Lt. Gen. Philip Kensinger

75th Ranger Regiment, Special Operations Command

Lt. Gen. Philip Kensinger was the commanding general of US. Army Special Operations Command from 2002 to 2005.

US. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) oversees US. Army’s special operation units including Delta Force, 160th Special Operation Aviation Regiment, 75th Ranger Regiment, Special Forces, and various of supporting companies and battalions such as Psychological Operations (PSYOP), Civil Affairs, Military Intelligence.

USASOC is Army’s compartment in the Special Operations Command (SOCOM).

1/15 Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division

173rd Airborne Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division

The 3rd Infantry Division was the spearhead during the invasion of Iraq. One brigade, particularly the 3rd had Olive Drab subdued patches (For woodland BDU), on their Desert Camouflage Uniforms opposed to typical desert subdued patches, possibly due to shortage of desert patches. After the invasion, 3rd Infantry Division returned to Iraq for second deployment in 2005-06. The 1st Battalion of 15th Infantry Regiment opted to continue wearing Olive Drab patches, as a throwback to the invasion, also it was believed that they done it for psychological reason; to instill the fear in the insurgents as most of them were in Saddam’s army during the invasion. (Anecdote is not yet to be verified). Other things that was unique to the 1/15 was the gaping of badges and modification of DCU, as shown on this example, one chest pocket was moved to left sleeve. (Image showing 1/15 with modifications at bottom).

This DCU belonged to SSG Burke. Before he He was with the 173rd Airborne Brigade during the invasion of Iraq and participated in the Operation Northern Delay; a combat jump into Northern Iraq. His name is listed under chalk 5 in the published combat jump manifest.

173rd Airborne Brigade- Afghanistan 2005-06

173rd Airborne Brigade

In 2005-2006 the 173rd Airborne Brigade had first deployment to Afghanistan.

The 173rd Airborne Brigade authorized the modification of uniforms on Brigade level. Everyone had their Desert Combat Uniforms (DCU) modified by removing the existing pockets on uniform to upper sleeves. That way pockets would be accessible and useful while wearing a body armor. The DCU and BDU (Battle Dress Uniform or known as woodland) had a outdated design which have four pockets on uniform. Two on chest and two at bottom front, which was designed to be worn with old Load Bearing Equipment without body armor. Those pockets would’ve been covered by body armor, rendered them useless and inaccessible. Earlier that practice of modifying uniforms was typical for Special Operations Forces, then more and more regular army soldiers copied the idea and worn them only in field because it was not authorized or frowned upon by higher ranking traditionalists in the regular army. However, in 2005, the 173rd airborne brigade was one of few units that had finally authorized the modification on DCU for deployment.

Many of soldiers opted to purchase aftermarket tactical gear because chest rigs and enhanced rucksacks were favored over standard issue MOLLE II equipment. The popular privately purchased equipment was Tactical Tailor’s Modular Assault Vest (MAV) chest rig and Tactical Tailor’s Modified ALICE (MALICE) rucksack.

Also it was the period when Army had finally issued body armor and MOLLE equipment in desert camouflage in more wider scale. Since 2001 woodland camouflage body armor and equipment worn over desert uniform had been a familiar sight due to the lack of desert equipment at the time.

173rd Airborne Brigade NCO with Tactical Tailor MAV chest rig.

Image source: http://www.173rdairborne.net/AF-1.htm
Tactical Tailor MAV.
173rd Airborne Brigade soldiers in their modified uniforms. Note the Tactical Tailor MALICE tuck hanging on side of Humvee.

Image source: http://www.173rdairborne.net/AF-1.htm
MSA Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH) or also known as MICH by veterans. It has a Night Vision Goggles (NVG Mount).
Close-up of pocket on sleeve modification. The black Velcro is for infrared or glint square (To identify friendly/foe while Night Vision Goggles is in use). The insignia is of the 173rd Airborne Brigade.

Also note the hand drawn Red Cross on a pouch to indicate this pouch holds Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK).

CSM Masson- RSTB & AWG

75th Ranger Regiment, Asymmetric Warfare Group

Command Major Sergeant Michael Masson was in the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment for most of his career, he became Command Major Sergeant (CSM) of Ranger Special Troops Battalion, then eventually assigned to Asymmetrical Warfare Group (AWG) to be CSM of Able Squadron.

RSTB scroll with Ranger tab. The tab is earned upon completion of Ranger School.
Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Masson, Asymmetric Warfare Group ABLE Squadron command sergeant major and former Regimental Special Troops Battalion command sergeant major; and Sgt. Maj. Harry Ferguson, 1st Joint Communications Squadron Joint Communication Support Element (Airborne) and former Regimental Signal sergeant major, during the 2015 DHMOR ceremony at US Army Fort Benning, 23 June.

Image and subtitle source: The 75th Ranger Regiment Facebook page

US. Army formed Asymmetrical Warfare Group (AWG) in 2005 in response to challenges conventional Army units faced in Iraq and Afghanistan. AWG is consisted mainly of operators from various Special Operations units. In Masson’s case, he brings in valuable experience and expertise from his career in the 75th Ranger Regiment. The AWG’s mission is to provide the support to conventional army units by attaching to them on their operations, observing and analyzing their foe’s threat and tactics, then advising and developing solutions and trainings for a unit to enhance their combat capabilities.

AWG operators were issued unique uniform set made by Paraclete for field wear. It has many features differs from standard ACU set such as Velcro style, pockets placements. AWG seldomly worn unit shoulder sleeve Insignia on operations.

AWG operators wearing their Paraclete uniforms. Photo source: Open Source.

