Backpack contents?

[IceFire 0]

I am curious what soldiers (American) take in their gear when they go out for extended periods in their rucksacks.

What do they take?

Do they take tiolet paper? Soap? Toothbrushes? Toothpaste?

Deoderant? Matches? Cooking pots?

And where are they all kept?

Please only answer if you really know or are a real soldier. I don't want any guesses.

[IceFire 0]

Also, I heard this thing about the food that soldiers get are all supposed to be real high calories. In fact I heard alot of interesting things about military food.

Like they have this candy that when you eat really pumps you up and fights fatigue. Each peice has like 900 calories and it expands inside your stomach.

They have tons of protein and are designed for soldiers in the field. If anyone knows anything about this, please inform me and maybe where I could get some. I know they could be useful in an emergency situation.

Apparenty they have all sorts of food stuffs like these.

[Wobble 1]

I know they have meals that come in a packet and all ya do is pull a small string which breaks a water packet which reacts with some bar of chemical which cooks the food... instantly you have a nice (and pretty tastey) meal..

its AMAZING the kinda shit that has been come up with

[USSoldier11B 0]

My standard mission ruck weighs in at 90-110 lbs.

Contents:

-Poncho

-Poncho Liner (wubbie) <---fave item

-x2 2 qt. canteens (strapped on outside of ruck)

-Camelbak

-550 cord

-4-6 bungee cords <---another fave

-Waterproof map case w/ pencil and pen

-reading material (includes porn)

-modular sleep system w/ gortex bivioac sack

-Gortex rain suit (sometimes)

-Heavy goretex jacket

-self inflating sleeping mat

-field jacket liner (makes great pillow)

-rubber boots

-extra BDU's

-waterproof bag

-extra insoles for combat boots

-foot powder *essential

-tons of socks in ziplock bags

-chemlights

-AA batteries

-extra t-shirts

-1 man low profile tent (sometimes)

-MRE's (would rather kill somethingand eat it)

-little propane camp stove (for coffee)

-Pig sticker

-hatchet

-strobe

-Log of Copenhagen *essential

-first aid kit

-Snicker's bars

-mosquito netting

-100% DEET bug reppelant

-100 mph tape

-tincture of benzoine (for feet)

-800mg Motrin tablets (aka Ranger candy, Army wonder drug)

-E tool

-cammo grease paint

-lighter and matches

-Weapons cleaning kit

-soap

-baby wipes (good for field expedient hygiene)

-toothbrush

-toothpaste

-razor

-shaving cream

____

Items that vary

-cold weather gear (gloves, hat, etc...)

-Spare barrel for M240B

-Manpack radio

-Ammo

-Demo

-Mortar rounds

I probably left something out. Yes it surprises even me that all of this shiit fits in a ruck. I would rather hump the weight than do without. I learned that being a minimalist sucks the hard way. Also, MRE's suck.

[Hilandor 1]

yes army food i thought was fantastic, it also meant that u didnt have to crap very often as well  but back at barracks it was full breakfasts  decent dinners

ration packs are pretty good too     i.e porrige, stew, puddings etc  in tinfoil packs that could just be boiled in the cookin tins  then water is used to make the brew.  These were cooked on little hexiblock burners that gave no flame but stank like hell.  Some stuff came in tins  like sweets and little kits  with matches and other stuff    generally when it came to eating time  u would just mix and match stuff .

Kit i carried was a change of combat gear, issued ration packs  with sterilising tabs etc, shaving  and eating kit (shaving is compulsory everyday nomatter where or what we did as well as toothbrush etc, healhy soldier is a fighting soldier they said ) poncho, black bags ( for any wet stuff ) and whilst on the move   things like sweets and the sachet for juice ( screech or summit it was called ) was all carried in my webbing for easy access on the move.  Any thing else was generally individual preferences  such as bungees for putting the poncho up  etc

Generally tho we worked in 4 man teams  each team with a landrover and a javelin system  so we kipped in that, and worked from there, which was a damn site more comfortable

[IceFire 0]

USSOLDIER, why did you carry Snickersbars? Doesn't the military provide more specialized snacks that are designed to provide alot of calories?

And why would shaving be required? Why in the world does it matter how you look in combat? Same thing could be said for brushing your teeth too, I guess.

