Slowly but surely, the pack once known as FILBE is making its way to the Fleet. Apparently, MARCORSYSCOM’s Program Manager Infantry Combat Equipment office has been able to take long enough away from making accusations against each other to produce this very informative video on what is now called simple the USMC Pack. It’s almost 30 minutes long so you may need to watch it in bites during breaks.
The new Marine Corps Family of Packs features a molded hip belt which incorporates hardwear from National Molding. The 2†Techno Grab Tensionlock is combined with the Lock Monster Single bar Male and Female to create a simple, adjust hip belt.
As you can see, the belt is adjusted by pulling forward on the straps. You grab a side in each hand and pull forward with equal pressure.
www.NationalMolding.com
Propper International gave us a few minutes with this production example.
Here you can see the details of the molded waist belt.
The Pack also comes with 2 Sustainment Pouches, a Horizontal GP Pocket, and a Hydration Carrier.
Finally, there is an Assault Pack. While it can be mounted crossways on top of the pack, it is really meant as more of a stand alone item. The channels along the back (seen under the shoulder straps) are open cell foam but we are told the material used will not absorb water. Additionally, the panel loader has an assymetric 2-way zipper that opens lower on the wearer’s left side. The outer pocket features an internal mesh pocket while the main compartment also has a mesh pocket and will accommodate a radio.
It seems the Marines aren’t quite so taken with the term “FILBE” (Family of Improved Load Bearing Equipment) which was used to differentiate this new external frame pack from its predecessor during the solicitation.
At MDM we heard a couple of terms being used like “Marine Corps Pack Suite” which could basically denote any old set of packs. Hopefully, they will lock something down soon. My favorite alternative was “MELBA” for Marine Enhanced Load Bearing Assembly.
FILBE or whatever it’s being called is so new that PM-ICE didn’t even have a production sample available to display. But that doesn’t mean that this program isn’t on the fast track. The fielding schedule is very aggressive with the entire run complete within 18 months at the outside. In fact, the first delivery order has already been placed.
The Marine Corps has announced the awards for the Family of Load Bearing Equipment (FILBE) pack. As these are to be paid for with 2011 dollars the announcement came none-too-late.
The 16 September announcement:
Eagle Industries Unlimited, Inc., Fenton, Mo., is being awarded a $50,184,913 delivery order, 0001, under previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (M67854-11-D-3071) for Marine Corps packs, training materials, and data reports. Work will be performed in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico (52 percent), and Lares, Puerto Rico (48 percent), and is expected to be completed Sept. 15, 2012. Contract funds in the amount of $50,184,913 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract resulted from an unrestricted competition. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.
Propper International, Inc., Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, is being awarded a $47,527,535 delivery order, 0001, under previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (M67854-11-D-3070) for Marine Corps packs, training materials, and data reports. Work will be performed in Puerto Rico (81.5 percent), and Bozeman, Mont. (18.5 percent), and is expected to be completed Sept. 15, 2012. Contract funds in the amount of $47,527,535 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract resulted from an unrestricted competition. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.
At last week’s Maneuver Conference, Mystery Ranch informed us that they would have commercial versions of FILBE available soon in a variety of patterns.
