Years before there was MCD Dog Training there was Modern Combative Systems. Before that there was Mercop. For the first 17 years of my adult life, I served in the Army as an MP and as a police officer working both SWAT and Patrol. As far back as I can remember I have always been a gear guy. Gun, knives, watches, flashlights, bag, boxes, and pouches. I still can’t get enough. For years I was on most of the tactical forums as Mercop where I shared my thoughts on all tactics, training, and gear. During that time, I designed carried, used, and tested all types of gear. No matter how you got here you have probably figured out that I love to write. So now I have decided, just for fun, to start writing about gear again. In this first article I am going to start with talking about my 1st Line Gear.
For those who are not familiar your 1st Line Gear is everything you carry on your belt and in your pockets. For me it all starts with the shorts/pants I wear. For years this has been the Atlas line from LA Police Gear. There have been an evolution of these shorts/pants, but I am going to refer to the most current. They are all wear. My absolute favorite thing about them is the spandex thigh/seat that gives you unlimited freedom of movement. My next favorite feature is their pocket configuration from slash pockets back, front, and hip, but also the small pockets on the thigh pockets. This is where I keep my flashlight.
The next part of the foundation is my belt. For over 20 years I work the Instructors Belt from The Wilderness. About six months ago I purchased a Nexbelt and love it. Now all my friends have them, I’m at tactical trendsetter, I guess. My favorite part about the ratcheting belt is how easy is it to make it a little looser or tighter depending on the time of the day and calories ingested. Although I have a bunch of handguns I could carry, most days it is my Smith & Wesson Model 642 revolver in 38 Spl. The642 is carried right behind my hip on the Nexbelt in a Bianchi Model Leather Holster. Just in front of that is a Desantis 2X2X2 ammo pouch. In front of that, worn horizontally is my Leatherman Wingman in a One Tigris Tactical MOLLE Pouch.
On to pockets, looking down towards the ground from right to left. In my front hip pocket is an awesome little lens cloth from Tactical Distributors, a must if you wear spectacles. This is also where spare change goes. In the smaller pockets inside the right thigh pockets are a Acme Tornado whistle and my 4 Year coin from Celebrate Recovery, along with a Zippo sporting a butane insert. My phone usually rides in my back right pocket. In the left rear pocket is a bandanna folded nice and neat. In my left hip pocket is my wallet. This thing is awesome and holds all my ID’s cards, and folding money. In the left side thigh pocket are two pairs of black nitrile gloves rolled together in pair inside of a clear ziplock. On the outside of that pocket is my Streamlight 88061 Protac. Hooked on the left front of my shorts/pants is a carabiner.
Other things worn are a Seiko Automatic Watch, my custom titanium wedding ring, and my gold St. Michael’s Medal given to me by my Mother and Father the day I graduated from the police academy. For years I have made a habit of carrying a black ink pen on the right side of my shirt collar. Not just for writing but also as an improvised impact weapon for self-defense. For the last several years it has been a custom engraved Titanium Ti Bolt Pen from my friend and custom knife make Brian Felhoelter. Last week I found out that Sharpie now makes bad ass full metal barreled ink pens, so I purchased a few and have been wearing one of those this week.
As far as footwear, for about two months I have been wearing Altama Maritime Assault Boots which are basically hi-speed tactical Converse. They are hands down the lightest, most comfortable shoes I have ever worn. I spend a lot of time on my feet working with dogs and these are great for that. Even here enjoying the PA winter I wear them; keep in mind I am a celt and enjoy colder weather.
That about sums up my 1st Line Gear. In the future I will cover my 2nd Line Gear (day pack/Bag of Evil).