SHAVING CREAM? Why do I find that hard to believe? Please tell me it has other functions other than for actually shaving!!

Honestly I am not yet in the military, and I never use shaving cream just because I think it is a hassle to carry to the bathroom and I don't really see any use for it.

I just use water, and a sharp razor. I have even done it dry, but that takes some getting used to. OUCH.

I would figure that the military definitely wouln't use it.

I really don't see the use of washing all the time in combat when you crawl through the mud! This is the military!

And I would figure that the military would not let you keep snickers bars (what if enemy forces find candy wrappers laying around?)

What is log of Copenhagen?

What is a "camelbak"?

What is a "strobe"?

What are the motrin for? For pain?

What is 100 mph tape?

Chemlights. Cool, what do you guys use them for? I can see how they can be useful though. I just want a few examples if you don't mind. I am assuming they can be used to signal choppers at extraction points in the dark. Just a guess though.

You guys really use ziplock bags?? Cmon, you guys must have atleast a military variety.

What does foot powder do?

Do military maps look the same way as they do in OPF?

What is tincture of benzoine?

Do you military guys have anything to eliminate your scent? I mean then wouln't enemies be able to use dogs to sniff out soldiers hiding in the woods?

I assumed that you guys kept toilet paper. What do you do without toiletpaper??

By the way, do they force you to eat spiders during your infantry training?

I am slightly arachnaphobic and would rather eat something else like mammals.

[Guest]

This is the biggest backpack we ever used (Sweden), but that was only once or twice:

It might look big but 90% of the space was taken by our diving gear.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">What is tincture of benzoine?<span id='postcolor'>

It's used to congeal wounds.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I assumed that you guys kept toilet paper.  What do you do without toiletpaper??

<span id='postcolor'>

That was the worst - they never gave us any forms of tissues at all. I however always made sure that we always had plenty of toilet paper with us.

Corrections: That was not at all the worst. The worst possible thing you can imagine is to (and I'm not kidding you) shit in a closed-system wet suite. The human metabolism works quite differently under water and during some excersises we had to spend > 12 hours under water. And well, eventaually you have to go to the bathroom, except for that there is no bathroom. We used closed system suits - they don't release anything in the water- you can't imagine the feeling after you have relieved yourself and the smell when you take it off. Fuck, it is still horrible, just remebering it.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">By the way, do they force you to eat spiders during your infantry training?

<span id='postcolor'>

What? Are you nuts? Never. Not even during our 10-day survival training (not so much training: they drop you of in a forrest in the north of Sweden and say: survive!. After three days we whacked a reindeer (which was against the rules, but after three days without food you just don't care) and made a nice little barbecue. That was the best meal I have ever eaten in my whole life But thanks god, no spiders or other insects.

[Espectro (DayZ) 0]

Ya, im curious too... whats a "log of copenhagen"?

[IceFire 0]

Denoir, what about this wetsuit thing underwater??

Can't you just take off your wetsuite to shit?

Did you actually go number 2 in your suit??

EEEEEEEEEEEWWW!!!!

Honestly, I would take it off underwater and then do it.

And how can they just drop you into the woods and tell you to survive?

And how does your metabolism work differently underwater?

They must teach you some skills that are in the military.

I always thought that the military learns all sort of useful things about how to do these things and all sorts of neat tricks.

[Oligo 1]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (IceFire @ April 15 2002,12:47)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">They must teach you some skills that are in the military.

I always thought that the military learns all sort of useful things about how to do these things and all sorts of neat tricks.<span id='postcolor'>

You thought wrong. All the nice tricks are best learned from your fellow privates. At least that's the way it was when i served.

It's funny but they never issued us any toilet paper either, Denoir. We had to confiscate it from the barracks. Makes you wonder whether they expect you to wipe with your hands?

[LordZach 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Can't you just take off your wetsuite to shit?<span id='postcolor'>

my guess would be the water was a little cold for that

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Honestly, I would take it off underwater and then do it. <span id='postcolor'>

i severely doubt that

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">And how can they just drop you into the woods and tell you to survive?<span id='postcolor'>

in a real combat environment they don't have hiltons to stay in, if you can't last without mommy bringing you every meal, my guess would be you wouldn't do too good in the field

[jawk2 1]

few tricks i know when making a backpack from a footage:

take candle it's the better i know to heat a tent u arent stupid with your hands

there's a thing from bodybuilding that called "straps" (something like that).... it's like a autcollant band for hand or foot, take them on the back of your feet to not have the feet hurt and some lainage socket after.The french military boots really sucks for take care of the feet (but they are strong at hell, i once walk unto forest fire remain and didnt even dammaged them thought it was hot).

