The Civilian Guardsmen standard uniform us the military-style Combat Uniform.
We recommend the following patterns:
1. Multicam/Scorpion OCP
2. MARPAT Digital Woodland
3. Multicam Arid
4. ACU Desert Digital
5. Multicam Tropic
When your unit chooses which uniform to wear make sure it is for the right reasons.
– The color scheme matches your AO (area of operations).
– They are plentiful at surplus stores, gun shows, and online sellers such as E-Bay.
NOTE: The standard uniform is not required for Guardsmen participation. If you have other military or hunter camouflage clothing, that’s fine. But please understand that for unit cohesion, “esprit de corps” and to put forward a professional image to the public, you should try to acquire at least one set of camouflage BDU’s as soon as you are able.
Patches and Insignia – Members of the Civilian Guardsmen shall wear on their right upper shoulder the US Civil Flag (reverse).
This signifies our status as a civilian organization, not the active-duty military. In your shirt-pocket, carry a subdued (green or tan) US Civil Flag patch when called into active duty, or “in the field” (i.e. switch them out when TSHTF). One each per BDU shirt or jacket.
V12 Reverse Flag V11 Reverse Flag Subdued
Over the right breast, pocket shall be the Guardsmen’s last name tape. And over the left pocket will be the “Civilian Guardsmen” tape. (Order one of each for your BDU shirt and your LBV (if you have velcro areas for such). Order in your uniform camo color.
You can purchase the Custom Name Tapes here.
Recommended Gear List
Level 1, 2 & 3 gear:
Level one – is what you carry on you in your BDU pockets (compass, matches, knife, etc. Pistol if in a drop leg holster)
Level two – is the above plus your rifle, Chest Rig/Platecarrier, buttpack, mag pouches, IFAK, etc.
Level three – is all the above plus your full pack w/sleeping bag (aka, “72-hour gear”)
This is not a list of required gear, but you should try to equip yourself as well as your wallet will allow. Remember, you’re staking your life on this gear!
Rifle – Should be semi-auto, but rule number one of a gun fight is: “Have a Gun.” Should be of a common caliber e.g.. 7.62×39, .223/556, .308win. Military surplus are also perfectly acceptable, but you should bear in mind that ammunition may well become scarce, and 8mm and .303Brit should be well stocked if you opt for one of these calibers.
Also, remember one of the great lessons learned by the south in the War Between the States… “Live off the land, resupply off the enemy”. I don’t think our enemies will be shooting .300 WinMag.
Sidearm – If you choose a secondary weapon it should be of a major caliber: 9mm, .40S&W, or .45acp are going to be the most common. Be sure to choose a reliable handgun with a well-established reputation. A 1911, 92FS, Glock, or S&W would serve you well (as would many others).
Ammunition – You should carry as much ammunition as you can comfortably bear. Obviously, the weight will be a concern, and while .308 win has more punch than .223 rem, you will not be able to carry as much of it. Most folks will carry about 200-300 rounds on their combat load. If you opt for a sidearm, you should have at least 3-5 magazines for your sidearm in your 72-hour kit.
Weapons Cleaning Gear – For obvious reasons. Keep them clean and oiled up. If you don’t keep it clean, it ain’t gonna work.
LBE /LBV – (Load Bearing Equipment / Load Bearing Vest) –
LBE/LBV is what you use to carry the stuff you can’t do without. It is not your pack.
Generally, it will consist of a vest (usually a plate carrier type), and you will attach your magazine pouches/ammo bandoleers, IFAK, etc, or a pistol belt/suspenders with a similar configuration. Many folks opt for the USGI issued pistol belt and H/Y Harness or the USGI load-bearing vest.
There is a multitude of different types of vests, harnesses, and the like (too many to list here). Basically, you need something to carry the gear that you need to have immediately on hand and still keep your hands free.
Pack – You may well be on the move for a while, so you will need to have something to carry your equipment (that isn’t on your LBE). Most folks use the USGI A.L.I.C.E. (All-Purpose Individual Carrying Equipment) pack or the new MOLLE pack. A “Real Tree” (or equivalent hunting gear) day pack will work until you trade up.
Boots – Be good to your feet and they’ll be good to you. Uncle Sugar spends millions of dollars to figure out what boot is best (for the smallest amount of money) for his soldiers. He knows full well that if his fighter’s feet are fubar they simply can’t fight (say that 5 times fast). Having said that, any boot worn by our combat troops will be more than sufficient. Don’t expect to last very long if you plan to fight in a pair of sneakers. Go get a good pair of boots, and don’t skimp.
