Belladonna Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 Right, well, Seeing as ive gone geardo somehow without my noticing, i figure, why not do something fun to start with? Ive always liked the pararescue look, and as its slightly more freeform, ive decided to build a loadout around it, one that can work in both woodland, and desert styles (i want to keep my us kit fairly mailable environment wise) SO! from my research, ive decided the following: raid Dcus (i think i need smaller, my mediums are getting tentlike) or flightsuit maybe? Tan Paca.. probably the kingarms woodland elbv i just picked up, its really comfy... on the belt ive put a radio pouch, saw (100 rounder) pouch for 5 ar15 mags (i tend to do that) my trauma pouch, and my molle saddle holster... i have a mich2000 in tan, would that be suitable? or a flight helmet maybe? or protec? i have black boots at the moment, (I KNOW) but looking at some converse desert warriors 8inchers... my od nomex flight gloves. a raid pack with some more utilitys/ trauma pouches on for medical supplies few big questions i have about it all here... rapeling harness? must? where from? weapons: is a cranestocked SPRmod1 too big? if so, i can stick my eotech on instead of the scope, and a normal front sight and flashhider and use that? mobitily is my key concern, so massively bulky kit is so out... is the choice of vest off or should i get a platecarrier? radio headsets? whats useable? (using a motarola sabre astro gen2 what unit identifcation do i need? id RATHER Just wear flags, and as little as possible as tbh, ive not earned the badge. but what can i use thats respectful and keeps it in flavour? what am best sidearm? do i even need one? any other suggestions? changes? have i gone utterly wrong? constructive criticism ftw guys anyone feel like helping me out? Link to post Share on other sites
reaper16 Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 militaryphotos.net go the the Iraqi Freedom section, U.S. forces section and it will have a pararescue section, that should help u out, i belive the enduring freedom section also has a prarrescue section as well. Link to post Share on other sites
Siygess Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 PJ loadout eh? Good choice! Ok, lets start with: few big questions i have about it all here... rapeling harness? must? where from? Yes because it's one of the few things about a PJ loadout that screams "PJ!". Any harness will do - I've seen PJ's wear a Bluewater harness but most people doing a PJ impression will buy a Black Diamond Bod or Alpine Bod harness because they look the part and they are cheap. You can pick them up for £25 new, or less than that on ebay. It would also be a good idea to get a personal retention lanyard (Several people make them, including BHI) and a figure 8 descender. Oh, and some carabiners, but I'm pretty sure you have a few of those already. weapons: is a cranestocked SPRmod1 too big? if so, i can stick my eotech on instead of the scope, and a normal front sight and flashhider and use that? You rarely see PJ's using anything other than a standard M4 in the field (KAC RAS, Cranestock), but you see them using all kinds of weapons in training or on the range. In the very helpful words of Titleist: But typically you'll see for a PJ M4 the following optics: TA01NSN ACOG, Trijicon Reflex, or M68 (Aimpoint M2). Use a KAC RAS, not a RIS. You'll want to use either a AN/PEQ-2A or VITAL-2 for the laser. Usually you see the weapons in a light or heavy config. Light would be M4, KAC RAS, PAQ-4 or VITAL-2, Trij Reflex, maybe a KAC vertical grip, no BUIS usually but it's operator preference. Heavy would be TA01NSN, PEQ-2, M203A1 (short barrel NOT the standard length), surefire on the RAS, and KAC BUIS. Of course, I've seen a few pictures where a PJ has an Eotech on his M4 so it's not out of the question.. and to be honest, I'll probably be getting one myself as I'm not an ACOG fan. mobitily is my key concern, so massively bulky kit is so out... is the choice of vest off or should i get a platecarrier? Well it depends on how modern you want your PJ loadout to be. From my observation, PJ's commonly use: [Most Recent] Paraclete RAV (mostly worn by CROs rather than enlisted PJs) Paraclete Hard Plate Carrier with cummerbund * (sometimes with a soft armour carrier underneath, and sometimes with the cummerbund removed for mobility) Eagle RRV (again, sometimes with a soft armour carrier underneath) Eagle Air Rescue Vest over a soft armour carrier Blackhawk Omega vests (rarely) FLC LBV 88 ALICE Gear [Ages ago] * sometimes seen with a TT MAV with X Harness, Eagle Air Rescue Vest or BHI LBE