cartridge belt

[mexbearlll]

was worn in the middle of the duty belt

[SGT7477]

Looks like the same buckle on the dress greens, Semper Fidelis.

[Kegler300]

This is what I remember wearing ...

[mexbearlll]

Yes that's belt ,an the end buckle was centered in the middle of your back.

[Rocky C]

This is what I remember wearing ...

Me too Rick.

[Old Marine]

was worn in the middle of the duty belt

Ah Yes, what we used to refer to as the "M" Buckle.

[mexbearlll]

Okay, I'll go with "M" Buckle.Does anyone know why it was worn on the Duty Belt?

[Old Marine]

I don't know. In my day we never wore this buckle on any belt except the green blouse.

[ChuckH]

Thats all I have ever seen.. on the green blouse, it was to small to fit on a cartridge belt...

[Locutus494]

Yeah, that buckle is only for the male service A and officer dress blue coat. It's different from the back buckle on the DNCO belt.

[Locutus494]

I glad Locutus494 knows what I'm talking about,for a minute I thought My mind was playing tricks on Me. Locutus494 since Your are still in ,do the DNCO's still wear this type of belt ?

Yes, that's still the DNCO belt, and used in other ceremonial and drill uses, too (NCOs in a colorguard). Nowadays, it may be made with the cartridge belt (by replacing the buckle with the DNCO buckle, removing the two black clamps, two black clips, and cutting off the snap loops), or a plain green belt. The plain green belt is the only one now used by drill instructors, and can be found around the fleet as well. As you can see in the pictures, the back buckle is not always worn. Like I said, I just don't think most Marines know what to do with it.

Interestingly, I found a picture of a Phillipine Marine DI, looks like they copied the same design as our duty belt, but with their insignia.

Cartridge belt: http://image.rakuten.co.jp/waiper/ca...mg59490759.jpg
Or this older version: http://www.sc-liquidations.com/images/U-11080.JPG
Plain green belt: http://24.media.tumblr.com/e2baafdf2...a1qpo1_500.jpg
DIs without back buckle: http://www.worldofstock.com/slides/PMI1258.jpg
Other DIs with the buckle: http://cdn1.pix.avaxnews.com/avaxnew...e3_medium.jpeg
Phillipine DI: http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/MSNBC/Co...308-iwd-01.jpg

[silverdollar]

The belt in the picture is what we called a pistol belt, the cartridge belt had pockets on each side for clips for the M1. also had eyelets around the bottom to hook on a canteen,holster,bayonet and medical pouch.

[Locutus494]

I know they might have different common names, but the actual nomenclature on the tag is 'cartridge belt'.

[Locutus494]

I finally found what the back buckle is for!

I was browsing around the web and found a post on US Militaria Forum about duty belts. Someone posted pictures of his old white MP belt. One end of the belt was looped around the buckle and fastened down, while the other would be run through the hook and looped around the center bar of the back buckle and fastened down. So it was actually an adjustment slide. I guess it's still included as part of the duty buckle as a holdover, or maybe the white MP belts (also worn by security forces, MSGs, bands, and Marines at Marine Barracks Washington) still work that way.

Here's the posts I found, a few pictures in the last two posts on the first page show it clearly.
http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/foru...o-can-help-me/

[Rocky C]

One size fits all.

Nice job Brother !!!