Water – Without it, you’re dead in 3 days, it is that simple. You absolutely must have water purification tablets. Plus, you’ll need something to carry it in. USGI canteens can be had for less than $5 each, they hold 1 quart, and you can normally fit two canteen pouches on your LBE along with all of your other gear (and they have a neat little pocket on the pouch made especially for the little water purification pill bottle). Two-quart canteens can also be carried or attached to your pack with Alice clips. There are also hydration packs available (Camel Backs). These can be had in a variety of capacities.
Shelter – Tent and/or sleeping bag. Some may opt to sleep under the stars and save the weight, but if you are in a harsh climate like the high desert, a hooch (tent) will keep you from getting baked (it can be used as a lean-to during the day to provide shade) or in the north during the long cold winters, a decent sleeping bag will keep you from getting frostbite or hypothermia. To conserve weight in your ruck, two men can share a sleeping bag. Also, Mil-issue “pup tents” can be split between soldiers (each carries one shelter half w/ poles). These can be purchased for about $25-$30.
Food – You should have at least a 3 day supply in your 72-hour battle pack. MREs are expensive, but they will last a long time. Canned food is cheaper but heavier than an MRE. Another option is Coast guard survival rations. A three day supply of food is about the size of one MRE. They taste like a sugar cookie, and you need about a quart of water to wash down one ration, but they will keep you alive. You can save space by breaking open the MRE and tightly wrapping the contents into a smaller package. But keep the heavy plastic bag. It has a multitude of uses (including as a dressing for a sucking chest wound).
Field Jacket & Liner – The most common is the USGI M65 field jacket, it is available in a woodland and desert camo pattern. If you’ve got the cash, you may want to look at the Gortex versions of the jackets. The M65 with the liner will keep you quite warm, the Gortex will do the same and keep you dry at the same time. The new ECWCS Parka and liner will keep you dry and warm as well for the other camo patterns. It is a bit on the pricy side though.
Knife – For Combat purposes, this should be of the fixed blade variety, not a folder. A 5″ blade seems to be the unspoken standard. The USMC issued K-BAR fills this requirement and is relatively inexpensive.
Compass – Preferably the lensatic, military-style with some manner of luminous dial. Along with a compass, you should have topographical maps of your AO and surrounding areas, and a copy of the “Map Reading and Land Navigation” Army field manual.
Flashlight – Any size or style, just make sure that it has a second red colored lens to use at night in tactical situations (reading a map) under a poncho, of course. Remember, even a red lens covered flashlight looks like a Christmas Tree in Night Vision Goggles.
First Aid Kit – At a minimum, you should have a combat field dressing, in a small first aid/compass pouch attached to your suspenders on the left shoulder. Also, you might consider a small first aid kit attached to your pistol belt or ruck. Ready-made IFAK kits are available at most camping stores, and surplus shops.
These should contain:
1. Pouch: attachable to web gear and conspicuously marked.
2. Compression bandage 1 minimum.
3. Assortment of bandages for minor wounds.
4. Tourniquet.
5. Tape (Heavy).
6. Pain medication, OTC.
These are minimum requirements for a basic IFAK. You may include other items as you need, such as needed medications and other items you feel may be beneficial.
Other items for consideration are:
1. Decompression needle.
2. IV starter kit w/ catheter needle 14Ga.
3. Blood stopping agents.
4. Suture kit (small)
Cold/Wet Weather Gear – For the cold, you’ll want to be sure you have some decent long johns to wear under your uniform, along with a good pair of wool or polypro socks to keep your feet warm and dry. For wet weather, you’ll need a poncho, preferably two (one in your ruck and one under your buttpack with a poncho liner). If you have the money, you may want to look at the Gortex parka and pant sets.
Hygiene Gear – You have to keep clean, otherwise you are going to come down with nasty diseases and infection soap, razors, shaving creme, toothpaste, toothbrush, etc. These are not optional things that are nice to have on hand, they are essential pieces of gear that you absolutely must have in order to fulfill the mission.
Helpful hint: Take a roll of TP, pull out the cardboard tube, then flatten and stuff into a ziplock sandwich bag. Dispense by pulling the tissue from the center of the roll.