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Basically, when I first went to the field, fresh off my infantry course, I brought all the wrong stuff. Over the years, I have collected all sorts of Gucci kit- some needed, some not! What tips / tricks do you have for making a trip to the field more comfortable?
- In the summer, unless it gets REALLY cold at night, you do not need a sleeping bag (this is my personal opinion, consider the ramifications of not having one). I personally bring a Bivvy bag, with sleeping bag liner, and a ranger blanket. Usually, I end up cooking in this.
- Pre-place your sleeping bag / liner into your bivvy bag. This will save you valuable time in the dark.
- BRING YOUR BIVVY BAG! Nothing sucks more than coming back from a patrol, and getting into a wet sleeping bag. This is valid in the summer and the winter.
- A collapsible foam mattress may be preferable to the issued air mattress. Mine leaks like a sieve, and I wake up with things poking me in the back. Not to mention that when it comes time to pull pull pull, it is a bastard to repack. A collapsible foam mattress is easy to pack, lightweight, and can be set up quickly.
- Socks. Lots of socks. IN WATERPROOF BAGS. The drink bags from your IMP will work, so will Ziploc bags. I bring at minimum 2 pairs of socks per day of field time. Keep one of these spare pairs in your Tac-Vest
- Waterproof. Everything. From your clothes to phones, everything sucks more when wet. My phone stays in my pocket...in an IMP drink bag. My smokes stay in my tac-vest...in a Ziploc bag. My clothes stay in my rucksack... in a dry-bag. See the theme? You will thank me when it thunderstorms.
- In the winter, disposable heater pads are awesome (the kind you can put in your gloves, and the kind you can put in your boots). They take the nip out of your toes, keep your fingers from falling off, and are a great way to pre-heat your sleeping bag before you rack out. I carry lots of these in the winter, and my section mates always thank me for it.
- If you are making a hooch, I recommend at least 6 bungee cords, and 6 tent pegs. Don't cheap out- get the good ones. I use 4x 40", and 2x 54" bungee cords. As for the tent pegs, get steel pegs. Plastic and aluminum break, suck when the ground is frozen, and are generally not long enough.
- Pack the same things in the same places, every time. I know that my pegs and bungee cords are in the bottom of the two pouches on the left side of my ruck. I know spare ammo goes in the top. It makes life 1000x easier in the dark.
- Buy a headlight. Yes, you look like a miner. It WILL come in handy, guaranteed. Get one with a red filter, as well as white. Mine has 3 Led bulbs, and lights up the night sky.
- Bring a lighter. Don't smoke? Doesn't matter. You will use it at some point or other, or else someone will need it.
- A small knife is a huge asset. Whether you are cutting 5/50, field phone wire, or want to carve you initials in someone asscheek, you will probably need it.
- You were issued 2 pairs of boots for a reason. Your feet fall apart much faster when wet, so change those boots out. At night, take the insoles out of your wet boots, and try to dry them out. If they are soaked, stuff dirty socks in them to try to wick some of the water out overnight. It works.
- Bring what you need, but don't over pack. You don't need your gore-tex jacket in the summer, and you don't need your bug net in the winter. Be smart, don't over pack, but make sure you have what you think what you will need.
- Sleep as close to naked as you can (when the situation permits). If you sleep in all of your clothes, you are going to be cranky and cold when you have to wake up in the morning.
- Your thermos really does hold heat for a long time. We made coffee Friday night, and it was still warm Sunday afternoon.
- Ibuprofen really helps in some situations. I bring a little container with Advil, Tylenol, Antacids (I have an ulcer), and Allergy medicine. If not yourself, than for someone else.
- Nicotine gum (if you are a smoker) can take the edge off your craving if you are going on a long patrol, or adhering to strict light discipline.
- Hang carabiners off your Tac vest in all sorts of places. You will find many uses for them.
- Bring some gun tape, 5/50 cord, and a few glow-sticks. They will probably all come in handy.
- Leave the Rambo knife at home. Your job is not to stealthily creep up on sentries and cut their throats.
- Bring a watch, notepad, and a few pencils. You will need all three, especially if you have a remotely important job.
- If you have it, a Reports and Returns booklet will do your section good, especially if your signaler / radio operator does not know the proper procedures.
