All - purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment The All - Purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment — or ALICE — system , was adopted as United States Army Standard A on 17 January 1973 to replace the M - 1956 Load - Carrying Equipment [ LCE ] and M - 1967 Modernized Load - Carrying Equipment [ MLCE ] . Although since superseded by MOLLE , ALICE gear is still in some limited use in the US Army in National Guard and training units . While the USMC currently uses ALICE gear in training only , it is still in use by Navy and Air Force ground units . History and development . The " All - Purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment " is the end result of the " LINCLOE " [ Lightweight Individual Clothing And Equipment ] program that began in 1965 and was terminated with the adoption of the " ALICE " system on 17 January 1973 . The goal of the individual equipment portion of the " LINCLOE " program was to develop a lightweight load - carrying system in an effort to lighten a combat soldier ' s overall load . 1965 – 1967 . Based principally on the conclusions and recommendations of " A Study To Reduce The Load Of The Infantry Combat Soldier , 1962 " and " A Study To Conserve Energy Of The Combat Infantryman , 1964 " , a " Quantitative Material Requirement " [ QMR ] was established in 1965 calling for the development of Lightweight Individual Clothing And Equipment [ LINCLOE ] . Although the development of the " LINCLOE " load - carrying equipment was not officially started until after approval of the task by the United States Army Materiel Command Technical Committee [ AMCTC ] on 27 April 1966 , development of lightweight load - carrying equipment really began in 1961 with the development of the " Lightweight Rucksack " [ FSN 8465 - 782 - 3248 ] made of nylon fabrics and an aluminum frame which weighed 3 pounds [ 1 . 4 kg ] as compared to the 7 . 5 pound [ 3 . 4 kg ] cotton canvas duck and steel item which it replaced . The development of this lightweight rucksack led to an informal inquiry by officers of the infantry community as to the possibility of reducing the weight of the M - 1956 Load - Carrying Equipment [ LCE ] . As a result of this interest , a set of M - 1956 Load - Carrying Equipment [ LCE ] was made in 1962 , substituting available nylon materials for the cotton canvas duck . This set of nylon load - carrying equipment weighed slightly more than 3 pounds [ 1 . 4 kg ] as opposed to 5 pounds [ 2 . 3 kg ] for the cotton canvas duck items . These two items , the lightweight rucksack and the set of nylon M - 1956 Load - Carrying Equipment [ LCE ] , formed the basis for that portion of the " LINCLOE Quantitative Material Requirement " dealing with load - carrying equipment . " Annex A " to the " Quantitative Material Requirement " set a goal of 3 . 3 pounds [ 1 . 5 kg ] for the individual load - carrying equipment and 3 pounds [ 1 . 4 kg ] for the rucksack . It was decided that the design of the new load - carrying equipment would follow basically that of the standard load - carrying equipment with material changes from cotton canvas duck to nylon duck and replacement of the brass and steel hardware with aluminum or plastic items . The design effort went slowly , due to the concentration on the design and development of items to meet the requirement of the Vietnam War , although projects were initiated investigating the feasibility of replacing much of the steel and brass hardware with aluminum or plastic items . On 15 March 1967 an " Engineering Concept Review " was held at Natick Laboratories . The concept approved at the meeting was for an individual equipment belt to be supported by individual equipment suspenders , to which could be attached component items such as small arms ammunition cases , water canteen covers , entrenching tool carriers , field first aid dressing cases , etc . A field pack somewhat larger than the " M - 1961 " cotton canvas duck field pack was proposed which could be attached for carrying either on the individual equipment belt at the small of the back , or on the shoulders attached to the individual equipment belt suspenders , or attached to a detachable field pack frame . The field pack frame with shoulder straps and a removable cargo shelf would be designed to be worn over the individual equipment belt and suspenders . The end result of this meeting was the adoption of the nylon M - 1967 Modernized Load - Carrying Equipment [ MLCE ] . The field pack design was rejected in the end and a nylon version of the " M - 1961 " field pack was produced instead along with the nylon " Tropical Rucksack " [ FSN 8465 - 935 - 6673 ] . 