At various points throughout history, military equipment has evolved significantly over time. Cannons, muskets, rifles and artillery have all seen rapid technological and manufacturing advancements that have brought these weapons and equipment into modern times. One example is battle belts; originally intended to secure swords on hips on horseback riders in medieval Europe were later adopted by modern militaries from mid-1800s onwards for holding water canteens and weapons like water cannons as well as serving as sword-holding belts until well into 2000s.
As warfare is an ever-present reality, the Global War on Terror provided a perfect environment for this weapon's development. With Special Operations Forces playing an ever-increasing role in conflicts across the globe from Philippines to Afghanistan, their requirements for battle belts has expanded significantly. New requirements were brought about as small groups of individuals with the task of conducting high-speed raids to capture or kill enemy leaders and facilitators were deployed instead of larger forces in trench warfare environments. Assaulters became the centerpiece of American military strategy. Troops needed a way to carry plenty of functionality while remaining lightweight enough for quick entry and exit from areas, with medical aids, entry methods and transportation requirements all being part of their kit. As medical technology improved over time, soldiers developed what we now refer to as tactical waist belts - an optimal combination of functionality and fit.
Purpose
Modern battle belts allow an individual to carry various combinations of gear specific to their mission. This may include extra rifle magazines, flash-bangs to mark cleared rooms/buildings, medical supplies to save lives or safety leads that connect back into a helicopter that brings them in - the modularity of MOLLE which both shares is the reason behind this.
Battle belts provide some ergonomic advantages as well. By distributing gear evenly across one's hips and relieving pressure off of their lower back, battle belts allow soldiers to reduce plate carrier bulk while relieving pressure off their lower back. Modern battlefields are so cluttered with battle belts that any individual trained can quickly recognize another's to determine their mission.
Setup Suggestion
1.Buy a MOLLE Tactical Belt
Now that we know a bit about your history, let's jump right in with some details. First of all, you require a tactical belt from our company; their quality will exceed any others available in the market and may cost a bit more, but you deserve the best quality available to you. My mom always used to say: If your head's worth $10 then wear a $10 helmet."
Our belt system is quite ingenious in that it uses a velcro linkage between an inner belt - which feeds through your regular belt loops - and an outer belt, featuring MOLLE braid for mounting accessories and buckles, with one layer inside offering hidden storage for handcuff keys or other important items.
2.Pistol Platform Pouch
At the right side of a belt is usually a pistol pouch which is secured and carried using a modular system. Now we can discuss pistols later; I want to focus on their storage solution: Holster systems can vary depending on make and model; I highly recommend one system that allows interchangeability among various holsters on one belt to accommodate guns with lights or different levels of retention depending on your mission; additionally I advise thread-locker for any hardware that may become loose over time.
3.Bleeder Bag And Medical Pouch
On the right side of 5 o'clock is typically found a Bleeder Bag and at 6 o 'clock there will be a medical first aid kit.
The Medical Pouch serves as my personal first aid kit (IFAK). Accessible on both sides, its ribbon-based system allows me to quickly access tourniquets if needed from either side. Complementing my Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) class knowledge with quality medical equipment makes this IFAK invaluable and essential.
Not everyone needs two medical bags; only those on special missions or willing to carry two first aid kits simultaneously needing treatment may want two first aid kits in their kit. In any event, having medical gear divvied up among your plate carrier and battle belt will give you maximum preparedness in case something unexpected comes up during their day.
4.Flashlight pouch
On the left side of your combat belt is a pocket designed for holding a flashlight with 1000 lumens of illumination. I personally enjoyed being prepared to quickly blast away drugged up Pashtuns who emerged out of the darkness at 2am and scared me half to death! A reliable flashlight is essential when conducting operations under low light conditions - even buildings may become dark during the middle of the day! Simply having one on hand makes good sense.
5.Rifle Magazine Pouch
To complete your belt setup, it is necessary to include a rifle magazine pouch with low ride retention system that allows a large surface area for gripping when taking out mags from it. While opinions on when or if a magazine should be carried can differ widely; having extra ammunition available should always be part of a battle belt setup; even better if two mags fit!
6.Pistol Magazine Pouch
After our rifle magazine pouch comes a pistol double magazine carrier for easy reloads of our secondary weapon -- our trusty sidearm. Just as gunslingers in the Wild West kept ammunition close at hand on their battle belts, we need ammunition in ours too.
7. knife
Finally, next to the cobra buckle usually sits a knife - both weapon and tool in one! A knife is an indispensable addition to any battle belt setup.
As previously stated, a typical belt contains 45 rounds of 9mm ammunition (including one loaded gun), 30 rounds 5.56mm ammunition, one knife and one angry flashlight; it may also include enough medical supplies to treat half of any wounds received - with this image as proof, patching holes is what we do best here!
At one time, people would carry small bungee cords with them to attach to aircraft and prevent any unfortunate circumstances, like falling out of a helicopter. My final tip: customize your battle belt based on your personal needs - although I have covered some basic points here, everyone's battle belt may differ slightly.
Battle belts should not only be restricted to military use. Civilians can utilize battle belts too - more often than not they will help patch holes and provide medical aid than cause harm themselves. Treat your belt as essential range equipment (for any range that allows training).
