All that gear

Me with all my gear. Helmet and body armor with plates capable
> of stopping armor-piercing rounds on the front, rear and sides, 210
> rounds of 5.56mm ammo on the front, 2 medic pouches with Kerlix and
> tourniquets in front of my ammo magazines, another medic pouch on the
> side with more gear, earplugs for long rides in the Bradleys, and a
> pouch up top that is good for holding...well,
> nothing. M-4 carbine with the close-combat optics
> sight (just a red dot, no magnification), the "ganster grip" up front,
> with a flashlight; the flashlight has a pressure switch I taped onto
> my grip, just squeeze my left hand and the light comes on. 9mm pistol
> on my right thigh, plus 30 rounds of ammo. Medic bag on my left
> thigh, more gauze, tourniquets, occlusive dressings and 14ga needles
> for chest injuries. Soft elbow pads in my sleeves, and hard shell
> knee pads which are very hot in the summer. 3 liter camelbak between
> my body armor and my aid bag, and lastly my aid bag with enough
> supplies to treat my entire squad if necessary; fully equipped for
> intubation, surgical crics, I have a BVM, several IV's, drugs,
> splints, and a whole lot of gauze. Oh yeah, I forgot...2 10mg
> Morphine auto-injectors in my left shoulder pocket.
> Like the pic says...way too much gear. But, better safe than sorry.
> I always leave the aid bag in the vehicles if I can help it; I have
> enough supplies on me to stabilize a casualty till we get back to the
> Bradley. On our walking patrols I use a big satchel instead; makes it
> less obvious that I'm a medic...just one of the guys. Its better that
> way.
>
> So...thats about it. Hope you like the glimpse of my life here in
> Iraq. I'll try to keep taking pics and send out a couple cool ones
> when I can.
>
> Miss you all!!!