1968 – 1969 . Even after the adoption of the M - 1967 Modernized Load - Carrying Equipment [ MLCE ] in 1967 , developments continued under the " LINCLOE " program . The M - 1967 Modernized Load - Carrying Equipment [ MLCE ] was envisioned for use strictly in tropical environments and the development of a standard load - carrying equipment system to replace all load - carrying equipment systems continued . During 1968 the " LINCLOE " program continued to refine the lightweight load - carrying system . A prototype system was designed utilizing some of the existing M - 1967 Modernized Load - Carrying Equipment [ MLCE ] components such as the water canteen cover , small arms ammunition cases , and field first aid dressing case . The individual equipment belt buckle was replaced with a plastic version of the " Davis " quick - release buckle and a new " Vest , Combat " was developed to replace the individual equipment belt suspenders . Both a small and large field pack were developed utilizing the detachable field pack frame concept scrapped in 1967 . These prototype items were presented at a " Design Characteristics Review And Prototype System Review " held at Natick Laboratories on 26 March 1968 . It was recommended that an " Engineering / Service Test " [ ET / ST ] be carried out on this new load - carrying system design with the understanding that any design changes required be accomplished prior to testing and without another design review . In July 1969 , test items presented at the 1968 " Design Characteristics Review And Prototype System Review " and manufactured by the " United States Army Support Center " , Richmond , Virginia [ under the supervision of Natick Laboratories personnel ] were sent to the " United States Army Infantry Board " [ USAIB ] , Fort Benning , Georgia ; " United States Army Tropical Test Center " [ USATTC ] , Fort Clayton , Panama Canal Zone ; " United States Army Arctic Test Center " [ USAATC ] , Fort Greely , Alaska ; and the " General Equipment Test Activity " [ GETA ] , Fort Lee , Virginia . Some of the test items differed significantly from those presented at the 1968 " Design Characteristics Review And Prototype System Review " . The major changes were as follows : Testing of this new load - carrying system , known as the " LINCLOE Load - Carrying Equipment " [ LCE ] , began in July 1969 at Fort Benning ; September 1969 at Fort Clayton ; October 1969 at Fort Greely ; and November 1969 at Fort Lee . On 19 July 1969 the " Infantry Team " [ composed of the Commanding General , Fort Benning ; Commanding General of the " Infantry School " ; Commanding Officer of the " Combat Developments Command Infantry Agency " ; and the Commanding Officer of the " Infantry Board " ] met at Fort Benning to discuss improvement of infantry items of individual clothing and equipment . The " LINCLOE LCE Project Officer " from Natick Laboratories was invited to attend this meeting and present the status of load - carrying equipment items . The Commanding General at Fort Benning was unaware of the effort underway to improve the load - carrying equipment as well as other items of individual clothing and equipment . As a result of the " LINCLOE LCE Project Officer " ' s attendance at this meeting , a Non - commissioned Officers [ NCO ] Board was established to suggest improvements to load - carrying equipment items . The NCO Board reviewed the " LINCLOE LCE " under test as well as the M - 1967 Modernized Load - Carrying Equipment being provided to troops in Vietnam and arrived at characteristics which they considered desirable . As testing of the " LINCLOE LCE " continued a number of failures began to occur mostly to do with closure devices [ plastic snap fasteners were still being utilized like those initially utilized on M - 1967 Modernized Load - Carrying Equipment items ] . By December 1969 all testing had been stopped for re - evaluation of the components of the new load - carrying system . 1970 – 1971 . In January 1970 , the " Infantry Board " completed the evaluation of the load - carrying equipment , and on 17 March 1970 , a conference was held at Fort Benning to review the results of the evaluation . Each item evaluated was discussed , and agreement was reached as to the changes that should be made to each load - carrying equipment item acceptable . It was also agreed that the test of the first - generation " LINCLOE LCE " should be stopped and new items be designed to reflect the characteristics developed as a result of the evaluations by the NCO Board and " Infantry Team " . In a letter to United States Army Materiel Command dated 15 April 1970 , " United States Army Combat Developments Command " described the next generation of " LINCLOE LCE " for service testing based on the agreements of the 17 March 1970 meeting . The following items were recommended when modified as indicated : Also proposed in the letter were improved versions of the small and large field pack and field pack frame . During April and June 1970 , a prototype system of load - carrying equipment was fabricated as described in the 15 April 1970 letter . This set of load - carrying equipment was presented to the NCO Board and " Infantry Team " for review at Fort Benning on 18 – 19 June 1970 . On 29 July 1970 representatives from the " United States Army Combat Developments Command " and the " LINCLOE LCE Project Officer " met at Natick Laboratories and drafted a revision of the " LINCLOE LCE Quantitative Material Requirement " as it pertained to load - carrying equipment including the characteristics for each individual item . This was based primarily on the agreements reached at the 17 March 1970 meeting . However , there was one major exception . A third field pack was added to the system by the " LINCLOE LCE Project Officer " . This was the medium field pack . The bag from the nylon tropical rucksack was modified to meet the NCO Board requirements for a small field pack by adapting it to be worn on the back without a field pack frame , or attached to the field pack frame . On 5 October 1970 a " Design Characteristics Review And Prototype System Review " was held at Natick Laboratories concerning the new " LINCLOE LCE " . The " Quantitative Material Requirement " for the new second - generation " LINCLOE LCE " was approved with minor changes . Fifteen sets of the second - generation " LINCLOE LCE " were fabricated in - house at Natick Laboratories and shipped to USAREUR on 17 November 1970 for evaluation . In December 1970 an additional 300 sets of the second - generation " LINCLOE LCE " were fabricated at the " United States Army Support Center " , Virginia . When completed these test sets were sent to Natick Laboratories for assembly and shipment to test sites . In August 1971 the test sets were sent to Fort Benning , Fort Greely , Fort Devens , and [ at their request ] to the United States Marine Corps at Quantico . During pre - test inspections a number of deficiencies were discovered with the field packs . The faulty field packs were returned to Natick Laboratories for modification . The modified items were returned to the test sites in November 1971 . The service test was initiated at this time . 1972 – 1973 . By March 1972 , so many deficiencies and shortcomings had developed in the load - carrying equipment that the " United States Army Test And Evaluation Command " requested that the test at Fort Benning be suspended until test items could be repaired or replaced . A meeting was held at Fort Benning on 6 April 1972 to discuss the failures . As the result of the discussion , it was agreed that Natick Laboratories would take action to correct the problems in order that the tests could be resumed on 9 June 1972 . Of the deficiencies [ most to do with field packs ] the inner flaps on the small arms ammunition cases were asked to be removed as they impeded the rapid removal of cartridge magazines . These were replaced with simple strips of nylon fabric to divide the cartridge magazines . At some point during 1971 the United States Marine Corps found that the small arms ammunition case with the divider flaps was acceptable and initiated acceptance procedures . On 31 January 1972 military specification MIL - C - 28981 ( MC ) was issued and these small arms ammunition cases were type classified and assigned the Federal Stock Number 8465 - 464 - 2084 . The Defense Support Agency [ DSA ] issued contracts for the item for fiscal year 1973 . Modifications of the test items were completed in - house at Natick Laboratories , and the items were flown by military aircraft to Fort Benning on 1 June 1972 , but the test was not reinitiated until 3 July 1972 . Testing was completed on 18 August 1972 and the final report was received on 24 November 1972 . As a result of the test , the " Infantry Board " recommended that no further development effort be expended on the load - carrying equipment as a system . On 31 October 1972 , representatives from Natick Laboratories visited Fort Benning to discuss the problems which arose during the testing of each item and to arrive at a unified position with regard to the status of each item . Prior to these final meetings the " LINCLOE LCE " components had been type classified and assigned Federal Stock Numbers as follows : The three field packs were also type classified and assigned Federal Stock Numbers : After the final meetings the following changes were proposed and initiated prior to manufacture : The medium and large field packs were accepted with minor modifications but the small field pack was rejected as unnecessary . Retesting of the modified medium and large field packs were conducted at Fort Benning during 27 November through 18 December 1972 . Based on the results it was concluded that the deficiencies and shortcomings previously reported with regard to the field packs had been corrected . The formal " Development Acceptance " ( DEVA ) review on the " LINCLOE LCE " was held at Natick Laboratories on 17 January 1973 . By vote of the voting members , it was agreed that the components be type classified as Standard A . After acceptance , the individual equipment system was given the designation " M - 1972 Lightweight Load - Carrying Equipment " [ LLCE ] . The Defense Support Agency [ DSA ] began issuing contracts for the components of the new individual equipment system for fiscal year 1974 [ the DSA fiscal year 1974 ran from 1 July 1973 through 30 June 1974 ] . After the initial contracts had been issued the individual equipment system was re - designated " All - Purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment " [ ALICE ] and the use of year - model designations officially ceased . Current . The " ALICE " system has been phased out of all Active and Reserve Component ( USAR and Army National Guard ) units in the United States Army . Basic and Advanced Individual Training units , to include OCS , ROTC , and USMA , use the current MOLLE equipment in the digital Universal Camouflage Pattern ( UCP ) . ALICE was succeeded by Generation I MOLLE equipment . MOLLE I was then replaced by MOLLE II which , unlike MOLLE I , is strictly for the Army ' s ACU instead of the BDU and DCU . The Navy and USAF use ALICE gear for ground personnel as well , although the USAF is phasing out ALICE in favor of MOLLE . U . S . Marines use ALICE for training , deployed units use new MOLLE and ILBE systems . Fighting and existence loads . The " ALICE " system retains the concept of separate fighting and existence loads that was refined in the mid - " 1950s " during the development of the M - 1956 Load - Carrying Equipment [ LCE ] . The most important point in the fighting and existence loads concept is that an infantry rifleman should carry only the items necessary to complete the immediate mission at hand . The load an infantry rifleman carries should not include any other item that can be carried another way . Because the type of mission , terrain , and environmental conditions will influence the clothing and individual equipment requirements , the unit commander may prescribe to the infantry rifleman the essential items . The prime purpose of the fighting and existence loads concept is to lighten an infantry rifleman ' s load . The typical individual fighting load is made up of essential items of clothing , individual equipment , small arms , and small arms ammunition that are carried by , and are essential to , the effectiveness of the combat infantry rifleman and the accomplishment of the immediate mission of the unit when the infantry rifleman is on foot . Normally these items are carried on the individual equipment belt and individual equipment belt suspenders . The typical individual existence load consists of items other than those in the individual fighting load which are required to sustain or protect the infantry rifleman , which may be necessary for the infantry rifleman ' s increased personal and environmental protection , and which the infantry rifleman normally would not carry . When possible , the individual existence load items are transported by means other than man - carry . Otherwise both the fighting and existence loads are carried by the infantry rifleman . Individual existence load items are usually carried in the field pack . Fighting load components . The " ALICE " system fighting load comprises the following components : Belt , Individual Equipment - The individual equipment belt is constructed of Army Shade 7 olive drab nylon webbing with black chemical finish adjusting buckles , keepers , and a belt buckle . The medium size individual equipment belt [ NSN 8465 - 00 - 001 - 6488 ] is for soldiers with waists measuring under and size large [ NSN 8465 - 00 - 001 - 6487 ] is for those with waists measuring or over . The individual equipment belt is adjusted from each end by means of clamp - type buckles which slide on the individual equipment belt when open . The individual equipment items are attached by interlocking belt - strap keepers or are hooked through eyelets along the bottom of the individual equipment belt . The eyelets along the top of the individual equipment belt are for attaching the individual equipment belt suspenders . In 1981 the new " Belt , Individual Equipment , LC - 2 " is introduced with the green plastic quick - release buckle and is assigned the National Stock Number 8465 - 01 - 120 - 0674 [ medium ] and 8465 - 01 - 120 - 0675 [ large ] . Carrier , Entrenching Tool - The Entrenching tool carrier is molded of ethylene - vinyl acetate [ EVA ] and the top flap is secured by means of two metal snap fasteners . It attaches to the individual equipment belt by means of two belt - strap keepers with interlocking slides . The Entrenching tool carrier is designed to accommodate the lightweight collapsible " Entrenching Tool , Hand " [ NSN 5120 - 00 - 878 - 5932 ] . Case , Field First Aid Dressing - The field first aid dressing case is constructed of Army Shade 106 olive green water repellent treated 7 . 25 ounce [ 206 g ] nylon duck . It is long with flap open ; approximately wide , and forms a deep pocket . It has a metal snap - type fastener closure and is attached to the individual equipment belt or individual equipment belt suspenders by a belt - strap keeper with interlocking slide . The field first aid dressing case is designed to accommodate either the " Dressing , First Aid , Field " [ NSN 6510 - 00 - 159 - 4883 ] or the " Compass , Magnetic , Unmounted " [ NSN 6605 - 00 - 151 - 5337 ] . Case , Small Arms Ammunition - The small arms ammunition case is designed to accommodate three 30 - round " Magazine , Cartridge " [ NSN 1005 - 00 - 921 - 5004 ] used with the Rifle , 5 . 