Harness over the top. Personally, I hated the look of the Paraclete HPC but now it's growing on me and I'll be getting one to go with my own PJ loadout soon. Also, PJs regularly wear their khaki / tan / coyote brown gear over US woodland camo. radio headsets? whats useable? (using a motarola sabre astro gen2 I'll have another look, but I have only ever seen them wear Peltors / Comtacs. Personally I got around this by fitting my Cavalvy Bowman headset inside the cheapest pair of electronic hearing defenders I could find (e.g. the Peltor 6s) what unit identifcation do i need? id RATHER Just wear flags, and as little as possible as tbh, ive not earned the badge. but what can i use thats respectful and keeps it in flavour? Really the only thing I can think of is the black patch with "PJ" on it in white lettering, which they do wear - so it's not on those PACA copies for nothing what am best sidearm? do i even need one? I believe the USAF are very kind and give them M9s.. and that's it. But often, you will see PJ's don't even carry sidearms, so it's really up to you. any other suggestions? changes? have i gone utterly wrong? constructive criticism ftw guys anyone feel like helping me out? Let's see. MICH 2000 is fine, as are the black boots (hey, some guys don't seem to have gotten around to buying desert boots yet!) but of course, the converse boots will be better. Gloves are fine, the backpack is fine by nature of actually having a backpack, but I guess if you wanted to be picky you could try to get a dedicated med backpack. The LBT ones are..well.. pretty darned expensive.. but TT are having a sale right now on their OD gear, so you could pick up an M5 or Trauma Pack. Alternatively, Phantom/Pantac do a copy of the Eagle Medical pack. The problem I find with a PJ loadout is that apart from the harness, pack and a patch that says "PJ" there isn't a lot that makes it stand out. This is why I've opted to get a Paraclete HPC because no one elses uses them! Right now you can pick them up for £120 inc delivery, but if thats a little steep for you Pantac have just released a version for $70. Oh, and don't forget to take some pictures of it all and put them in the PJ pics thread. It's feeling kind of neglected! Link to post Share on other sites
Belladonna Posted December 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 thanks a bunch youve been REALLY helpful R Link to post Share on other sites
CerberusCO Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 Remember, a PJ's primary duty is aircrew rescue - so the loadout should be very HSLD. Most likely M4 only, but M9 is the duty sidearm of the USAF. Also, all deployed USAF personnel now should have been issued (and are required to wear) the ABU (including SOF). Have fun with that! Link to post Share on other sites
Belladonna Posted December 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 im not doing a current loadout hence sticking to tricolour DCU (something 2003time) by the way, nice helpful post there cerberus Also, i do know the job of para rescue operators... funnily enough. hence my not wanting to use a large bulky plate carrier, because for a start, im not that big, so id be outbulked as it is.... ill be sticking with paca, and lbv88... as its alowable. R Link to post Share on other sites
BaBaBooey Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 im not doing a current loadout hence sticking to tricolour DCU (something 2003time) by the way, nice helpful post there cerberus Also, i do know the job of para rescue operators... funnily enough. hence my not wanting to use a large bulky plate carrier, because for a start, im not that big, so id be outbulked as it is.... ill be sticking with paca, and lbv88... as its alowable. R Do you want to do something from the 80's or 90's? I have no idea about recent equipment, but in the 90's what folks used was drastically different depending if you were air rescue in the desert or combat control in the jungle (I collect mostly 80's - 90's junk). Link to post Share on other sites
Belladonna Posted December 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 like i said, early 2000s, probably the start of gulfwar2 timeline... R Link to post Share on other sites
Wrangler Posted December 22, 2007 Report Share Posted December 22, 2007 What weapon do you plan on using? One of my teachers was a PJ in the early 90's, he said they used mp5's and combat 1911's. He hasn't said much about gear though, only their HALO kits. Link to post Share on other sites
