Military Connections?

[shep]

A lot of people use military kit and some probably got their interest in bushcraft after military service. I thought it would be interesting to see how strong the connection is.
This is not an 'are you for or against the army in general' question. I don't want to offend anyone, or start getting political.

 

[AndyW]

Never served myself, something I often regret looking back. Think some of the military kit is great stuff. Lets face it, if something is designed and built to be "squaddie proof" then it should last

I'm just trying to avoid buying DPM as I don't want to look like a "wanna be" or a weekend warrior

 

[spamel]

Interesting poll. I'm sure Wayland will be delighted!

I didn't pick up my interest of all things outdoors from the military, but from my father. I think this in turn swayed me towards military service in an effort to find a job where I could swan around in the great outdoors doing survival stuff!

Unfortunately, it didn't work out quite as planned, but I am now a dab hand at sweeping leaves, keeping of the grass and marching in step with other people which I naturally do without thinking. When I go shopping with the missus and we walk down the street, I'm constantly breaking step as I have unconciously fallen into step with her! At least I don't iron creases down the front of my jeans!!

 

[Miggers]

Did a short service commission in the RN... Got into bushcraft from trekking and travelling...

Apart from some No8 working gear I returned most of my stuff. I did liberate a jack knife which got taken from me by Frankfurt airport security!

Miggers

 

[big_daddy_merc]

i've never served( being fat didn't help ), but i come from a military family,( grandad,dad,brother, other members) so using some of the kit is almost second nature, but i still love learning how to use new kit and new ways of doing things

 

[Eric_Methven]

I joined up in 1966 and came out in 1984, (seems like it was yesterday). I was a bit army barmy for a while when I came out, but although my favourite colour is actually olive green, I try and stay away from military issue kit. It's for the same reason that I actively embrace the term bushcraft rather than survival, although the two diciplines crossover and compliment each other in many aspects. I strive to make what i do in the eyes of others a positive experience and I feel I can do that from within a bushcraft umbrella, but not so much if I come across as a military or survival enthusiast.

Eric

 

[william#]

sorry the vote is not inclusive enough
sadly a lot of army kit is designed to carry explosives or rounds which makes them a bit useless for civvy street . however saying that the green colours are a great way of blending in which for me any way is very important .
i do find it odd though when im on the hills with my sabre and light weights watching the walker in the array of bright and beautiful colours ( however most have only just driveven to a parking spot for a couple of hours walk where as i am generealy on an over nighter .
most people i have known in the military tend to put together there own kit from there own pay packets .
ive never been able to shake the ability for using the 58 pattern water bottle however - though i am begining to come round to the floppy bag thing with the straw for on the move drinking - never thought i would but used for the first time last weekend and wow yes what a g0od idea
love the may it fits in hand - black v important and you can cook with kust the cup that sits on the bottom( i tend to mostley use 24hr ration packs when out they are just so convenient for 1 to 3 days out - however im generaly ready for a right old feast when i get home .
i think people go with what they know and most people who use bushcrafting skills regular are military i mean why else would yu go sleep out in a bivi bag with minimual equipment if you are not being paid to do so .
a lot of camping gear in mainstreem shops is expspensive and tbh really does not wear well nothing worse than geting a blim whole in your nice new gortex jacket .
though i take care of my kit like every one else im in heriantly lazy and i dont want to be worrying about it too much just want it to do its job and not worry when it comes back a bit dirty and scuffed .
if you have the means then go ahead go to one of the top outdoor shops and spend a few thousand on equipment (bearing in mind you may find you only use it a few times a year) .

 

[oldsoldier]

I did 12 years as an infantryman, finally got out for good a couple years back. My survival training consisted of an informal 2 week school taught by the special forces, in 1989, a crash course on reading basic words in Iraqi in 90, right before the first gulf war, then teaching rappelling & rock climbing for the national guard, throughout the 90's. I think, out of all my experiences, I learned, first & foremost, that weather doesnt really bother me too much, if I'm suffering with friends .

we used to call it "embracing the suck" . Which the "suck" part can be substituted for just about anything in life .

 

[dommyracer]

Never been in, but the old man has been in TA for over 25 years (RRW, then logistics).

as others have said, military kit is often tough and hardwearing, cheap and green...