56 Millimeter , M16A1 . It is constructed of nylon duck and webbing with polyester sheet stiffeners in the front , rear and lid of the small arms ammunition case . Each cartridge magazine is held in place by means of wide webbing spacers which cross the top of the small arms ammunition case . The lid is closed by means of a plastic latch . Grenade carrying pockets are located on each side of the small arms ammunition case which are secured by means of a nylon web strap and metal snap fastener . A tab with a metal eyelet is located at the top back of the small arms ammunition case to which the individual equipment belt suspenders are attached . The small arms ammunition case is attached to the individual equipment belt by belt - strap keepers with interlocking slides . Cover , Water Canteen - The water canteen cover is fabricated of nylon cloth and webbing and acrylic pile liner material . The two - flap closure is secured by means of metal snap fasteners . There is a small pocket on the front of the cover for carrying water purification tablets . The lid of this small pocket is secured by means of hook and pile fastener tape . The cover attaches to the individual equipment belt by means of two belt - strap keepers with interlocking slides . The water canteen cover is designed to accommodate the " Canteen , Water " [ NSN 8465 - 00 - 889 - 3477 ] . In 1975 the " LC - 1 " designation for the water canteen cover is changed to " LC - 2 " due to some minor design changes . The National Stock Number remains the same . Suspenders , Individual Equipment Belt - The individual equipment belt suspenders are Y shaped with three adjusting straps , but four points of attachment to the individual equipment belt and small arms ammunition cases . The shoulder straps are padded with spacer cloth . Each shoulder strap has a web loop and a non - slip buckle on each of the straps in the front and one at the back through which the adjusting straps pass . There are rectangular wire loops located between the web loops and the buckles on the front of the straps . The wide adjusting straps have side - retaining snap hooks at one end . The back adjusting strap has an inverted V of which each end has a side - retaining snaphook . Each of the adjusting straps has a loop around it made of elastic material . In 1991 the individual equipment belt suspenders are redesignated " LC - 2 " with no apparent modifications . Existence load components . The " ALICE " system existence load comprises the following components : Field Pack [ medium ] - The field pack is made of water repellent treated nylon duck and webbing , spacer fabric , and metal hardware . The main compartment closes by means of a drawstring secured by a plastic cord clamp . A radio pocket is located against the back on the inside . The size of the pack may be decreased for smaller loads by means of three para - cord ties , stitched to the inside bottom of the pack , and three metal D - rings located directly below the internal radio pocket . Three pockets on the outside , with strap and buckle adjustable closures and with snap fasteners for quick access , are provided for miscellaneous items . The top flap has a pocket with a hook and pile fastener tape sealed closure . Equipment hangers are located above each outside pocket and on each side . Drainage eyelets are provided in the bottom of the main compartment and the outside pockets . An envelope pocket is located at the top , back of the pack and padded with spacer cloth , into which the field pack frame is inserted when the field pack is used on the field pack frame . Buckles and straps at each side near the bottom are used for anchoring the field pack to the field pack frame . Two rectangular wire loops located at the top back of the field pack and D rings on each side at the bottom of the field pack are used to provide shoulder strap attachment when the field pack is carried without the field pack frame . A waterproof bag is supplied for the main compartment and each of the three outside pockets for keeping equipment dry . Field Pack [ large ] - The construction and materials in the large field pack are similar to the medium field pack with the differences being : it is much larger in size ; the center outside pocket is larger than the other two main outside pockets ; and the addition of three small outside pockets above the larger pockets . Frame , Field Pack - The field pack frame is used as a mount for either the medium field pack or the large field pack . The frame , when requisitioned , comes with all straps . The frame is of aluminum construction . Shelf , Cargo Support - The cargo support shelf is used to support bulky loads such as water , gasoline , and ammunition cans , field ration s , and radios . The shelf is of aluminum construction . In " 1977 " the following existence load equipment items are introduced as replacements after modifications due to defects in the original equipment ' s design : External links . < br >