| I don't know if American ponchos are any different but ours were almost perfect squares with a hole and hood in the middle for your head. They were terrible to wear in the rain because your legs still got wet from the rain and the rest of you get wet from sweat.
However, if you brought along even two or three sections of your tent pole you could use that and your ruck to create a little shield above your head and chest area. And if you do that you can use what mosquito netting you have and place it over the poncho and it should work well to keep the mosquitoes out. We got issued this milky kind of mosquito repellent which was one of the few standard issue things that actually worked out okay. Any other tips on fighting mosquitoes?
So you guys still use A tents as well? Or some kind of new tent that also uses halves? Ours were made of heavy canvas. Never liked them. When the inspection etc. makes you pack all kinds of crap you really don't need, shoving in an A-tent does tick you off. Especially if you also have to carry the Captain's as well as yours.
Damn Captain ticked me off. Practically traveled with an empty pack (it had some stuff in it but was real light) and he had the fitness of a professional athlete to begin with. It was friggin' impossible keeping up with that guy with full gear. Not to mention, the guy only carries around a pistol. So since we were command platoon we arranged to have our heavier stuff moved by the 5/4 ton truck.
I always thought he carried a full pack until one day he wanted me to fetch his ruck and I nearly rolled down the hill to death because I pulled on it real hard thinking it was heavy.
Foot powder is important. I used talcum powder and I think that worked alright. I'll be sure to get fungal powder the next time around.
Spart, I think that's pretty smart stuff you guys did on FTX. What you did is what I'd do.
But what I also brought along is a supply of moist tissues. When you can't take a bath of any kind very often I've seen those help a lot.
The whole rig with the sleeping bag and poncho could be assembled in less than a minute if you wanted to. The A-tent... urrgh I guess it's good for control freaks who want to see what they're commanding. Never once during a force vs force training exercise did we actually pitch a tent. |