This year I am changing up a few things in the way in which I run my guns and gear.

 

I work as a plain clothes Detective and I'm also on the SWAT team. Due to my current assignment I don't wear a concealable vest during my entire shift.  I wear it on an as needed basis.  For most SWAT missions I wear a Eagle Ind. Law Enforcement CIRAS.

 

I have found over the last several years that there was void between my concealable body armor (low profile, but lacked the ability to support any kind of gear) and the LE CIRAS (could support mission essential gear, but was not as low profile and takes longer to don).

 

A few examples of when a low profile / quick to don rig that would support some mission essential gear would be beneficial:

 

- When my unit is serving a small knock and announce warrants (don't really need the CIRAS, but need more than just an concealable vest)

 

- SWAT is assisting narcotics or another unit with a mission were I'm sitting in a car in plain clothes (buy / bust operation, etc) (I need something that will fit under a button down shirt and can carry M4 mags, pepper spray, radio, etc)

 

- In the office and an "in progress" call goes out (ie. bank robbery in progress, shooting in progress, etc) and I need to grab my rifle, gear, and run out the door (in a situation like this I have found the CIRAS took to long *for me* to don)

 

 

 

Several months ago I contacted Mike Dismuke (Diz) owner / operator of U/W Gear Waxhaw, NC.  Over the years Diz and I have had several long on line discussions about gear.  My initial idea was to have a custom rig similar to the Tactical Tailor 2 piece MAV with X-Harness and Hydro pouch that I used several years ago.

 

The 2 piece MAV + X-Harness + Hydro carrier was more reminiscent of the old South African Assault Vest M83 than a true chest rig. 

 

Diz and I spec'ed out two rigs. One black for use at work, and a very similar rig in Coyote Brown for training (with the training rig we omitted the radio pouch which was not needed for training).

 

The idea behind the vest was to have something that I could easily throw on over my concealable body armor, that was low profile, easy to don, modular, carried just the gear that I needed (ie. radio, M4 magazines, pepper spray, etc), minimalist in nature, comfortable, and incorporated ease of mobility into the design.

 

What Diz designed is what he calls the "USMC03 rig", which is a slightly modified version of his "Minuteman" rig.

 

With this rig I can throw my concealable vest on over my head, secure the 4 Velcro straps, throw Diz's rig on my shoulders, and go.  Takes about 3 - 4 seconds.

 

Front side of the rig (Tactical Tailor triple mag pouch and Maxpedition RollyPolly attached to PALS webbing on the mag pouches)

 

 

Back side

 

 

Right side

 

 

Left side (Tactical Tailor triple mag pouch and Maxpedition RollyPolly attached to PALS webbing on the mag pouches)

 

 

 

 

Bungee cord with webbing loops hold mags securely in the pouch

 

 

Leather material on the strong side shoulder added extra grip when the stock is in the shoulder

 

 

 
 

Diz uses a kydex insert that adds extra tension to the mag but doesn't effect the fluid draw of the magazine from the pouch

 

I recently wore this rig during two days of Pat Rogers Carbine Operators course.  The rig exceeded my expectations in both performance and comfort.

 

Initially I had some concerns about the kydex inserts in the magazine pouches and was going to removed them.  After running the course with the kydex inserts I had no issues with them and actually prefer them.

 

The quality of the craftsmanship of the rig is top shelf.

 

After wearing a piece of gear for a couple days, most people will almost always find something that they want to change or have modified.  I am one of those people who are constantly changing or modifying gear to have it better suit my needs.  After some quality range time with this rig, there was nothing that I wanted to change and nothing that I wanted to have modified.

 

What more can be said.  Awesome design, awesome craftsmanship, from an awesome individual.