All-purpose lightweight individual carrying equipment

The all-purpose lightweight individual carrying equipment is a set of load-carrying equipment, adopted as United States Army Standard A on 17 January 1973. The ALICE system was developed from 1967 to 1972 in the LINCLOE 'program, and was initially designated the M-1972 lightweight load-carrying equipment', switching to the ALICE name shortly afterward.
ALICE replaced the M-1956 individual load-carrying equipment and M-1967 modernized load-carrying equipment. In 1988, the individual integrated fighting system was introduced to compliment the ALICE pack and suspenders, mainly addressing center of gravity and storage space capability shortcomings. IIFS, however, was plagued by production quality control issues, and was only partially phased into service.

Background

Fighting and existence loads

The ALICE system retains the concept of separate fighting and existence loads that was refined in the mid-1950s during the development of the M-1956 equipment. The most important point in the fighting and existence loads concept is that an infantry rifleman should carry only the items necessary to complete the immediate mission at hand. The load an infantry rifleman carries should not include any other item that can instead be carried another way. Because the type of mission, terrain, and environmental conditions will influence the clothing and individual equipment requirements, the unit commander may prescribe to the infantry rifleman the essential items. The primary purpose of the concept for fighting and existence loads is to lighten an infantry rifleman's load.

Fighting load

The typical individual fighting load is made up of essential items of clothing, individual equipment, small arms, and small arms ammunition that are carried by, and are essential to, the effectiveness of the combat infantry rifleman and the accomplishment of the immediate mission of the unit when the infantry rifleman is on foot. Normally these items are carried on the individual equipment belt and individual equipment suspenders.

Existence load

"Consists of items other than those in the fighting load that are required to sustain or protect the combat soldier. These items may be necessary for increased personal and environmental protection and are not normally carried by the individual." - Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. US Department of Defense 2005.
When possible, the individual existence load items are transported by means other than man-carry. Otherwise both the fighting and existence loads are carried by the infantry rifleman. Individual existence load items are usually carried in the field pack.

Fighting load components

The ALICE system fighting load comprises the following components:

Belt, individual equipment, LC-1
Carrier, entrenching tool, LC-1
Case, field first aid dressing, LC-1
Case, small arms ammunition, LC-1, quantity two
Cover, water canteen, LC-1
Suspenders, individual equipment belt, LC-1

Belt, individual equipment – The belt is constructed of Army shade 7 olive drab nylon webbing with blacked metal hardware and either 'green' or black plastic hardware. The medium size individual equipment belt is for soldiers with waists measuring under and size large is for those with waists measuring or over. The length of the belt is adjusted at each end by means of adjusting clamps which slide along the belt when opened. The ALICE system belt mounted components are attached to the belt with slide keepers. Slide keepers are colloquially known as alice clips. The bottom row of eyelets on the belt provide for mounting of accoutrements that have an M-1910 double hook. The eyelets along the top of the individual equipment belt are for attaching the individual equipment suspenders.
In 1981, the new belt, individual equipment, LC-2 was introduced with the green plastic quick-release buckle and was assigned the National Stock Number 8465-01-120-0674 and 8465-01-120-0675.
Carrier, entrenching tool – The entrenching tool carrier is molded of EVA and the top flap is secured by means of two metal snap fasteners. It attaches to the individual equipment belt by means of two slide keepers. The entrenching tool carrier is designed to accommodate the lightweight collapsible entrenching tool, hand.
Case, field first aid dressing/unmounted magnetic compass – also known as first aid dressing/compass case, the first aid case is constructed of Army shade 106 olive green water repellent treated nylon duck. It is long with flap open; approximately wide, and forms a deep pocket. It has a metal snap-type fastener closure and is attached to the individual equipment belt or individual equipment suspenders by a single slide keeper. The field first aid dressing case is designed to accommodate either the dressing, first aid, field or the compass, magnetic, unmounted.
Case, small arms ammunition – The small arms ammunition case is designed to accommodate three 30-round magazine, cartridge used with the rifle, 5.56 mm, M16A1. It is constructed of nylon duck and webbing with polyester sheet stiffeners in the front, rear and lid of the small arms ammunition case. Each cartridge magazine is held in place by means of wide webbing spacers which cross the top of the small arms ammunition case. The lid is closed by means of a plastic latch. Grenade carrying pockets are located on each side of the small arms ammunition case which are secured by means of a nylon web strap and metal snap fastener. A tab with a metal eyelet is located at the top back of the small arms ammunition case to which the individual equipment suspenders are attached. The small arms ammunition case is attached to the equipment belt with slide keepers.
Cover, water canteen – The water canteen cover is fabricated of nylon cloth and webbing and acrylic pile liner material. The two-flap closure is secured by means of metal snap fasteners. There is a small pocket on the front of the cover for carrying water purification tablets. The lid of this small pocket is secured by means of hook and pile fastener tape. The canteen cover is attached to the equipment belt with slide keepers. The water canteen cover is designed to accommodate the canteen, water. In 1975, the LC-1 designation for the water canteen cover was changed to LC-2 due to some minor design changes. The national stock number remains the same.
Suspenders, individual equipment belt – The individual equipment suspenders are Y-shaped with three adjusting straps, and four points of attachment to the individual equipment belt or small arms ammunition cases. The shoulder straps are padded with spacer cloth. Each shoulder strap has a web loop and a non-slip buckle on each of the straps in the front and one at the back through which the adjusting straps pass. There are rectangular metal rings located between the web loops and the buckles on the front of the straps. The wide adjusting straps have snap hooks at one end. The back adjusting strap has an inverted V of which each end has a snap hook. Each of the adjusting straps has a loop around it made of elastic material. In 1991, the individual equipment suspenders are redesignated LC-2 with no major modifications; minor modifications include the use of steel for the four snap hooks and the two rectangular rings.