blazevich Posted December 22, 2007 Report Share Posted December 22, 2007 pantac air rescue vest @ redwolf .com or pm concept pj vest @ redwolf also you can use a sky army lbv at redwolf but get it in desert camo king arms tactical body armor with pj patch (out of stock at redwolf but should be easy to find) Link to post Share on other sites
Edmiles Posted December 22, 2007 Report Share Posted December 22, 2007 Well as said, black boots are good but based on the 'works in both desert and woodland' comment, desert or CB boots would be best. Personally I'd go for Oakleys but only as I love mine and have never tried Converse. There is a neverending debate between Oakleys and Converse so, I figure both must be pretty good. Welcome to the Geardo side... It's better this way Cookiees will be delivered as promised, 8-10 weeks. No compensation can be offered if they 'accidentally' get lost in the post. Link to post Share on other sites
Stealthbomber Posted December 22, 2007 Report Share Posted December 22, 2007 I thought you'd already spoken to somebody about a PJ loadout? Where did I put that photograph.... Link to post Share on other sites
chas Posted December 22, 2007 Report Share Posted December 22, 2007 You should find a broad enough variety of gear in these pics to pic out whatever you like and, as you can see in the first pic, put it together whoever you want. Link to post Share on other sites
Belladonna Posted December 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2007 thanks for the tips and photos guys. Wranger: i wanted to use my sprmod1 recon for it (spr with crane stock) Stealth: wrong kind of PJs Um, and the 'sky army lbv' is what i HAVE... just the USGI version... the ELBV... and as the pjs seem to have no quams about wearing od/woodland vests over tricol/acu, i guess ill run with that... (as i have it) R Link to post Share on other sites
nilz Posted December 23, 2007 Report Share Posted December 23, 2007 Woodland bdu's and tricolours are perfectly acceptable even for current loadouts. There's some very recent pics with the heli crew in ABU's and the PJ in woodland. Especially the woodland bdu's are being worn in 'deniable' situations (no flags, no patches). Link to post Share on other sites
Jagdraben Posted December 23, 2007 Report Share Posted December 23, 2007 There's an image on EBR-SOPMODS of a PJ doing a jump with an EBR strapped to himself, so I should imagine that rifles larger and longer than M4s aren't out of the picture. Link to post Share on other sites
Siygess Posted December 23, 2007 Report Share Posted December 23, 2007 True - in the first picture Chas posted, the guy in the bottom right has an EBR as well if I'm not mistaken. Link to post Share on other sites
Jagdraben Posted December 24, 2007 Report Share Posted December 24, 2007 If you're mistaken, I'm mistaken. Link to post Share on other sites
Belladonna Posted December 24, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2007 i thought you were Misty? or is that just weekends? R Link to post Share on other sites
Belladonna Posted December 25, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2007 where im at so far... minus obviously the paca, which i need to get, and my nomex gloves i omitted so i could actually work the camera auto shoot in time to get infront... R Link to post Share on other sites
Siygess Posted December 25, 2007 Report Share Posted December 25, 2007 Looking good - could use a 3/4 shot so we can see the pack though. It's an important, er, PJ thing! Ok, all you need now apart from the PACA is a harness and - oh - some EMT shears Link to post Share on other sites
Belladonna Posted December 25, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2007 dunno if you can see it, but on my left hip theres an molle medic pouch, has my fast access kit, minor inuries stuff, sheers, gloves torch etc. damn! the pack! i should look at one of those to the list too! that just my hydration pack sadly EMT shears? and your MEANT to be british! pft R Link to post Share on other sites
Gliderrider Posted December 26, 2007 Report Share Posted December 26, 2007 Hmm, I'm almost tempted to get a PJ impressian looking at those piks. All I need is the BDU's. Link to post Share on other sites
PCA_PJ Posted December 26, 2007 Report Share Posted December 26, 2007 Hey Siygess what would you suggest for a max-modern PJ loadout? I got my ABU's now, looking to do a CRO impression. What color do you think? And do you think a Wasatch/Weesatch would be an acceptable vest (as I dont want to spend an arm and a leg on a RAV) Link to post Share on other sites
iloveics Posted December 26, 2007 Report Share Posted December 26, 2007 Am I missing something? I thought this was pijama loadout? pj's Link to post Share on other sites
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