Being Prepared.
Being prepared as must be the moto of every boy scout and soldier. Not doing so can literally mean the difference between life a death. Here we have compiled a list of essential equipment that can help keep you alive in the most serious of situations. I can think of times when I have not been as prepared as I would have liked and my life has been put in danger.
I have compiled a list of products you cannot do without on the battlefield.
CATS EYES
The trouble with wearing camouflage is that no one can see you. Well, the intention is not to be seen by the enemy but your comrades in arms do need to know where you are. This could be to simply follow you in the patrol or to ensure you don't get shot in the back accidentally. A pair of Cats Eye's solve this problem by giving two luminescent spots on your mates to see you while you remain unseen to the bad guys.
FIRST AID KIT
A decent first aid kit is a must while in any battle situation. You maybe dealing with gunshot wounds one second, and cuts and stings the next. Having an effective First Aid Kit that fits well with your gear can be the difference between life and death.
WASH KIT
Keeping yourself clean is as important as keeping your weapon clean. Disease is spread through poor hygiene and even in Combat you need to wash. That said, you need products that are suited to the environment you are working in that does not a strong smell, attract flies and is not too heavy. This Camo Wash kit holder is Ideal for keeping all your washing kit needs in one handy spot.
SEWING KIT
In most military situations, the ground is going to be as big an issue as the enemy. Taking moving, getting down on one knee, hiding behind cover or simply catching a pocket on a branch can rip and tear at your clothing. Like the first aid kit, you need to have something at hand to deal with these rips and tears. A resupply may never come and you cant walk around holes all over your uniform. A sewing kit like this will allow you to sort out damaged uniform while not taking up massive amounts of room in your Bergan.
WATERPROOF BAGS.
When I first joined the Army, we were issued with kit bags that holes in the top, we had to rap our gear in black bin liners to keep it dry. Later, I discover resealable bags like these at add so much more protection for your gear. Having a good selection of them will mean all your spare kit will remain dry while on the move, even during river crossings. The will also help you Bergan float with in a river, one the best investments I ever made.
BATTLE MUG
One thing that keeps all going on cold winters nights is a hot drink, it warms our bodies and lifts our spirits. Having something that you can keep a brew hot in, so you can drink it on the go is must for a modern soldier. I used to keep one of these in a spare ammo pouch on my webbing and a small collapsible gas stove. It allowed me to make coffee when ever we stopped, even if our Bergans were elsewhere.
GAS STOVE
I used to keep one of these in my belt kit for quick halts and battle lulls. Light weight, quick to light, quick to put out. It gives off less light than Hexi Burners and has a lower heat signature. It also doesn't make a mess of your mess tin or boiling vessel like hexi does.
JET BOIL
Those of you that want the gucci experience, I highly recommend the Jet boil, it is extremely quick at boiling water and you can take it with you in its own resealable mug. A great bit of kit.
METAL MUG.
Mess tins are a bulky and noisy items that just take up space on your belt kit. I always found having a metal mug with my water bottle allowed me to make those quick, moral boosting brews with out the need to carry those clangy, shiny, weighty lumps of steel around with me. I would keep a mess tin in my bergan but most of the time I used this.
SURVIVAL KIT
This is not about being a Rambo wanna be, having a survival kit makes sense in so many ways. Imagine that you have lost everything, say you got swept away, or your helicopter crashed in the middle of no where. You had to abandoned your belt kit, armour, bergan, maybe even your rifle to survive. Having something to fall back on will be the difference between seeing your family soon or in the next life. This basic survival kit gives you most of what you need to provide for yourself while you get sorted. I used to keep mine in my top left pocket, or on my arm pouch of my EBAC shirt.
I hope you enjoyed my list of Military essentials, please leave a comment if you want me to mention something else or have a different opinion than me.
