There are five pieces of issue gear that literally everyone used while they were in the employ of Uncle Sam. Sure, sometimes supply was stingy, but you always figured out a way to get your hands on them. Even though your term of active service is up, you can still get them, thanks to the internet.
Named for its breaking strength, Type 3 – Olive Drab, 550 Lbs tensile strength, 400 yard reel NSN (4020-00-246-0688) was designed for use as parachute suspension lines. For its intended purpose, GI paracord has traditionally been procured in just a few colors including OD, Red and White but now, a whole rainbow of hues and prints have been developed to support the 550 craze. Everyone seems to be making bracelets, belts and even slings out of the material, which also makes for a great survival aid. The kernmantle design features a woven outer sheath that can be broken down into 32 strands with a core consisting of seven two-ply yarns. Even a few feet of paracord is a treasure chest to someone in a survival situation. Day-to-day, 550 cord is used to repair or reinforce a wide variety of equipment, including packs, load bearing systems and even vehicle tarps. Used in conjunction with the next item, there is nothing that can’t be done.
It doesn’t matter if you call it Duct, 90-mile per hour, 100 mph or LAPES tape, the PE-Coated Cloth General Purpose Duct Tape, 60 yds Length x 2″ Width, Olive Drab literally holds the US military together. Its uses are limited only by your imagination. Civilians too have discovered Duct Tape and make a wide variety of items with it. Now, they offer it in every color under the sun but if you’re a Veteran, you’ll want the real thing. When I first enlisted 30 years ago, the tape was all a Light Green almost florescent color, but later we started to get Dark Green, then OD, and finally Tan variants. A search on Amazon revealed a wide variety of military colors.
More specifically, the U.S. Government Retractable Ball Point Pen, Fine Point, Black Ink, Box of 12 NSN (7520-00-935-7135) made by Skilcraft. You can never have enough of these. Everyone in your corcle will look on in envy, as you sign the restaurant check.
No self respecting NCO would be caught without a Green Military Log Book, Record Book, Memorandum Book, 5-1/2″ X 8″ Green LogBook NSN (7530-00-222-3521). Modified in a wide variety of ways, they are indispensable for taking notes during long, rambling meetings, recording PT scores and keeping track of room inspections. It served you well while you were in, think how awesome it will look, with your name written in big block letters underneath pin-on rank and scare badges, when you pull it out of your Leader’s Map Case during that board meeting. Your significant other will love it when you write down everything (s)he says and your children will be thrilled when you remind them of how many pushups they did during last week’s practice PRT.
Available in two styles (bottom or side opening) the Green Military Memorandum Book / Military Memo Book, 3-3/8″ x 5-1/2″, Dark Green, Side Bound, NSN 7530-00-222-0078 was found in everyone’s uniform pocket, chock full of notes. Think of it as the little brother to the Leader’s Book, it contained relevant notes passed down from the novel-like scribblings in its big brother.
