What was/is the best piece of equipment issued to you by your branch of service?

SGT Rick Ash — Wed, 06 May 2015 17:15:15 -0400

@KYpatriot

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 6 at 2015 5:18 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 06 May 2015 17:18:11 -0400

Minot AFB, ND. That's all I have to say about that...

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made May 6 at 2015 5:19 PM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Wed, 06 May 2015 17:19:32 -0400

Response by PO1 Dustin Adams made May 6 at 2015 6:20 PM

PO1 Dustin Adams — Wed, 06 May 2015 18:20:36 -0400

The customizable load bearing system.

Compared to the old h-harness and web-belt it was a blessing, that and the Marine Corps getting away from the "if its not issued gear, you can't use it" mindset (flashing back to having to hide my camelback during humps as it wasn't authorized for use back in the mid 90's)

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made May 6 at 2015 6:32 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Wed, 06 May 2015 18:32:33 -0400

My poncho liner a.k.a., the Woobie

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made May 6 at 2015 6:34 PM

SGT Jeremiah B. — Wed, 06 May 2015 18:34:09 -0400

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 6 at 2015 6:42 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 06 May 2015 18:42:46 -0400

As a Medic, I'll go with this. I've seen it save a whole lot of people's lives

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 6 at 2015 9:20 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 06 May 2015 21:20:34 -0400

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 6 at 2015 9:39 PM

CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 06 May 2015 21:39:08 -0400

Black with speedlaces. Issued March 1991. I still have them and would be wearing them if not for move from BDUs to ABUs. Had to have them re-soled, but they are perfect condition!! :)

Response by PO1 John Miller made May 6 at 2015 10:38 PM

PO1 John Miller — Wed, 06 May 2015 22:38:38 -0400

My DD214 and blue ID card! LOL!!!

Response by SGT Bryon Sergent made May 7 at 2015 11:37 AM

SGT Bryon Sergent — Thu, 07 May 2015 11:37:19 -0400

P-38. Have used it even out of the service. Has saved my ass camping a couple of times when I have forgot to pack the can opener!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 7 at 2015 11:38 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 07 May 2015 11:38:37 -0400

1. Woobie
2. Camel back
3. Gerber/Leatherman

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made May 7 at 2015 11:45 AM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Thu, 07 May 2015 11:45:01 -0400

Flight suit. Designed for the job of flying aircraft, lots of pockets in the right places, fire retardant, reasonably comfortable in hot and cold environments. Can't be ironed, so everybody looks equally rumpled before and after mission.

Response by PO2 James Marlow made May 7 at 2015 11:55 AM

PO2 James Marlow — Thu, 07 May 2015 11:55:05 -0400

I still keep one on my key chain

Response by MSgt James Mullis made May 7 at 2015 12:07 PM

MSgt James Mullis — Thu, 07 May 2015 12:07:47 -0400

My favorite issue item was the N-1B cold weather Mukluk Boots and wool inserts. They were extremely comfortable and kept my feet nice and warm on those freezing cold days in the Weapons Storage Area at Hahn AB in Germany.

Response by SMSgt Todd Grebel made May 7 at 2015 3:16 PM

SMSgt Todd Grebel — Thu, 07 May 2015 15:16:02 -0400

The woobie!

Response by SrA Diego Alvarez made May 7 at 2015 3:43 PM

SrA Diego Alvarez — Thu, 07 May 2015 15:43:25 -0400

det. cord

Response by Col Lyman Faith made Jun 8 at 2015 8:43 PM

Col Lyman Faith — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 20:43:46 -0400

MA-1 Flight Jacket. My issued jacket must have been 20-years old. It was the best I ever wore, much better than the recent dead goat.

