What is considered a "Duty Belt"?

[Clay_Keller]

Hey 1st post here so sorry if this isn't the right thread location.

Basically in my area there is a pistol shooting competition. One of the divisions is "Guardian" and the rules for competing in this division are as follows:

• Guardian: for law enforcement, security officers, and other ‘guardians’. A duty belt must be used and the gun drawn from the holster. The holster and magazine pouches must meet current department standards. All retention mechanisms must be engaged on holster and magazine pouches for each run. May start from hands relaxed or the field interview position.

As of now no one is able to compete in this division because what is considered a "Duty Belt" and "department standard" are not practically defined. Currently the match director delegates deciding what is considered a "duty belt" or "dept standard" to a retired LEO who also doesnt have a consistent idea of "standard". The goal of this thread is basically to collect data on what other departments/units/groups call "standard" and provide it to the match director in the hopes of opening up the division in terms of what gear is allowed, as well as setting up a standard layout for the growth of the division.

Here is an example of what has been submitted and rejected:

Reasons for rejection:
-LEO/MIL do not use UBL Mid Ride Holsters w/ Leg Straps
-Kydex Retention is only used for competition

 

[Grizzly]

How is this hard: "for law enforcement, security officers, and other ‘guardians’. A duty belt must be used and the gun drawn from the holster. The holster and magazine pouches must meet current department standards. "

Print off your policy that shows what is allowed and wear the same belt you do while on duty. Heck, get a picture of you wearing your gear on duty with a supervisor and present that as evidence.

In theory I really like this idea. A class for people to use their work gear to test themselves. Just focus on wearing your duty gear and improving what you do. By nature if you have level three gear with button closed mag pouches you'll be slower than a person with single retention and open top pouches. This division doesn't seem like it is for big money so just enjoy the chance to compete in work gear and move on.

 

[Clay_Keller]

How is this hard: "for law enforcement, security officers, and other ‘guardians’. A duty belt must be used and the gun drawn from the holster. The holster and magazine pouches must meet current department standards. "

Print off your policy that shows what is allowed and wear the same belt you do while on duty. Heck, get a picture of you wearing your gear on duty with a supervisor and present that as evidence.

In theory I really like this idea. A class for people to use their work gear to test themselves. Just focus on wearing your duty gear and improving what you do. By nature if you have level three gear with button closed mag pouches you'll be slower than a person with single retention and open top pouches. This division doesn't seem like it is for big money so just enjoy the chance to compete in work gear and move on.

That has actually been our mindset since we started going out to this weekly shoot. The main purpose for trying to open up the guardian division specifically is to skip around some of the "Holster" division rules like 10 round limits on mags ect. I personally dont have an issue with those but my buddies are always complaining.

 

[shoobe01]

Likely changed as everything does, but this older version of the IDPA Duty Gear exemption is a good start:

8.7. Duty Gear Exemption
8.7.1. This duty gear exemption is for patrol type gear worn by uniformed personnel, not under cover, plainclothes, or investigative type gear.
8.7.2. Police and military personnel are allowed to use their duty rigs as follows:
8.7.3. The duty holster must be a strong side belt or thigh holster with at least one retention feature.
8.7.4. All retention features of the holster must be used.
8.7.5. All belt equipment holders must be present. The shooter may decide which belt equipment is present.
8.7.6. Police and military personnel using the duty gear exemption are exempt from:
8.7.6.1. Using concealment garment.
8.7.6.2. Holster design and placement requirements (other than listed above).
8.7.6.3. Ammunition carrier design and placement requirements.
8.7.6.4. Belt design and placement requirements.
8.7.7. Police and military personnel who carry a weapon mounted light and/or laser on duty may compete with a weapon-mounted light/laser using their duty holster. The light/laser may not be activated during a string of fire. With the light/laser removed, the firearm must meet all division requirements.
8.7.8. The duty gear exemption is for Tier One (1) local club matches only and does not apply at sanctioned matches.

We get a fair number of them at our club matches, and while most are easy (known to be police, shows up to shoot before shift in full uniform, easy!) occasionally odd ones we have to manually review. Example the other month: a flight officer for a private air carrier, but he has the federal certification to carry while flying. We quizzed, looked at creds, asked about what all he carries (and made him get some stuff from his bag he didn't "need" on the range, and made sure the holster had retention, etc. Approved.