that would be the reason they upped it, if they did raise it.

You have to be careful with this this rucking stuff because if your new to it and don't know what your doing you can damage your back with too much weight too fast and that will DQ you.

Best weight to carry on any practice march is water in the plastic milk jugs, that way if you feel as if your overheating there is something readily available to drench you with to lower your temperature. If it gets too heavy you can empty the water and lighten the load.

Good Luck!

Also, the purpose of the Road March is to test your ability to manage yourself as a Soldier under stress. Has very little to do with physical fitness (yes you will feel it in your legs after or on your blistered feet but it's more stress then sheer exhaustion). If you can run 6-7 miles in a Infantry company you can road march for 12 fairly easily without prep. The 12 mile march for EIB had to be completed in 3 hours or less. No way possible on this Earth anyone can make it that fast marching.....so yes you have to run part of the way or jog lightly all of the way.

Likewise the shorter marches, if you can run for 5 miles in 40-45 min.....which you should be doing prior to shipping, 8k should be fairly easy physically, IMO.

So these are all Infantry standards above from 1987, don't know whats changed since then. I would be doubtful they got too much stricter.

What they are looking for in the road march is your maintaining discipline, not complaining, maintaining standards, not looking like your at BATAAN. Not sure if they do that at WTC, at Ft. Benning, they just did the marches as a check off the box exercise.....until the 12 miler.....that one the DS's were watching closely.

It's funny you should mention back injury. I strained my back and wound up in the ER when I was 31 (so, five years ago), and that's the precise reason that I'm obsessing about it now.

I'm marching with about 18 pounds of law books (I never thought those would come in handy lol), and working my way up gradually. In a way, I'm actually glad that I had a few extra months during the records hold. I've been worried about screwing my back up again.

-PG

quote:

Originally posted by PonyGuard:
It's funny you should mention back injury. I strained my back and wound up in the ER when I was 31 (so, five years ago), and that's the precise reason that I'm obsessing about it now.

I'm marching with about 18 pounds of law books (I never thought those would come in handy lol), and working my way up gradually. In a way, I'm actually glad that I had a few extra months during the records hold. I've been worried about screwing my back up again.

-PG

Gruntpain1775 one of our AD Mods is getting Med Boarded out in November due to back injury hernieated discs I think. He has the option of staying in but does not want any other MOS (that and I think he is burnt out....only so much of the "take that hill" until it gets monotonous).

Anyhow, he did Infantry since enlistment for 8 years. SSG at 24-25 which is pretty young for that rank from what I remember. He was Light Infantry for 8 years.

If you stay on the website for a while you will begin to notice that the Infantryman that are still around with no back issues are those that were Mech Infantry (ride) vs Light Infantry (carry on your back).

I was Light Infantry for 3 years and Mech for 18 months. When I was Light Infantry I was riding or driving a Jeep for the most part because the TOW is too heavy to carry. We did marches so the 11B's in the neighboring Companies would stop their comparison complaining. Not as much marching as they did.....a point which you will see made on this website from time to time (they never forget these trivial things, even after decades have passed....lol).

So the back problems are a common for Light Infantry at least...and for Paratrooopers. Because the tendency with the pack (or parachute or PLF) is to rough it out with the pain or man it out. Unfortunately, over time that has a cost.

I didn't learn about packing the rucksack or wearing it properly until end of year 2 (numerous marches later). The Army just does not spend time on this. I'd be willing to bet they still do not.

BTW, FO2_325 another SSG is a Recruiter because jumping PLF's and probably the backpack screwed up his back. You might see him post on occasion in the Army Forums or Recruiting Questions.