ruck = very large hiking backpack that's made out of pretty durable non-rip waxed type of fabric with a large frame. Great for carrying a lot of heavy stuff a long distance. Issue is, w/ a load that means your really seriously heading out to do something... there isn't much extra room.

But then add the extra batteries for the current radio system that's most widespread in the force (ASIPs, usually carry 1 to 2), with this 4''x 2'' battery packs for ASIPs that in turn take up a lot of space (carry 3-4 spares), and then extra ammo, and then the 'portable' equipment for optics or the heavy weapon systems that tend to be deemed 'portable'

... there just literally is no. more. room. And then there's some more added.

These types of cool new tech, which are battery powered, are hamstrung by the simple fact of "how do I carry a massive amount of batteries for all this?"

So it in turn puts soldiers and leaders in a really precarious position of either having to fight a tough battle of stating all of the obvious that I said above, getting told to bring it all out anyways, and then not really being able to. So do we hope we don't get asked "where is X-equipment, is it on your person," or do we lie, or do we what?

Since this article came from USMA, it's a good place to lead upstream conversation on this sort of core issue.