I Had an interesting experience the other day. My Guard unit went out for a three day jaunt into the wilds of Camp Pendleton to conduct some dismounted reconnaissance training. Now, granted, we were technically on base but since were a leg unit, we have to support ourselves; no barracks, no latrines, no water sources, etc. We were responsible for everything.
With this in mind, when I started to pack my kit, I had to pause for a minute to think about what I was going to do for some form of shelter. Thats when it dawned on me that the Army really hasnt advanced past the WWII era canvas shelter half when it comes to individual shelters. Yes, they have great and wonderful expanding and self-erecting medium sized tents, which weigh 300 pounds and fit nicely in the back of a 1.25-ton trailer, but theres nothing for the individual.
Now Ive heard all the arguments about this before, you cant use a tent in combat and you just need to use whats available to you in the field, namely, use brush and trees or dig out a shelter being the most often cited ones, but were not talking combat here, were talking bivouacking in the field. Moreover, on most bases where you conduct training, chopping up the flora or digging in the ground is strictly verboten, so those really arent options. The bottom line is, if youre going to be out in the field for longer than a couple of days in really crappy weather, itd be nice, tactical situation permitting of course, to have the ability to get out of the rain. Those gortex bivy sacks were issued now are nice for snow or a light drizzle, but in an out and out downpour you really cant get into it fast enough to prevent the sleeping bag from filling with water, and thats assuming that you jump in with all your wet clothes on. In those situations, youre probably better off just putting on your wet weather gear and trying to sleep through it.
So, I started doing a little research. There are a number of companies out there that make good, ultra light, 1-man tents. Unfortunately, most of those are alpine supply companies like MSR, The North Face, and Mountain Hardware and their products tend to be a bit, well, colorful (now this is not to say that these folk wouldnt make one of their tents in a different color fabric as a custom order job, but thats probably not a realistic option for the Joe looking to purchase one tent) and have a lot of parts. In fact, the only company I found that made an honest-to-God military style tent was Eureka, who makes both 1-man and 2-man systems, with a reversible woodland/desert camouflage pattern rain fly to boot (as an added bonus you can opt to just use the rain fly as a stand alone shelter if you dont need the additional wind protection.) The only downside to the Eureka tent is weight; the one man tent, complete, weighs just over 6 pounds, though it is certainly something you could spent your entire military career sleeping out of.
Another interesting option, and certainly one of significant weight savings, was to go the engineered tarp route. The folks over at Tarptent make some awesome, lightweight (18-oz. in the case of their 1-man shelter) shelters that are easy to set up, roomy, and keep the rain off of you, and the color is even reasonably tactical. In addition, they also provide, free of charge and publically available on their website, the plans to build your own first generation tarptent out of what ever material you choose.
So my solution? I snapped a couple of ponchos together, brought some bungees, 550 cord, and a handful of lightweight aluminum tent pins and lashed a lean-to to a tree limb and slept like a brick through two straight nights of continuous rain. Granted it got the job done but I was completely dependent upon that tree being there for me to tie off on. In the future I might have to look seriously into either some shock tubes I can erect to create a free standing dome for my ponchos one of those tarptents.
Go to http://store.oldgrouch.biz/unimcoshi.html or to http://www.us-elitegear.com/ and do a search for “Improved Combat Shelter”.
It’s a great piece of kit, and it already matches to camo pattern. Available in ACU, Woodland, Desert patterns.
I don’t use it often, but I’ll strap it on my ruck when the weather report looks like rain on drill weekend. About 6 pounds, but I’m in a RSTA now, so weight isn’t as much of a factor.
The poncho shelter with bivy sack is about the best option for light infantry. In the field you will be sleeping in a fighting position, or in a patrol base. If you are at a patrol base you really don’t want to have to set up much anyways… During combat operations personally I wouldn’t want my guys sleeping in tents.
I don’t really see a place for tents in light infantry units. Maybe if you are in mountainous terrain and need it so no one dies from exposure.
This article reminds me of a story I read of when Commandant Kulak (I think that was his name)went out in the field with a bunch of Marines.
He got up the next day, sore and looked at the antique equipment and thought “this sucks”.
From there the Marines completely revamped their equipment.
Moral of the story? Get your CO to “invite” high ranking officers to come out with you.
In the rain.
Never needed more than a poncho hooch, and occasionally a sleeping bag with a bivy sack. Few bungee cords and soem 550 cord and you are in business. If it is raining in the desert, sucks to be you.
The whole shelter half thing I never used aside from basic training.
Spent a night of comedy on my first field problem in the Ranger Bat. No one seemed to know how to set up a poncho hooch so we each spent the nigh sitting up with the damn thing over our head. Our mortar section leader was injured and came out with the chow for training. The weapons platoon leader slept high and dry, but chose not to impart his knowledge. Buddy is only half a word Sergeant Glenn.
Check out a Hammock. You can use them traditionally, hang them between two vehicles or use a couple poles to put them up like a bivy tent.
Link to one model:
http://hennessyhammock.com/specs-survivor.html
Link to Army Sgt’s site who uses them:
http://www.hikinghq.net/
There is much to be seen. Get in touch with US Army Research, Development & Engineering Center (Natick Labs). They have been working with lightweight tents for Marines and Special Ops for over 20 years now. There are a slew of tents adapted/approved for military use now. Get in touch with their OFIG (Operational Forces Interface Group) Look for Soldier Support Center on the internet.
And I thought that the Corps were the only ones still suck with those stupid shelter halves. I guess the Guard got stuck with all of the older pup tents that the Army and the Corps no longer needed after changing over to the new two man tents.
Saw the new marine two man tent on the Sportsman’s Guide site for about $100. Would have loved it back in my army days.
Exgunn
WHEN I SPENT MY FIRST NIGHT IN THE FIELD WHEN I WAS IN THE GUARD WE GOT TO OUR LOCATION AND IT WAS
IN THE DESERT AT NIGHT THE BUS DROP US OFF AND THE
WIND WAS REALLY BLOWING PRETTY STRONG AND NOT
KNOWING ANY BETTER I ASK TOP WERE OUR TENTS WERE
AND HE SAID THERES NO TENTS JUST CRAWL INTO YOUR
SLEEPING BAGS AND ZIP UP SEE YOU IN THE MORNING.
WHEN I GOT HOME I WENT TO BIG FIVE AND BOUGHT ME A
TWO MAN DOME TENT IN CAMO PATTERN AND IWAS NEVER
WET OR DUSTY AND MY GEAR WAS SECURE ALL THE TIME.