Put your thing a plastic bag, and after put it into your sack... especially the clean vetement(socket goes first bcse if u cant walk u are useless).this if u goes wet your sack ll not (i once crossed a river and get happy to change my vetement 6h later

[Longinius 1]

"That was the worst - they never gave us any forms of tissues at all. I however always made sure that we always had plenty of toilet paper with us."

I was stuck at an OP once. Been in the field for a couple of days, eating shitty food and freezing my arse off so I got a case of the runs. No place to shit at the OP... Asked the other guys if they had any TP. No luck. So, I took some sheets of notepaper and the standard issue scarf. Let me tell you...it wasnt pretty.

"USSOLDIER, why did you carry Snickersbars?  Doesn't the military provide more specialized snacks that are designed to provide alot of calories?"

Because they taste better than the military version? One thing the military is known for is to make stuff NOT taste good.

"And why would shaving be required?  Why in the world does it matter how you look in combat?  Same thing could be said for brushing your teeth too, I guess."

Hygiene is extremely important. Brushing your teeth is even an extreme morale booster. Its quite a feeling to feel fresh once you have been in the field for a while. Toothpaste is king.

"I really don't see the use of washing all the time in combat when you crawl through the mud!  This is the military!"

No, its not. The actual crawling is a small part of it. For most soldiers, waiting and hanging around takes up most of the time. Even in the field you dont crawl around all the time. When you have to be out for a couple of weeks at a time, hygiene is a big issue.

"And I would figure that the military would not let you keep snickers bars (what if enemy forces find candy wrappers laying around?)"

What do you think the military "candy" is wrapped in? You take care of all garbage, wether its standard issue or not.

"What is a "camelbak"?"

Could be wrong, but I think its a container, like a backpack, with a tube so you can drink while walking.

"You guys really use ziplock bags??  Cmon, you guys must have atleast a military variety."

Many civilian applications are better than the military counterpart, mainly because of cost and availability. Ziplock bags are extremely useful for keeping stuff dry and sorted.

"Do you military guys have anything to eliminate your scent?   I mean then wouln't enemies be able to use dogs to sniff out soldiers hiding in the woods?"

Nope.

"I assumed that you guys kept toilet paper.  What do you do without toiletpaper??"

Improvise, adapt, overcome. Drag your ass in the grass if you have to.

"By the way, do they force you to eat spiders during your infantry training?"

I doubt spiders are good to eat but I know that during survival training you get to eat worms, ants and such.

[Guest]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (IceFire @ April 15 2002,12:47)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Denoir, what about this wetsuit thing underwater??

Can't you just take off your wetsuite to shit?<span id='postcolor'>

Nope, it was a closed system wet suite. Not even air bubbles are allowed to exit. It is designed that way to not reveal the position of the diver

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">

Did you actually go number 2 in your suit??

<span id='postcolor'>

Eh, not proud to say it but yes. There was some talk of using diapers, but we figured that the situation was enough humiliating as it was.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">

Honestly, I would take it off underwater and then do it.  

<span id='postcolor'>

There is no way, except for cutting it open. It is too heavy and complicated to get off underwater.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">

And how can they just drop you into the woods and tell you to survive?

<span id='postcolor'>

Well, they gave the orders, we followed. We had some briefings before on what types of mushrooms not to eat and so on, but much. Also, we had a radio with us, so we could abort it any time, but this was a part of basic training so aborting it would mean that we would have to do it again.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">

And how does your metabolism work differently underwater?

<span id='postcolor'>

The stomach gets all wierd when you are underwater for several hours. I guess it is a combination of the temperature and the pressure. Not nice anyway. Lots of gases and stuff.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">

I always thought that the military learns all sort of useful things about how to do these things and all sorts of neat tricks.

<span id='postcolor'>

Yeah right, what a joke. I doubt that I have learned a single useful thing in the military. They always gave a minimum of information and you learned all the practical stuff, as Oligo pointed out from the others.

