Don't worry, it gets lighter. I thought that thing was heavy as hell when they first fit it on us, but thank God we haven't had to wear ours much, except for those on ECP or tower duty. I've only had to where mine when they changed the uniform status on us from heightened mortar attacks and when I travel to different FOBs. We had to wear them a lot for training in the states of course and they always felt heavy then, but they aren't that bad when I have had to put them on in country since. Good luck with the training.
