My kingdom for a spoon

Submitted by Eric Daniel

I would have never thought the day would come where I’d sell my soul for a spoon (or a P-38 can opener for that matter) but come it did when, as a USFS firefighter we were airlifted rations on the last flight of the day and what should arrive but 2 cases of Hormel chili - without any means of opening the tins, much less cooking and consuming the contents.  Needless to say we all got some practice in cooking Paul Bunyan style (you try opening a can of chili with an axe some day, it’s harder than it sounds) and I swore then and there I would never deploy anywhere without a P-38 and a spoon.  My favorite, hands down, is the GI issue mess spoon.  It’s big, so you can eat fast and dig deep into those MRE bags, it’s stainless steel so it won’t break when you drop it, step on it, or when it gets cold (and it won’t melt when it gets hot), and it has a hole in it where I can tie it to my kit so I don’t forget it.

GI issue mess kit spoon

Here I am

Submitted by Eric Daniel

Getting lost sucks.  There’s simply no better way to describe it.  Getting lost in a place where you are likely to die unless you get un-lost in a hurry sucks even more.  One thing you can carry with you on your adventures, whether in the military or as a civilian, is a good lightweight strobe light.  The one I originally carried was the SDU-5/E strobe (with both the IR and “blue light” filters) which was issued to aircrews as a piece of survival kit.  But as batteries became harder and harder to find (the SDU-5/E takes a mil-spec BA-1574/U mercury battery, which, if you can find it, will run you $30-40 each) I switched over to the ARC MS-2000(M) strobe.  While slightly larger than the SDU-5/E, it comes complete; the IR and blue light filters are incorporated into the construction, and, most importantly, it runs off of AA batteries.

ARC MS-2000(M) strobe light

Leaving your mark

Submitted by Eric Daniel

The VS-17 aircraft panel is a reversible, 2-color strip of fabric which, when used with other panels, can be arrayed out on the ground in various patterns to communicate with aircraft.  While primarily still used for this purpose (and I still carry one with me when I go hiking above the treeline as they are rather brilliant visually) one other interesting use I’ve found for them is marking my luggage when traveling.  By cutting the panel into strips and putting a grommet in one end, you have an easily recognizable tag to your checked bags.  This is especially true if you’re flying mil air (i.e. deploying) where your duffle bag seems to look a lot like the other 300 duffle bags sitting there at the terminal.  The fabric is fairly sturdy and resists fraying, but to increase its strength you can fold it over and stitch the folds together before you insert the grommet.

VS-17 marker panel

Der wooly pully

Submitted by Eric Daniel

Back in the 1970s the Marine Corps introduced what was probably the most versatile, indestructible, and functional piece of tactical clothing ever – the wooly pully.  It was brilliant.  It kept you warm, it was well constructed and would stand up to abuse well, and you could hand wash it in the field, or machine-wash it in garrison.  Unfortunately, the only thing you couldn’t do with it, especially if you were in the army, was wear it.  Oh no, it was a veritable death sentence if some officer or staff NCO caught you wearing the dreaded USMC wool-pully; after all, we’re soldiers, and we have our own, albeit awful, tactical sweater, that flimsy 3 button monstrosity that grows when wet and wouldn’t survive a trip to Jellystone, much less a 45 day field problem.  Funny thing though, those same officers and senior NCOs who were death on the wooly-pully seemed to accept just fine the West German commando sweater.  Made in the same style, and to the same toughness as the wooly-pully, but sporting a pair of German flags and a breast pocket, the commando sweater has served me well these last 12 years, and I use it still, instead of the shrink wrap plastic stuff the army issues now.

German commando sweater
Wooly-pully

Light of War

Submitted by Manny Salas

This little flashlight will take a beating! It's been attached to my body armor for 3 years and it's been hit with saltwater, dirt, and tons of abuse without breaking. I've only changed the batteries once (uses three 1.5 Alkaline Coin Cell Batteries.). It comes with a nylon lanyard, small clip, and three colored filters. It will light up small spaces and is perfect for finding gear and looking at maps in the dark.

Shop for the L1 LED light

Get a Grip!

Submitted by Chris Willden

I bought the Grip pod from www.strategictacticalgroup.com and loved it. It is a front grip that attaches to the rail system on your M16/M4 and a bipod that is spring loaded inside the grip.  Push a button and it "pops" out and you have an instant bipod. It's great.  Best $150 I spent during my time in the military.

Care Package Cure

Submitted by Ted Newbury

Too many chocolate chip cookies and Snickers bars in that last care package?  Red Cross Toothache Medicine helps to stop the pain caused by a cavity until you can get to a real dentist (not your tentmate, most likely). The kit comes with a relief agent (Eugenol), tweezers, and cotton pellets. (Eugenol is a local antiseptic and analgesic.)

This stuff is amazing. It is a strong anti-infection and topical painkilling agent. Also works great on foul toenails and blisters, too. Kills the pain, dries out the wound, and heals it fast. 

And for crotch rot and such (including yeast infections) try good ol' mouthwash. It is very effective against bacteria; but be advised:  it stings a bit.

Shop for toothache relief