CHIEF McNASTY’S CORNER

We get to use some pretty cool stuff that is fairly unique to the military. Machine guns, rockets, grenades, etc… you get the point. It’s not about the guns, though. It’s the crap you have to fit in your pack every day that you remember! I’m dedicating this blog to the best, coolest and most bad-ass gear I ever used.

BEST: The Poncho Liner tops the list. Remember your favorite 'blankie' you had as a toddler? The ‘Cho Liner (aka “Woobie”) is just like that, only on steroids and camouflage. It’s warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and weighs nothing. Order one immediately!

WORST: The Poncho. This non-waterproof piece of nylon with a head hole in it has a jillion uses – keeping you dry isn’t one of them. As raingear, it’s sweaty, non-breathing, musty and pathetic. It was terrible even in the days before Gore-Tex.

BEST: Polypro shirt! Before fleece garments were made popular by climbers, we had some SWEET synthetic gear that evolved from the old WWII wool skivvy shirts. The polypro shirt was light, and warm even when wet.

WORST: The Crew Neck Green Service Sweater (aka Wooly Pully). This thing is a heavy, itchy straight jacket that Harry Houdini himself couldn’t get out of without help. I’d like to nut-punch whoever invented it.

WHAT ELSE?: MRE heaters, Jungle boots, Night vision, Aircrew gloves, 550 cord, Rigger’s tape (AKA Duct Tape), Bungees, Jet fins. These are a few of my favorite things.

Stay Nasty, my friends.

Brenden M. is a retired USN SARC Corpsmen,
USMC Force Recon Operator, HALO Jumpmaster,
and Contributing Writer for 7.62 DESIGN

Below: Field chow necessity, lethal weapon, and best friend;
The classic 'P-38' (AKA: 'John Wayne').
NASA couldn't have designed a better piece of gear!