what the difference between the ruck gear you carry in training compared to what it is in combat?

Answer 1

Hell, In training we carried everything you could think of, E-Tools, Gas Masks, Sleeping Mats, even PT's.

In Iraq, since we moved Mounted to our Patrol AO, we carried Assault Packs with Water, stripped MRE, Ammo(Plenty of), Night Vision, Batteries for same, Medical gear, Weapon cleaning Kit.

Answer 2

Although According "A soldier's load and the mobility of a nation," an excellent book, a combat soldier is rendered combat ineffective when he is required to carry more than 30 percent of his body weight... those rules don't apply to us.
Everything is completely mission dependent. On average though the Infantry Ruck we carried everywhere as we were building up for Iraq weighed 75 pounds with a detachable 25-30 pound Assault Pack strapped on top of it. Upon walking into a fight we were supposed to drop the ruck grab the pack and fight...
Come war time the combat gear alone (I.B.A. with 2 12 pound ballistic inserts, 300 rounds of .556, 4 hand grenades, two canteens, assault pack containing 100 oz Camel Back as well as 5 Quarts of casualty contingency water, 1 field stripped MRE for each day they projected we'd be without resupply, we lived out of the assault pack for weeks at a time, AT-4 anti-armor weapon, NVG's, Bayonet, Kevlar helmet, all on top of the heavy and think chemical protective suit and protective mask. The M-4 I carried with all its attachments weighed a little over 11 pounds which brought my basic "fighting load" without the Ruck Sack up to 118-120 pounds.
During the first month of the war I went from 175 pounds to 148 pounds. I LOVE Iraq! Went back for more a year later.
Enjoy your time in the service.... very few people, when you think about it get to experience the life of a Combat Soldier.

Answer 3

In training they make you hump a bunch of crap you don't need. In combat you pack for the occasion (if you're in a good unit).