[Longinius 1]

"Yeah right, what a joke. I doubt that I have learned a single useful thing in the military. They always gave a minimum of information and you learned all the practical stuff, as Oligo pointed out from the others."

Come on! You surely learned useful stuff like RASSOIKA, OBSLÖSA and about a 100 different ways you should NOT fold your laundry

[Guest]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Oligo @ April 15 2002,13:00)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">It's funny but they never issued us any toilet paper either, Denoir. We had to confiscate it from the barracks. Makes you wonder whether they expect you to wipe with your hands?  <span id='postcolor'>

We got the suggstion "use the nature - leaves and stuff. I remember that we also were told to hold on to a tree when doing number two, that it would be easier...

Talking of disgusting things.. we have a tradition among the divers - when we complete the basic training we have to take a dive in "Gropen" - "the Hole", which is a out-door toilet, so to say, near our base. Here is a picture of a mate of mine taking his dip:

[Longinius 1]

"We got the suggstion "use the nature - leaves and stuff. I remember that we also were told to hold on to a tree when doing number two, that it would be easier.."

Nice to know that is a widely circulated tip.

Another tip is not to go take a dump when the enemy is about to attack. We caught a guy hugging a tree once, pants down, when we were sneaking up on their tent. His AK was leaned against another tree, an armslength away. He went for the gun when he saw us coming, lost his grip and fell down.... backwards.....

[Guest]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Longinius @ April 15 2002,13:25)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">"Yeah right, what a joke. I doubt that I have learned a single useful thing in the military. They always gave a minimum of information and you learned all the practical stuff, as Oligo pointed out from the others."

Come on! You surely learned useful stuff like RASSOIKA, OBSLÖSA and about a 100 different ways you should NOT fold your laundry <span id='postcolor'>

Hehe... bad flashbacks... you forgot about UFETĹSS and GORSUGAS

[Tydium 0]

Aahh, military and toilet paper.. in FDF they don't issue it. But squad leaders usually make sure that their squad have plenty of it.

And what comes to the weight of full gear really depends how long you have been in the army. In the begining you pack everything that's on the list. And that weights a lot. But after you have been there a while you start wondering what the fuck you are doing with all that shit and you accidently "forgot" some items that are on the list

In the end I had only some warm clothes, sleeping bag and the pad you put on the ground. (No idea what it's called) And of course a lot of extra food and some pillows to make the backpack look full. Most of us had extra food because the food you get on exercise usually comes from field kitchen and it really sucks (and it's allways late). On some smaller exercises the food comes from barracks and that's ok.

[Longinius 1]

Hehe...the only useful one I remember good, and still use (even in games like OFP) is SOLO. Stop Often Listen Observe (Stanna Ofta Lyssna Observera) good tip : )

[LauryThorn 0]

But does the shaving really have anything to do with hygienity?

When I was in army, there was this rumour that you are not

allowed to shave in the field, because you can get cut and

that could cause some infection?

[scout 0]

here is another tip:

do u think its sensible?

THEN DONT DO IT!!!!

[Longinius 1]

Think it has to do with chemical and biological warfare aswell. If you have a beard your gasmask might have leaks. And then there is the issue of uniformity...But I am not sure. Could just be another crazy rule aswell. There are plenty of those in the military.

[Tydium 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">

When I was in army, there was this rumour that you are not

allowed to shave in the field, because you can get cut and

that could cause some infection?

<span id='postcolor'>

Yes you are right. When I was in the army we were told that shaving on the field was not allowed or at least not recommended.

[Guest]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Longinius @ April 15 2002,13:40)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Hehe...the only useful one I remember good, and still use (even in games like OFP) is SOLO. Stop Often Listen Observe (Stanna Ofta Lyssna Observera) good tip : )<span id='postcolor'>

Yeah, but those can be dangerous in the hands of a stupid/forgetful person:

We had a drill called SOPT - "Syre Offset Pejl Tryck" - (Oxygen Offset Navigation Pressure) which we used for putting on our diving gear. A guy in my platoon thought it was "STOP" and applied pressure ("T -tryck") to the suit before regulating the suit ("Offset")..

Our instructor was quick to realize that something was wrong and we managed to get him out of the suit. Another second or so and his lungs would have exploded...