Question about how soldiers hydrate (US Army specific)

[RMP91]

I know the OP said specifically the Army, but I'm jumping in anyway for the Navy (it is the 7th of December).

I've been issued the Stealth (in black) and the Ambush (in desert). Also been issued a couple spare Omega 72 oz bladders that I put in a Blackhawk carrier on my flak.

For hydration, we teach our troops to "sip" water so they don't guzzle it and throw up. Also hydrate constantly, and keep your urine clear in the field.

Thank you for your service and for your post.

So it's only the small Camelbaks that are issued? Or are you allowed to bring whichever size you want as long as the color was appropriate for the uniform?

I forget which camo the Navy guys wear ATM, I only know of MARPAT and ACUs right now.

And if you may, could you elaborate as to what "sip" means? I know "sip" means to only drink for 1-2 seconds then stop. But right now, I tend to "guzzle" as in for 3-5 seconds at a time.

[Jason.lee740]

Thank you for your service and for your post.

So it's only the small Camelbaks that are issued? Or are you allowed to bring whichever size you want as long as the color was appropriate for the uniform?

I forget which camo the Navy guys wear ATM, I only know of MARPAT and ACUs right now.

And if you may, could you elaborate as to what "sip" means? I know "sip" means to only drink for 1-2 seconds then stop. But right now, I tend to "guzzle" as in for 3-5 seconds at a time.

As far as I know we are issued 100oz bladders and yeah whatever size you want.

Sip = small mouthful at a time.

It's not science, just don't chug it.

[roll2li]

Thank you for your service and for your post.

So it's only the small Camelbaks that are issued? Or are you allowed to bring whichever size you want as long as the color was appropriate for the uniform?

I forget which camo the Navy guys wear ATM, I only know of MARPAT and ACUs right now.

And if you may, could you elaborate as to what "sip" means? I know "sip" means to only drink for 1-2 seconds then stop. But right now, I tend to "guzzle" as in for 3-5 seconds at a time.

Camo Navy wears, complex question, but there's the old pattern BDUs in green and desert, the new blue cammies, MARPAT if you're assigned to the MEF, ACU and the new Multicam if you're assigned to the Army and the new Navy Desert and Woodland digital patterns (Type II and III). Troops are allowed to generally use whatever camelbaks as long as it's a military pattern, but ACU stuff is probably the least prevalent, MARPAT stuff the most.

Like Magpul's founders say, most troops buy/borrow/steal to get whatever advantage they can get and leaders don't really care in the end. For some training situations we'll dictate that you have to carry 1 gallon of water period, and it's up to you how you want to distribute it. We still issue canteens due to the CBRN threat as there is not an approved CBRN bladder (I only know of CBRN resistant ones and gas mask adapter tips). However, plenty of my troops are drinking from their camelbaks with the adapter tips during CS attacks since that canteen drains quick in MOPP 4.

One trick we used to do was to have two bladders in a carrier, one with water, and the other one cut with powdered Gatorade or the nasty "Tang" stuff, but you had to make sure to clean out the sports drink one every time.

Like Jason.lee740 said, sipping is just a small bit of water. I'd say if you have to take a breath after you take in the water you drank too much.

[RMP91]

Camo Navy wears, complex question, but there's the old pattern BDUs in green and desert, the new blue cammies, MARPAT if you're assigned to the MEF, ACU and the new Multicam if you're assigned to the Army and the new Navy Desert and Woodland digital patterns (Type II and III). Troops are allowed to generally use whatever camelbaks as long as it's a military pattern, but ACU stuff is probably the least prevalent, MARPAT stuff the most.

Like Magpul's founders say, most troops buy/borrow/steal to get whatever advantage they can get and leaders don't really care in the end. For some training situations we'll dictate that you have to carry 1 gallon of water period, and it's up to you how you want to distribute it. We still issue canteens due to the CBRN threat as there is not an approved CBRN bladder (I only know of CBRN resistant ones and gas mask adapter tips). However, plenty of my troops are drinking from their camelbaks with the adapter tips during CS attacks since that canteen drains quick in MOPP 4.

One trick we used to do was to have two bladders in a carrier, one with water, and the other one cut with powdered Gatorade or the nasty "Tang" stuff, but you had to make sure to clean out the sports drink one every time.

Like Jason.lee740 said, sipping is just a small bit of water. I'd say if you have to take a breath after you take in the water you drank too much.

Does it have to be a camo pattern? Or can it be something like Olive Drab or Coyote Brown?

And I'm sure Camelbak makes a CBRN resistant bladder (It's on their website somewhere).

[roll2li]

Does it have to be a camo pattern? Or can it be something like Olive Drab or Coyote Brown?

And I'm sure Camelbak makes a CBRN resistant bladder (It's on their website somewhere).

Coyotoe Brown and flat black are popular choices as well, I haven't seen too many OD Green ones issued.

Camelbak does make a CBRN resistant bladder, however, it is not certified by the DOD so it's not issued.

[RMP91]

Coyotoe Brown and flat black are popular choices as well, I haven't seen too many OD Green ones issued.

Camelbak does make a CBRN resistant bladder, however, it is not certified by the DOD so it's not issued.

So you guys have no means of hydrating under NBC conditions? That sucks...

[roll2li]

So you guys have no means of hydrating under NBC conditions? That sucks...

We can pretty much only use canteens without killing ourselves in theory, so it's debatable if we have means of hydrating in a CBRN environment. I've seen plenty of troops sipping from camelbaks with the adapters during training exercises. MOPP gear bags ship with one canteen in the kit since troops are rolling with camelbaks.

Without turning this into an CBRN tactics topic, I think all the services strategies (for reactive individual action under attack) center around getting clear of the slime and the downwind area as quickly as possible, finding a clean area, and then deconning to get out of the MOPP gear to continue the fight vice long term operations in a contaminated environment. So maybe the thought process is that the troop only needs enough water to get clear several miles before they can test the area and resupply, and since these strategies were developed when the military still believed in water discipline, hence the sole canteen.

[TMcGuff]

Throw a bottle of pedialight and water in your ruck and throw the camel pack away. Issued ones always break burst and leak. Also drinking water that is the same tempture out side (135) in Kuwait is no fun

[Mr.Caketown]

Ill share the TRADOC side of the coin.

Depending on which bases you go to you will usually get that cumbersome 2qt canteen purse , however at Ft Leonard Wood basic you are issued some half assed ACU camelback thats breaks quite often.

Ft.Sam Houston - being at 232 MD BN there is no preference as to what Camelbak you have. Half the people in my company never used camelbaks because when in ACUs we had to wear our FLCs and IBA which had to have 2 canteens on it . Others went with that $60 ACU Camelbak from the PX/Shoppettes .

[Davidncf]

I am with 1 CAARNGInfantry unit (Light Infantry) and we are issued one 1 quart canteen and 1 cameback type driking system. The Issued one has problems with the bladder, so I bought one that isa actual camelback ACU camo. As for the canteen, all soldiers in my unit are required to have one 1 qt canteen on them. I carry 2 1 qt canteens and a 2 qt canteen on my ruck (pouch is ACU camo).

[CavTrooper]

Water is a crutch.

[Wickedflava]

CBL ==> Cold Bud Light...

seriously the best hydration systems are the ones that have a large opening for water. that way u can fill it up with ice cubes