The ALICE Military Pack
The ALICE (All-purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment) U.S. military pack system was first created in the mid-1960s as a result of combat experience in Vietnam. It was determined that the current M1956 system used was not suitable for a humid jungle environment where conventional cotton duck canvas was heavy and was prone to decay when it became damp. Another issue was that the load carried by the soldier using the traditional load carrying gear did not provide an even distribution of weight and was not comfortable, as well as had too many individual components.
After numerous studies it was determined that the foundation for the ALICE system should be a web belt and Y-shaped suspenders. To this belt and suspender apparatus were attached other standard items such as ammunition pouches, first aid kits, canteens, flashlights and entrenching tool cases. A rucksack was included in the kit and included a frame constructed out of aluminum. The apparatus was constructed out of nylon to lighten weight and prevent decay.
The ALICE rucksack was primarily constructed of water repellent nylon and metal hardware. The unit was divided into several sub-pockets, and was supplied with the capability to be reduced in size by “taking in” the pack with straps designed for the purpose. The rucksack could be used either with or without the aluminum frame, and contained a waterproof bag that could be placed in the main cargo compartment.
The ALICE backpack system was largely superseded by the MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment) system in 1997, but may still be found in non-front line units such as National Guard and other reserve units. The ALICE system was continually upgraded from 1965 to the time of its replacement in 1997. However, the major shortcomings in the ALICE system were found to be improper distribution of weight and the use of metal fasteners, which tended to corrode in certain environments. These issues have largely been corrected in today’s MOLLE system used by U.S. forces.
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