Existence load components

The ALICE system existence load comprises the following components:

Cover, field pack white
Field pack, LC-1 medium with liners
Field pack, LC-1 large with liners
Frame, field pack, LC-1 black color
Shelf, cargo support, LC-1
Strap, webbing, M-1967 cargo strap
Strap, webbing, LC-1 lower back strap
Strap, webbing, LC-1 waist strap
Strap, webbing, LC-1 left shoulder strap with quick release
Strap, webbing, LC-1 right shoulder strap without quick release

Field pack – The field pack is made of water repellent treated nylon duck and webbing, spacer fabric, and metal hardware. It can be used with or without the LC-1 field pack frame. The main compartment closes by means of a drawstring secured by a plastic cord clamp. A radio pocket is located against the back on the inside. The size of the pack may be decreased for smaller loads by means of three para-cord ties, stitched to the inside bottom of the pack, and three metal D-rings located directly below the internal radio pocket. Three pockets on the outside, with strap and buckle adjustable closures and with snap fasteners for quick access, are provided for miscellaneous items. The top flap has a pocket with a hook and pile fastener tape sealed closure. Equipment hangers are located above each outside pocket and on each side. Drainage eyelets are provided in the bottom of the main compartment and the outside pockets. An envelope pocket is located at the top, back of the pack and padded with spacer cloth, into which the field pack frame is inserted when the field pack is used on the field pack frame. Buckles and straps at each side near the bottom are used for anchoring the field pack to the field pack frame. Two rectangular wire loops located at the top back of the field pack and D-rings on each side at the bottom of the field pack are used to provide shoulder strap attachment when the field pack is carried without the field pack frame. A waterproof bag is supplied for the main compartment and each of the three outside pockets for keeping equipment dry.Field pack – The construction and materials in the large field pack are similar to the medium field pack with the differences being: it is much larger in size; the center outside pocket is larger than the other two main outside pockets; and the addition of three small outside pockets above the larger pockets. The large field pack MUST be used with the LC-1 field pack frame.
Frame, field pack – The field pack frame is used as a mount for either the medium field pack or the large field pack. The frame, when requisitioned, comes with all straps. The frame is of aluminum construction.
Shelf, cargo support – The cargo support shelf is used to support bulky loads such as water, gasoline, and ammunition cans, field rations, and radios. The shelf is of aluminum construction.