I hate to rehash an old post. According to section H of the MLEM, boarding team personnel may arrange equipment on LE belts at thier discretion, except that the holster and PDW shall be placed on the strong side of the individual. Does anyone have any information or opinion regarding the placement of the expandable baton on one of the straps on the thigh holster?
I've seen it done and personally I don't believe there to be any prohibition against it. Just remember that when you climb, your legs move a lot more than your waist does. I have seen some batons fall out of scabards that were attached to the thigh holster while people were climbing.
Our body armor/raid vests have multiple pockets on the front and back for spare magazines, large OC spray, handcuffs (on back, reachable from either side) and even a pouch that fits the 21" collapsible baton.
But I still prefer to keep the baton cross-drawn on the belt with the multipositional holder at a 45 degree angle upward.
Everything else (include flex cuffs, radios, etc.) are on the vest within easy reach.
Originally posted by CGMKJOEB: I hate to rehash an old post. According to section H of the MLEM, boarding team personnel may arrange equipment on LE belts at thier discretion, except that the holster and PDW shall be placed on the strong side of the individual. Does anyone have any information or opinion regarding the placement of the expandable baton on one of the straps on the thigh holster?
Since you asked for opinions, here's mine. FYI, I was in the CG 82-88, the Customs on the boats for 17 yrs. I tried the tactical holster for about a year, then got rid of it. I hated how it snagged on everything when I was climbing through the woods or engine rooms, etc.
In my opinion, to add your baton to the thigh holster is only going to add to the problem of snagging on things while you crawl through tight areas.
The only time I went with the thigh holster after that was for warrant raids since the whole purpose of them is to drop the holster clear of your body armor. With the raids, we wore the heavier body armor.
I share Don's opinion as well. Unless you are carrying a long gun as a primary weapon or wearing rifle plates or a large external vest, thigh holsters are IMO more cool guy wear than anything else.
I agree. I am not completely comfortable with the drop holster. I like the sense of "security" with my PDW on my waist. I don't feel that it is necessary to present (for a lack of better terms) a SWAT imaage while conducting recreational boating safety boardings. Then attach a swivel scabbard and an ASP baton to your drop holster and throw that into the mix.
We ended up getting the scabbard that was designed to be screwed to the drop down as opposed to being on one of the straps. The newer ones held the batons great, however, as time went on (a short time at that) the inside would wear and the possibility of it falling out was there. In fact, one of my guys got nailed in the head with a team members baton as he was waiting to climb the Jacobs ladder (thank you Protec). As FedRich noted it's more of cool guy gear... though I did buy 'em for my guys.
I don't feel that it is necessary to present (for a lack of better terms) a SWAT imaage while conducting recreational boating safety boardings.
how is having a holster 4 inches below your belt considered a "special weapon?" That kind of "image" is what helps keep our boardings from "seldom exceeding level I." Then again, it might be the other 5 BTMs standing there, two with long guns too. And yes, I'm at a Station. We're not water police, wear military members... and that is the image we must portray. I think its easier to maintain weapons retention since people need to lean forward to try to grab the holster firmly, which makes it easier to throw them off balance. I guess its just what you're trained with...
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say it's a matter of preference. I remember seeing guys from mssts at BO school during DT classes having to get in a deep wide low base (DWLB), and it didn't look very practical for weapons retention (again just my opinion). I think there are definitely advantages for some of the guys on these types of units to have a drop holster for the types of boardings they conduct, but while at station I didn't feel the need for a drop holster. Also I don't think you're creating any better imagine by having a holster 4" below your belt. So I'd have to agree with MK1/the LT/and FedRich on this one.
The drop leg holster maybe a tactical piece of equipment, but what part of an average boarding isn't tactical. First thing you have to remember is that for most of us we have at least 30 pounds of gear on. Dry suit or anti-exposure coveralls, PFD and pyro vest, body armor, standard weapons belt outfit, the two pagers, hand held radio with remote mic. If you have the standard ride holster, it takes up more room on the belt. I prefer not to have anything placed on my belt in my lower back region, but even with the drop leg holster I have to because I have no room otherwise. The standard ride holster is completely blocked by the PFD (maybe this is not the case with the inflatabel PFD, but for those of us who still use the standard type 3, its an issue). The standard ride holster is also at perfect height to get caught on the arm rests of the RBS, not to mention try sitting down in either of the port or starboard chairs on the MLB, its hard enough to stay seated with the drop holster, nonetheless the standard ride holster. The drop leg holster is also much more comfortable for coxswains to operate with. What used to be tactical is now practical.
Originally posted by 11510332: The drop leg holster maybe a tactical piece of equipment, but what part of an average boarding isn't tactical. First thing you have to remember is that for most of us we have at least 30 pounds of gear on. Dry suit or anti-exposure coveralls, PFD and pyro vest, body armor, standard weapons belt outfit, the two pagers, hand held radio with remote mic. If you have the standard ride holster, it takes up more room on the belt. I prefer not to have anything placed on my belt in my lower back region, but even with the drop leg holster I have to because I have no room otherwise. The standard ride holster is completely blocked by the PFD (maybe this is not the case with the inflatabel PFD, but for those of us who still use the standard type 3, its an issue). The standard ride holster is also at perfect height to get caught on the arm rests of the RBS, not to mention try sitting down in either of the port or starboard chairs on the MLB, its hard enough to stay seated with the drop holster, nonetheless the standard ride holster. The drop leg holster is also much more comfortable for coxswains to operate with. What used to be tactical is now practical.
"pagers" really not part of the weapons belt and why would you need to be "paged" during a boarding?
I have done plenty of boardings (fisheries, containers, etc) with the type 3 and I never had a problem with a "standard ride" holster. But with today's CG changing the "tactical ninjas" are becoming more prevalent.
Now, I can see were wearing the cool looking holster would be advantageous, not really for every day use for a Coastie (oops I mean Guardian) NAW COASTIE
"pagers" really not part of the weapons belt and why would you need to be "paged" during a boarding?
I wasn't sure how to respond to this except to say huh? The term pager has nothing to do with the old school text and number pagers that are basically now extinct. Both "pagers" are required and covered under manuals that can't be discussed here, so I will leave it at that.
Originally posted by 11510332: "pagers" really not part of the weapons belt and why would you need to be "paged" during a boarding?
I wasn't sure how to respond to this except to say huh? The term pager has nothing to do with the old school text and number pagers that are basically now extinct. Both "pagers" are required and covered under manuals that can't be discussed here, so I will leave it at that.
Our USCS dispatch (Sector IV) would often page us when they wanted us to call in rather than to risk alerting anyone within earshot of the radio by asking you to call for info.
are becoming more prevalent. 
