Gday, Templar,
Thats interesting, why not, I wonder
Best regards,
Paul.
Hey Paul,
We dont get issued a poncho because we get a set of G-Tex type things, top and bottoms, we dont wear them much though, they are real noisy and glow in the dark
the only people who tend to wear them are either really new or the pogues in the rear with the gear...
!!!!!!!!!
Anyway I digress,
we used to get a thing called a "Japara" jacket a crazy plastic thing that makes you sweat more than anything, think sauna suit, and before that was the "Jacket psycological" a very light nylon spray type jacket that goes back to our days in 'Nam and as the name implies it did nothing at all unless you believed it did...
Now as for the Hootchie, the only way to set it up with out getting wet is to practice doing it a few different ways until you find the one that works for you, the book says,
(1) that it should be set up as a two man "pup" tent style, i,e: ridge line and peged to the ground. This is great for cadets mybe but not so good out in the world of live action, there is no room under it for two fully grown adults and all your kit too.
(2) as a low level lean-to, low level read about knee height...
(3) tube tent
(4) the "busted" Square, set it up flat at about waist height then take one corner and peg it down to the ground, place your cups canteen steel under the corner to collect any rain water that may fall. this one is good for all round visability.
(4) the mini A frame, used with a Hammock or if you are anti social and need your privacy in the field
(5) the Grave, dig a trench just big enough to lie down flat in and about one E-tool deep, add a small vestibule at the far end for your pack and you have a shelter that will keep you out of the wind and the heat of the sun too,but we mostly use this one up in the alps during Alpine survival training.
Essential kit for all of this is about 4 ocky straps (bungies I believe you Brits call 'em), long ones, and 6 pegs if you want to peg a corner down, I say 6 because during bug outs you tend to leave them stuck in the ground
We dont use ridge lines, we just make the whole thing as taught as we can with the ockies and sleep under it, if you do it propperly then you wont get wet...
Cheers for now,
Karl :umbrella: