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Subject: Light Infantry Marching Standards?
DeeJay    11/22/2004 9:45:15 PM
What are reasonable expectations of light infantry in conducting ruck marches. I know it depends on terrain and weather, so prtend it's a nice clear cool day. Now what times are expected when marching on grass compared to forest, and what distances should they be able march in a day or even a week. What is a reasonable rate of march (speed).
 
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joe6pack    RE:Light Infantry Marching Standards? Albany   11/24/2004 1:07:34 PM
"What the he!! is a GPS!?!?!? Back then it was Map & Compass!!!" Well, the incident I mentioned was actually prior to going in the "box" Our CO wanted to get some PT in... I guess. Once we were in, this same fellow, managed to "get lost" using map, compass and GPS.. that extended another night movement a number of hours. Even the dumbest of privates can figure out that a 8K movement is taking a LOT longer than it should. "My guys carried rucks, but they usually for carrying spare Dragon missile rounds (usually 8-inch howitzer powder cans filled with sand to simulate weight)" Yeah, we did that too. But since we were light, we also had to carry mortar rounds for the company 60's, more cases filled with sand. Some 4th ID jokers drove by and asked where our tracks were.. It almost started a brawl ;-) "when I was a compnay commander my webgear weighed 42 lbs" Unfortunately sir, your standards are not that of every company commander. I've had some pretty good ones though (just not that particular one). The one I ended up as an RTO for, it was all I could to keep him from grabbing a M60 from which ever plattoon he happened to be around. He loved doing Infantry "stuff" and leading the company more anything. I'm not entirely sure he would have passed a psych eval ;-)
 
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AlbanyRifles    RE:Light Infantry Marching Standards? Albany   11/24/2004 1:34:33 PM
Most of us couldn't/can't!!! And as for light versus mech? When I was enlisted, I was light. when I got commissioned, I said give me a track!!! (Still think officers are overpaid?!) Happy Turkey Day!
 
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Sentinel    RE:Light Infantry Marching Standards?...piece of piss?   11/29/2004 10:53:57 AM
12 miles in three hours with full kit is nothing to scoff at. The idea isn't to smoke your troops before they get to the fight. 12 miles in 3 hours is sustainable.
 
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Bejean    My personal marching experience and views.   12/7/2004 2:59:12 AM
Ah, the dreaded road marches. During my active days, the marches i did in Boot Camp are 8,16 and 24km with a fullpack and a M16. Terrain is standard flat driving roads. This is nothing as compared to the specialist school where we do the same distance in the jungle and rough terrain. Some of the lads are outfitted with GPMG, 4 x 250rds 7.62ammo box, 35kg estimated Milan AT missle launcher...etc. The height of my suffering is during my days at the Reconnaissance school where i did a 72km road march in 18hours i think. Anyway though road marches are bad but FAST MARCH is taking the piss especially on a battalion level. Worst experience is a 16km fast march on a battalion level. I am in B company which is the last company after A,C and Support companies. We ran for most of the 16km. Felt like dying...haha
 
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bombard    RE:WW1 Great retreat.   12/19/2004 7:03:35 PM
Reading John Keagans book on WW1. He noted that the french, german and british armies were marching 15 or 20 miles a day for 14 days, in the heat of the last week of august and first week of september, 1914. The first glouchestershire regiment recorded a march of 390Km in 13 days, with one of rest. thats average of 30km/day, and on little food. ...
 
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Robogregatron    RE:Light Infantry Marching Standards?   12/25/2004 5:43:53 PM
"It's a 50lb ruck, LBE, Weapon, Kevlar. Usually gets done in a littl over 2 hours or so, unless you are slacking." I'd be very surprised if the packing list for the EIB 12-miler was over 40 pounds (this past November). When you know that you have 3 hours to finish, and you don't get anything extra for finishing early, it all comes down to pacing, unless you really want to carry the guidon. I finished in a decent sized pack at 2:58. It was about the same for AirAssault school as well. Got to 6 miles ahead of pace, then eased off a bit on the way back. Our last march was a 14 miler a few weeks ago, coming back from the field with only assault packs. Being the RTO, I got to carry a little extra weight. It was a nice stroll, I think between 3 and 4 hours, but it had rained the entire week and a few guys wearing jungles had some problems with wet feet, some could barely walk by the time we finished. I've got the newer issue gortex boots which are heavier, but had nothing more than a blister on my big toe. I hate road marching.
 
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joe6pack    RE:Light Infantry Marching Standards?   12/27/2004 9:41:25 AM
"When you know that you have 3 hours to finish, and you don't get anything extra for finishing early" Unless you have a PSG that feels you were not giving it your best effort ;-) Then the prize was lets do it again tommorow. Now that I'm thinking about it. Yeah, I think you are correct about the weight for EIB. Its been about a decade since I did mine, so the memory is a little foggy on the subject. "I hate road marching." Join the club (I'm sure there are several million members ;-)
 
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Thomas    RE:Light Infantry Marching Standards?   12/27/2004 10:25:28 AM
Well with a background in just about the poorest light infantry in history, I think we were supposed to do 5km per hour - I think for about 2 hours; now the problem was that the map was entrusted to the second lieutenant of the reserves with about the poorest ability to navigate - he could get lost in a telephone booth - and blame it on the obscene inscriptions scribbled on the glas. The unit was so poor, that I had a very difficult time getting in LAST at the 3 mile run: The competition was fierce there. The whole idea was to keep the NCO's in doubt of how bad your best effort was - which wasn't difficult as the only thing poorer than their training was their mental powers. Getting serious: As far as I know the genral rule of thumb is 5 km per hour for 8 hours. That speed is expected to be sustainable for ever. Napoleon did make light infantry march quicker by shedding all equipment. The Gurkhas march in the old cadance of 180 beats per minute. (try and play Sousa's marches at that beat - they sound very funny!).
 
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Bejean    RE:Light Infantry Marching Standards?   12/28/2004 3:54:06 AM
Had the misfortune of serving under a Mad Battalion CO, insisting his rifle companies to clear the Standard Obstacle Course after the monthly 24km road march. With full gear and all, yes the MG gunners will slung their MG and cross the monkey bars....the AT gunners are told to clear the low wall....
 
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AlbanyRifles    RE:Light Infantry Marching Standards?   12/28/2004 12:00:18 PM
If you want to be really impressed with marching standards, look at what the Brits did in the Falklands.....THAT was some serious yomping!!!!
 
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