Author’s note: The general information gathered on CSM Masson and units for this article has been published online by US. Army so no OPSEC has been violated.

JTAC- Peter Davey

USAF Battlefield Airmen, Veteran Stories
Peter Davey’s BDU.
Peter Davey’s BDU.
Peter Davey in Afghanistan. Image courtesy of AF.mil
“U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Peter Davey (left) and Tech. Sgt. James Godlew, both from the 8th Air Support Operations Squadron tactical air control party out of Aviano Air Base, Italy, provide grid coordinates during an air strike exercise in support of Allied Strike II at the Grafenberg firing range in Germany on Nov. 7, 2008. Allied Strike II is a combined U.S. and coalition forces exercise that trains joint terminal attack control members in preparation for deployments in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.” Image and quote source: defense.gov

Peter Davey was a JTAC with US. Air Force 8th Air Support Operations Squadron based in Avaino AFB in Italy. He was attached to US. Army 173rd Airborne Brigade when he deployed to Afghanistan in 2010.

JTAC (Joint Terminal Attack Controller) is a qualified airman who directs combat aircrafts for Close Air support (CAS) and airstrikes from ground. Typically being attached to units in from other branches in combat zones.

For his actions in 2010 deployment in Afghanistan, Peter Davey was awarded Department of Defense’s African American History Month Recognition Award.

Below is a link to the USAF article about Davey and his recognition.

https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/114038/aviano-jtac-receives-recognition-award/

Sgt. Jeff Barillaro “Soldier Hard”

Veteran Stories

Sgt. Jeff Barillaro was an NCO and gunner for M1A2 Abrams tank. He enlisted in the Army  upon graduation from High School. After four years, he left Army.

Following the September 11 attacks,  Operation Enduring Freedom began, followed by Operation Iraqi Freedom. At the height of the Global War on Terror, a sense of duty returned to Barillaro. He re-enlisted. In no time he was deployed to Iraq with his original MOS as an Armor crewman. He led convoys and Barillaro saw his share of ambushes and gun battles. 
Later, with 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Barillaro deployed to Kosovo for a NATO led peacekeeping mission with Kosovo Force (KFOR). Before he was discharged honorably.
As a result of his deployments, Barillaro was diagnosed with PTSD. 
During his service, Barillaro discovered something that helped him cope with his PTSD was music and he was began writing, mostly hip hop and rap songs. After he completed his time in the Army, he founded Redcon-1 Music Group with main objective of using music to spread the awareness of PTSD and to help veterans struggling with PTSD. 
Here is the ACU uniform set belonging to Barillaro. He had worn it in Iraq and then Kosovo. On it is a unofficial/unauthorized Kosovo deployment patch from his unit. It has the Combat Action Badge and Combat patch he earned in Iraq. There are also a few of his desert patches fixed on velcro for his modified Desert Combat Uniforms also worn in Iraq just before the transition to the new ACU. Note the helmet cat eye elastic band that he has taken off from his issued ACH.

PBPV- Personal Ballistic Protective Vest

Equipment, Special Forces

The Personal Ballistic Protective Vest or PBPV for short, was one of the most advanced body armor designed in late 1990’s, manufactured by Pointblank Body Armor, inc. It has soft armor inserts and six hard plates. It also has optional groin protector.

The PBPV was issued only to US. Army’s Direct Action/ Counter-Terrorism (DA/CT) units such as Delta Force and Special Forces Groups’ Combatant Commanders In-extremis Force (CIF) companies.

The PBPV has seen action from the Kosovo war, up to early Global War on Terror. PBPV saw limited uses in Afghanistan and Iraq, however, it notably saw action in Operation Enduring Freedom-Philippines when the 1st Special Forces Group (SFG) deployed to Philippines on January 2002 under the umbrella of Global War on Terror. The Special Forces troops assisted the Philippine forces by providing them Counter-Terrorism training and supported their operations against Al Qaeda afflicted terror groups; while did humanitarian missions. PBPV was seen worn by 1st SFG’s CIF company on that deployment.

The body armor in the collection is rather unique; it has been modified by operator. The cummerbund was cut off and buckles were added in its place for convenience and ease of use. Additionally, two buckles were added on top chest to accommodate the chest rig made by AWS, inc. (I don’t own one but actively hunting for one). The such modification was typically associated with CIF companies.

(Comment to airsofters and impressionists: Just because there are modified examples, it doesn’t mean you should cut up and modify the original PBPV cummerbund! Those are rare enough already.)

American Body Armor Tan LCS-84 Load Bearing Vest.

Equipment, Special Forces

The Load Bearing Vest (LBV) in desert tan color was issued to US. Army Special Forces and Delta Force.  The LBV at the time was considered as high speed, and was issued exclusively to US. Special Operation Forces, and very few conventional units had the luxury. Those LBVs were only available in woodland camouflage pattern. In early 1980’s US. Military started to get more involved with the Middle East, as a result they needed LBVs in desert tan to match the environment, so limited number of tan LBVs were made by the manufacturer, American Body Armor. It was first seen used by US. Army Special Forces and Delta Force during Operation Desert Shield/ Operation Desert Storm (The 1991 Gulf War). The ABA LBVs eventually saw some action in Afghanistan after September 11, 2001 (Operation Enduring Freedom) with the 5th Special Forces Group. Few men from the ODA 595 (Well-known as “Horse Soldiers” or “12 strong” from book and film) were seen wearing them, based on actual photos.

This is a unique case where Desert Storm display is included on this page due to the long history of this piece of gear.