 

[waylander]

Never served and wil never be able to something which I am deeply sad about, so I have no problem in saying that I think millitary gear is great if it suits your purpose and I have absolutely no problem walking around in full camo. I do come from a millitary family though, uncles and grandads.

 

[Sgt Sim]

Have served (partly beacuse the law of the country where I am a citizen of by birth says so and partly beacuse I was currious). Joined up as a cadet with the swedish equvilient of the British ACF at 15, whent in for my military service in the beginning of 2000, completed the basic training at the end of the same year, got my commison as a NCO, was offered a job as a professional solider on NCO- level, stayed for a year, was discarged beacuse of budget down cuts and was formally realesed from my commison last year (2006) beacuse I have reatched the upper age limit and is today formally transfered to the Civil Defence to the age of 65... Have since 2000 done som miscallanious "jobs" for the swedish TA (The Home Guard) as a instructor and left that in 2005.

I do strongly belew that without my service time I would not have the level of experience and survival training (last combat survival course undertaken in 2005) that I have been blessed with today. Somethimes compulsorary military service (at least it was that back then..) can be quite useful and I have got so much for free (like firts aid certificates and a full, civilian ESS drivings license)

 

[11binf]

at a young age i always enjoyed camping,weapons and survival skills.....also my close friend and his dad showed me how to use and respect firearms and the outdoors (he died a few years back)...it was natural for me(at least) to move toward the military ,so at the age of 17 i joined up after high school in1980 and went into the U.S.ARMY,basic training, A.I.T,airborne school....i am a very proud former INFANRTYMAN that did a hard job most people did'nt want to do...i served till about 1999....being in the military enriched my life and also improved my outdoor skills...vince g. 11b inf....

 

[Mike Ameling]

Back in '73, they said I was ... dinki dao ... or so I heard.

Something to remember about military contract gear. It is made to the Minimum Specifications by the Lowest Bidder on the contract. You really have to be ... dinki dao ... to trust your life on that!

But military clothing and gear is one of those fads that come into and go out of style every decade or so. Much like cowboy hats/boots and motorcycle jackets/boots. But it also stands you out in a crowd and more so out in the woods. Some attention is good ... a lot isn't, no matter how well meaning it might be.

At least that's what I heard ....


Mike - out in the Hinterlands

 

[Surrey Yeoman]

Something to remember about military contract gear. It is made to the Minimum Specifications by the Lowest Bidder on the contract.

That might be the case in the US of A buddy, but I'm pleased to say that British issue kit is still made to a high standard - it may be made by the lowest bidder, but that bidder makes it to a generally high specification. Occasionally a bid of sub-standard kit slips through, but it usually gets sorted pretty quick.

When I was in the RAF, I was always having to fight off US Army / USAF guys who wanted to "liberate" my British kit as it was always better than Uncle Sam's.

 

[Jedadiah]

Sorry to disagree with you mr Yeoman (much respect, 'ello, 'ello, 'ello), but speaking as a currently serving member of HM's finest i have to say that in the last few years, the standard of kit is very much down to a cost rather than up to a standard.

A company in Northern Ireland was awarded the contract to supply the Forces with clothing because they sent in the lowest bid. They then promptly sub-contracted it out to a company in the Far East. I pride myself on the fact that i will not pre-judge people or goods until i have had the experience myself. Unfortunately, i have experience of the new kit and it is a backward stride in quality and durability.

One exception to this is specialist kit. Most of it is quality, but, as it is so hard to get hold of, most people who need it cannot get it issued, so they purchase it, or equivalent, privately.

With regards to the original subject of this thread, i've been serving for the last 22yrs and have enjoyed it hugely. It has taught me respect for myself, respect for others, self discipline, self motivation and the value of good friends. I look on bushcraft as a seperate, yet complimentary pursuit. It has benifited my military career and my family life just as they have complimented my bushcraft. Yes, i have been able to utilise some of my military equipment in a bushcraft environment, but, like so many others, i try to avoid british DPM equipment as i do not want the uninitiated to assume i am a Mad Militia, Christian Fundamentalist, survivalist, wannabee, branch davidian, unstable nutter (delete as applicable). I do use some US BDU trousers in woodland cam because i find them hard wearing and cheap.

