What are your favorite "Field Hacks"?

The MRE beverage bag is a good and inexpensive way to keep your wallet dry in the field.

If you turn the wet weather bag inside out in your ruck it will keep it from moving around so much while still keeping your stuff dry.

I used my E-tool as a stool. I'd place it in an inverted "L" position and place the shovel part against the tree and the handle in the ground.

Not to mention the Steel Pot we wore, great for bathing, shaving etc!

When doing range cards, over lay it with one inch by one inch squares and plot the fighting positions grid coord. The SL and PL can the Immediately lay all the copies together and create sector sketches quicker. It also gives soldiers a slice of the map to call SALT-A reports with grids with out hundreds of copies of the actual map. I did this as a BN SOP and our fires were straight and it did not take days to get this done. Once complete, you can do an over lay using the grid boxes to control fires. Green is PID only, Amber is permission must be requested (like if there is an adjacent unit). Red is by order only (like for where your LP-OPs are). You don't have to produce the overlay for every one, just give a list of 4 digit grids by color. You can use dry erase markers on the acetate. As things change you can shift without too much trouble. Old school, analog, manual baby!

This, if it's muddy or if you just don't want to sit cross legged eating chow. can strap it to the side of an assault pack, light weight.

1. Apply foot powder
2. Put on snug, high quality dress socks
3. Apply foot powder again
4. Put on thick, comfortable boot socks (personal preference: covert threads "sand")
5. ROLL them top0down off your foot and place them in a ziploc bag with more foot powder, repeat 2-3x. Place in top pouch of pack.
6. On hike, sit next to pack remove one boot, remove sweaty sock, open bag. Roll powdered, layered sock onto foot, from toe up, lace boot, hang sweaty sock inside iso mat roll or elsewhere out of sight but airing out (if instructors around, if not, let the flag fly, drying is key)
7. Only after first foot is completely re-shod repeat for second foot.
8. When making camp for the night check for dry socks, re-powder and roll socks for the next day.
9. This field hack allows you to rapidly change socks with full comfort, foot powder, layered lining and only be unable to move or fight for a split second when working on one of the socks.
10. The infantry lives on their feet, take care of them when you can, but always be ready to move or fight.

Baby wipes, good for field cleaning, cleaning weapons and in case supply runs out of TP. I also pack about 50ft of 550 cord to turn into a cloths line so socks and shirts can dry and air out (It's also got a hundred other uses).

Morter round increments to heat up coffee in your canteen cup.

My therapy down range was making things with wood, woodworking. I made storage benches, a deck for our truck, a desk, hutch for a field table, wall lockers. What ever I wanted or any of my troops.

1. Pee on your feet when you get a shower. Will keep the athletes foot at bay.
2. Hot sauce. Makes anything taste good!
3. Skin so soft. Plain lotion...works better than DEET (and smells better as well)
4. I have never tried this but I heard wearing panty hose will keep the ticks and chiggers off.

I don't know how far back this trick goes, but I am surprised that I haven't seen it in any response yet. Before going to the field buy a box of condoms, when rolling down the tank trails or other dirty surfaces cover the flash suppressor with condom and secure with rubber band. This eliminates dirt in the barrel of the weapon and does not hinder the rounds when going down range. It is a good idea to remember that said condom needs to be or should be removed before firing the weapon. If you are single and stationed in Korea, the condoms have a more traditional use as well.