Response by SPC David Hannaman made Jun 9 at 2015 10:04 AM

SPC David Hannaman — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 10:04:35 -0400

P-38, I still carry one, and one of my dog tags, but not nearly as useful.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Jun 9 at 2015 10:19 AM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 10:19:43 -0400

It was't issued; it was "acquired" and its at home somewhere. It is the O.D. green, canvas type military shower bag. I have owned this piece of equipment for 10 years. It's great for being in the field or camping.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jun 9 at 2015 10:25 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 10:25:09 -0400

A set of double gradient sun glasses made especially for Antarctic work. They start out as a Basuch and Lomb aviator G-15 which lets 15% of the light in. Then there's an added coating heavy on the top and bottom, thinning towards the middle. That takes care of much of the glare light. Finally the frames had insulated pads so your face didn't stick to the metal.

A close second was the Refrigi-Wear bunny suit I got the following year. It's soft body armor characteristics (lots of insulation). Saved my bacon when that vehicle blew up. That and keeping the emergency hatch cracked.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Jun 9 at 2015 10:28 AM

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 10:28:20 -0400

Trifold M3 Medic Bag

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2015 11:12 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 11:12:52 -0400

I still get mileage from my field jackets. I have my father's OD green, the two BDU pattern that were issued to me, and three more that were appropriated the old fashioned way, left in my room until you pcs'd.

Response by CPT Arch Nissel made Jun 9 at 2015 4:47 PM

CPT Arch Nissel — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 16:47:27 -0400

Extended Climate War fighter Clothing System GEN III. The Gortex outer shell with different layers under it have kept me functional then and now in different climates. We got both the desert and woodland camouflage with a light weight jacket that was reversible with both camos on it.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 9 at 2015 7:07 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 19:07:52 -0400

M1A1 Tank. It was my house, my weapon, my polished steal, and my war horse. It shot a 20 lbs. dart at 1 mile per second, the kinetic energy alone would go through T-72s and out. It was so violent that it over pressurized the enemy turret, created flying spalling which is fragment pieces of metal, and burned everything on the inside. But we had to love our war horses and they would protect us.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 11 at 2015 9:25 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 09:25:19 -0400

The gortex parka hands down is one of the most useful pieces of gear that has ever been issued.

Response by SPC Robert Shank made Jun 11 at 2015 6:59 PM

SPC Robert Shank — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 18:59:14 -0400

ECWCS Gortex

Response by Sgt Martin V. made Jun 11 at 2015 7:27 PM

Sgt Martin V. — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 19:27:10 -0400

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 11 at 2015 8:08 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 20:08:11 -0400

My AN/PRC-25 Radio, M16, and 45.

Response by MAJ Karen Shive made Jun 11 at 2015 8:17 PM

MAJ Karen Shive — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 20:17:03 -0400

I carry a p50 everywhere I go.

Response by Sgt Sherry Taylor-Bruce made Jun 11 at 2015 8:27 PM

Sgt Sherry Taylor-Bruce — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 20:27:25 -0400

I loved my Parka! When I wasn't working my now ex husband would wear it.

Response by MSgt E. W. Forbess made Jun 12 at 2015 1:04 AM

MSgt E. W. Forbess — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 01:04:08 -0400

Pretty handy for winter deployments in Germany...

Response by PO3 David Fries made Jun 12 at 2015 6:31 AM

PO3 David Fries — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 06:31:14 -0400

My bivvy bag. Dear lord that thing made my life so much simpler at Schofeild, Kahuku Mountains, PTA, CTA, and NTA!

Response by MCPO Brian Legg made Jun 12 at 2015 1:04 PM

MCPO Brian Legg — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 13:04:51 -0400

Flashlight - It gets reeeeeeeally dark on a ship when/if you loose all power.

Response by SGT Jason N. made Jan 27 at 2016 3:00 AM

SGT Jason N. — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 03:00:52 -0500

Woobie

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Feb 1 at 2016 7:58 PM

SGT Philip Roncari — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 19:58:15 -0500

I remember the poncho liner issued to us in 1966 RVN could this be the woobie all you young guys are talking about?