So, in conclusion, my military service complements my bushcrafting and vice versa, but, and this could be a contentious point, my Military service is my job, NOT me, my bushcrafting is my lesuire pursuit of choice and IS me.

Hope that's not to aggresive and apologies to our colonial cousins, i do not wish to offend with the the Militia comment above!

 

[loz.]

When I was in the RAF, I was always having to fight off US Army / USAF guys who wanted to "liberate" my British kit as it was always better than Uncle Sam's.

Agreee with that !

The only good US kit are the campbeds - usualy found hidden in every cranny of a C130 at the end of every exercise/operation !

 

[Wayland]

Did a bit with the TA when I was younger. Enough to realise I didn't like taking orders when I felt I knew better. ( and yes, I do have an arrogant streak )

I learn't some stuff which was interesting, but not too useful in every day life I suppose. As for the gear, the stuff we got was cr@p. The main requirement seemed to be that it had been used and discarded by the rest of the army because it was totally unfit for purpose.

The one exception to that rule was the SLR which was a good bit of kit IMO.

Of course the ability to speak in TLAs tends to stick with you for a while.

I still wear OG but I did that before I joined so no surprise there. For me it's more a matter of not being an annoying flourecent red blob in the middle of someone elses landscape.

Looking at the kit I use, some of it is military but only if it is the best I can source. Milbank bags, canvas buckets and the like.

Most of it is too heavy to make it "squaddie proof".

Interesting poll. I'm sure Wayland will be delighted! <Snip

The biggest problem with Polls like this is that they keep resurfacing years after everybodies got bored with them.

 

[John Dixon]

i did a bt of civilian instruction for the services, enjoyed the experience. Was keen for the army cadets as a kid. Picked up most of my experience from expeditions and being an instructor in various things. Strange now that Bushcraft has such an individual image, even the Institute for Outdoor Learning is recognising it as a thing in its own right. Cool...

 

[benp1]

the only military kit i use is the black plastic water bottle and cup. i want to get a crusader cup to go with it

i don't really like all the DPM stuff. The real benefit of army kit is the cost, its really good value. If they did more stuff in black or olive then i might have a bit more.

 

[Mikey P]

Still serving and just returned from deployment in Middle-East/Asia.

I think a lot of military issue kit is OK but, as mentioned above, limitations usually become obvious quite quickly and most servicemen will often supplement with kit they have purchased themselves.

Military OG bergans are usually pretty good, and the latest Snugpak reversibles saw me through some cold weather. The old SAS windproofs are superb if you can get them and sleeping systems are heavy but durable. I could go on (and I normally do) but you get the picture. There are some great items and some rubbish items - mix and match as you see fit. The benefit of military life is that you often get the opportunity to really try something properly under high-use, harsh environmental conditions and then make your decision based on that rather than whatever is currently being espoused on the internet/TV, etc.

I have to say, I do like the MOLLE mix'n'match system (US use it a lot) as it is flexible and can be tailored to the job; however, I am not going to wear my Osprey body armour in the woods just so I can hang a few pouches from it.

As for colours, I like plain OG and Coyote but not DPM - it makes me feel slightly uncomfortable and is like a busman's holiday. Frankly, a lot of my civvy gear is better than the military equivalent and, whilst usually in a drab colour (black, brown, khaki, grey), is not specifically military looking.

I would also not want to go completely the other way - I won't wear wide brimmed hats with leather bits hanging off them, I won't wear leather pouches on my belt, or knives round my neck. I don't really care if you do - your choice - but I don't want to look like an extra from 'Grizzly Adams' or a 14th Century peasant. That attracts just as much negative attention as wandering around in full DPMs and my battlevest.

Military equipment has been the proving ground for much of the camping/outdoor kit we see today, so don't write it off - just pick and choose carefully. Materials in particular can be key to enjoyment and performance. Thick canvas webbing and equipment gets heavy when wet - and stays wet. That's why we invented cordura - use it. Breathable, waterproof kit isn't great when you are being highly active but is superb for low-impact activity. Rant, rant, etc.

As usual, each to his/her own.