- If you are the radio operator, learn callsigns, channels, codewords, and frequencies. They will help you out, but more importantly, you will not clutter up the net with stupidity.
- In the summer, unless it gets REALLY cold at night, you do not need a sleeping bag (this is my personal opinion, consider the ramifications of not having one). I personally bring a Bivvy bag, with sleeping bag liner, and a ranger blanket. Usually, I end up cooking in this.
- Pre-place your sleeping bag / liner into your bivvy bag. This will save you valuable time in the dark.
- BRING YOUR BIVVY BAG! Nothing sucks more than coming back from a patrol, and getting into a wet sleeping bag. This is valid in the summer and the winter.
- A collapsible foam mattress may be preferable to the issued air mattress. Mine leaks like a sieve, and I wake up with things poking me in the back. Not to mention that when it comes time to pull pull pull, it is a bastard to repack. A collapsible foam mattress is easy to pack, lightweight, and can be set up quickly.
- Socks. Lots of socks. IN WATERPROOF BAGS. The drink bags from your IMP will work, so will Ziploc bags. I bring at minimum 2 pairs of socks per day of field time. Keep one of these spare pairs in your Tac-Vest
- Waterproof. Everything. From your clothes to phones, everything sucks more when wet. My phone stays in my pocket...in an IMP drink bag. My smokes stay in my tac-vest...in a Ziploc bag. My clothes stay in my rucksack... in a dry-bag. See the theme? You will thank me when it thunderstorms.
- In the winter, disposable heater pads are awesome (the kind you can put in your gloves, and the kind you can put in your boots). They take the nip out of your toes, keep your fingers from falling off, and are a great way to pre-heat your sleeping bag before you rack out. I carry lots of these in the winter, and my section mates always thank me for it.
- If you are making a hooch, I recommend at least 6 bungee cords, and 6 tent pegs. Don't cheap out- get the good ones. I use 4x 40", and 2x 54" bungee cords. As for the tent pegs, get steel pegs. Plastic and aluminum break, suck when the ground is frozen, and are generally not long enough.
- Pack the same things in the same places, every time. I know that my pegs and bungee cords are in the bottom of the two pouches on the left side of my ruck. I know spare ammo goes in the top. It makes life 1000x easier in the dark.
- Buy a headlight. Yes, you look like a miner. It WILL come in handy, guaranteed. Get one with a red filter, as well as white. Mine has 3 Led bulbs, and lights up the night sky.
- Bring a lighter. Don't smoke? Doesn't matter. You will use it at some point or other, or else someone will need it.
- A small knife is a huge asset. Whether you are cutting 5/50, field phone wire, or want to carve you initials in someone asscheek, you will probably need it.
- You were issued 2 pairs of boots for a reason. Your feet fall apart much faster when wet, so change those boots out. At night, take the insoles out of your wet boots, and try to dry them out. If they are soaked, stuff dirty socks in them to try to wick some of the water out overnight. It works.
- Bring what you need, but don't over pack. You don't need your gore-tex jacket in the summer, and you don't need your bug net in the winter. Be smart, don't over pack, but make sure you have what you think what you will need.
- Sleep as close to naked as you can (when the situation permits). If you sleep in all of your clothes, you are going to be cranky and cold when you have to wake up in the morning.
- Your thermos really does hold heat for a long time. We made coffee Friday night, and it was still warm Sunday afternoon.
- Ibuprofen really helps in some situations. I bring a little container with Advil, Tylenol, Antacids (I have an ulcer), and Allergy medicine. If not yourself, than for someone else.
- Nicotine gum (if you are a smoker) can take the edge off your craving if you are going on a long patrol, or adhering to strict light discipline.
- Hang carabiners off your Tac vest in all sorts of places. You will find many uses for them.
- Bring some gun tape, 5/50 cord, and a few glow-sticks. They will probably all come in handy.
- Leave the Rambo knife at home. Your job is not to stealthily creep up on sentries and cut their throats.
- Bring a watch, notepad, and a few pencils. You will need all three, especially if you have a remotely important job.
- If you have it, a Reports and Returns booklet will do your section good, especially if your signaler / radio operator does not know the proper procedures.
- If you are the radio operator, learn callsigns, channels, codewords, and frequencies. They will help you out, but more importantly, you will not clutter up the net with stupidity.
