DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY

HEADQUARTERS, 1ST BATTALION 22ND INFANTRY BATTALION 4TH INFANTRY DIVISION (MECHANIZED) FORT HOOD, TX 76544

REPLY TO ATTENTION OF:

AFYB-INB-CSM 16 October 2009

MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD

SUBJECT: Evaluation for Force Protector Gear (FPG)

  1. The purpose of this memorandum is to evaluate and provide feedback to FPG on one of their products, the Hybrid Deployment Bag or HDB.
  2. Shortly after I took over as the Battalion Command Sergeant Major for the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, I was looking for gear that would benefit our Soldiers during deployments. We were about 3 months from deploying and I needed to find an alternative for the issued duffle bag. We were going to be living in small outposts without a lot of individual quarter’s space and definitely no room for wall lockers and large tough boxes. I wanted a duffle bag that would be easier for our Soldiers to live out of for months at a time. I was looking for a bag that would replicate a foot locker, not too big and with a top flap for good access. I also wanted a bag that would prevent Soldiers from having to dig in or dump their issued duffle bag every time they needed to get some gear or simply to change their socks.
  3. Then I met Mr. John Carswell and some other folks from FPG. They had just what I was looking for, the Hybrid Deployment Bag. He left me one of the bags to “try out”. I gave the HDB to one of my First Sergeants to give to a Platoon Sergeant so that he could supervise a Soldier packing the HDB with his complete deployment packing list according to the way that we intended to deploy. I would like to note that we would not have been able to deploy the way we intended to deploy if we had been confined to using the standard issued duffle bag. After the Soldier had completed his practical exercise on packing the HDB and the First Sergeant and Platoon Sergeant gave their initial thoughts, I had the Soldier demonstrate the load out of the HDB in my office under the scrutiny of the other six First Sergeants and myself. We liked what we saw and were sold.
  4. We went through the procurement process and received enough for three-fourths of the Battalion’s Soldiers to get the HDB. The intent was for only those Soldiers that would be living in the small outposts to receive the HDB, but we should’ve outfitted the entire Task Force. I asked Soldiers during our load out what they thought of the HDB. I asked Soldiers what they thought of it once we were in theater. I continued to ask Soldiers what they thought of the HDB throughout the entire deployment. Every time it was the same response, “Awesome!” Never negative feedback, always positive. When I asked them what they liked about it, this is what I heard. They liked the large opening top flap and that it opened like a foot locker. They liked the easy access and the separate pockets and pouches. They liked the fact that it could be carried by two Soldiers with the end carrying handles or easily by one Soldier with the MOLLE like shoulder straps. After the deployment, they liked the fact that it held together very well and that they didn’t have torn bags dropping out their gear in the bottom cargo holds of aircraft.

AFYB-INB-CSM SUBJECT: Evaluation for Force Protector Gear (FPG)

I liked the fact that it not only held together for the year long deployment, but that it was durable enough to be re-issued for another deployment!

  1. I strongly recommend the HDB to any unit that is deploying, no matter their mission or where they live and work. I consider the HDB mission essential gear!

/-----original--signed-----/ TIMOTHY A. GUDEN CSM, USA Command Sergeant Major