Comments on: If it Ain’t Rainin’ we Ain’t Trainin’

By: killo serafin

killo serafin — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 19:23:45 +0000

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.

By: Jerry Johnson

Jerry Johnson — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 20:11:12 +0000

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

By: Riceball

Riceball — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 17:46:47 +0000

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.

By: Ken Bradley

Ken Bradley — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 14:33:29 +0000

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.

By: John

John — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:24:37 +0000

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/

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 00:18:47 +0000

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.

By: Dennis

Dennis — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 23:13:38 +0000

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.

By: Clayton

Clayton — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 22:32:52 +0000

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.

By: soonergrunt

soonergrunt — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 21:20:57 +0000

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.