F M 2 1 1 5

DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION: Approved lor public releaoe; distribution is unlimited.

*FM 21-15
F IELD MANUAL
NO21-15
HEADQUARTERS
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
Washington, DC, 22 February 1985
CAREANDUSE
OF INDIVIDUAL CLOTHINGAND EQUIPM ENT
Table of Contents
Page
PREFACE H i
Chapter 1 GENERAL CARE AND MAINTENANCE
Clothing.
Boots, Shoes, and Insoles. . .... , . , , . . . .. 1-5
Canvas and WebEquipment. . . .. 1-6
Netting , _. _ 1-6
... 1-7
.1-7
. _ 1-1
Fasteners
Coated Items.
Chapter 2 PROTECTIVE CLOTH ING AND EQUIPMENT
Reasons for Wearing Protective Clothing...... . .. 2-1
Cold Weather Clothing..... . 2-1
.. 2-3 Temperate Uniform
Desert Ensemble ...
Wet Weather Ensemble.
. 2-4
. 2-4
Chemical Protective Ensemble ~: 2-4
Protective Masks. . 2-6
Armor Vest . . . . .. . . . . . 2-8
Helmet, Ground Troop's, Steel, Type 1 2-10
Helmet, Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops 2-13
Thi s manual supersedesFM 21-15, 15 February 1977.
F M 2 1 -1 5
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
BIVOUAC EQUIPMENT
Poncho
Poncho Liner. . . . . . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . . . . . 3-3
Shelter Half. .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. 3-4
Intermediate ColdWeather Sleeping Bag ... 3-7
Extreme ColdWeather Sleeping Bag..... . .. 3-9
Insulated Pneumatic Mattress 3-9
FoamSleeping Mat... 3-10
Sleeping Hood. . 3-10
Blanket. .. . .. 3-11
LOAD-CARRYING EQUIPMENT
Fighting and Existence Load Concept.
Fighting Load.
Procedures for Assembling Fighting Load
Components
Existence Load.
Procedures for Assembling Existence Load
Components .
Combat Field Pack Closures .
. .. 4-1
... 4-1
4-8
.. 4-14
4-15 Quick-Release Device. . .
Universal Load-Carrying Sling
Packboard .
.... 4-15
.. 4-17
Grenade-Carrier Vest 4-22
Bags _. 4-22
MISCELLANEOUS CLOTH ING AND EQUIPMENT
Mosquito Hat and Net .
Knitted Wool Scarf.
Identification Tags and Necklace.
First AidPacket.
5-1
5-1
5-2
... 5-2
...5-2
.. 5-2
5-2
5-3
5-4
5-5
5-5
5-5
5-6
Compass.
Waterproof Matchbox
Intrenching Tool .
Canvas Cot and Insect Bar Frame.
Insect Bar.
Multipurpose Net.
One-Quart Canteen and Cup..
Two-Quart Canteen and Cover.
Mess Gear
GLOSSARY
RELATED REFERENCES
ii
Glossary-1
References-1
Page
3-1
4-3
4-7
Preface
PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This manual is a guide for all Army personnel who use, care for, or
maintain clothing and equipment issued or sold for personal use. It includes
general instructions for cleaning, pressing, repairing, and storing items of
the uniform. Uses of bivouac equipment, such as the shelter half, sleeping
bag, and poncho, are discussed. Methods of assembling, racking, and using
load-carrying equipment are also discussed. The use and care of various
items of field equipment issued for special purposes or missions are also
covered in this manual. General information, with references for specific
information, is included on clothing for use in arctic, tropical, and other
special environments.
USER INFORMATION
The informatiori.procedures, and equipment described in this manual are
current at the time of preparation. Changes in equipment will require
changes or revisions of the material presented. Field experience may also
suggest changes. The proponent of this publication is the US Army
Quartermaster School. You are encouraged to submit recommended
changes and comments to improve this manual. Make sure you key your
comments to the exact page, paragraph, and line of the text in which the
change is recommended. Provide reasons for each comment to ensure
understanding and complete evaluation. Write your comments on a DA
Form 2028(Recommended Changes to Publications and Blank Forms) or in
a letter, and send them to-
Commandant
US Army Quartermaster School
ATTN: ATSM-DTL
Fort Lee, VA 23801-5036
F M 2 1 -1 5
iii
CHAPTER 1
General Care
and M aintenance
CLOTH ING
Youareresponsible for keeping your cloth-
ingand equipment ingood, useful condition.
Your uniform will not lookits best and your
equipment will not workproperly unless they
areclean, ingoodrepair, andstored properly.
Proper care of your uniform while youare -
wearing it is important. For example, carry
only articles of a suitable size, shape, and
weight in your pockets. Ifyou carry
something too large or too heavy, you will
destroy the tailored shape of your clothing.
Cleaning, pressing, repairing, and storing
properly aremost important for keeping your
uniform serviceable 'and looking its best for
aslongaspossible. Youshould followclosely
the cleaning and care instructions that are
attached to most clothing.
Cleaning. Clean clothing regularly whenit
is in use. Dirty clothing wears out quickly
because dirt cuts textile fibers and retains
moisture fromrain, snow, and perspiration.
Cotton clothing. Wash cotton clothing,
FM 21-15
such as shirts, trousers, and socks, with soap
or detergent and hot water, and rinse well.
Air- or machine-dry theclothing.
Wool clothing. Wash wool clothing, such
as socks and glove inserts, in mild soap or
detergent and lukewarm or cool water.
Stretch the items into shape while they are
air-dried. Donot usehot or boiling water.
Tailored wool clothing. Wool jackets and
trousers and other tailored items must be
dry-cleaned. Donot wash tailored wool cloth-
ing as it will cause the clothing to lose its
shape.
Coated fabric items. Special care isneces-
sary foritems whichhaveacoating toprotect
against chemicals, radiation, moisture, and
other elements. Hand-wash the coated item,
such as aponcho, in warm water and mild
soap or detergent using asoft"bristle brush.
Then rinse it thoroughly, and hang it until
completely dry. Do not machine-wash,
machine-dry, dry-clean, hot-press, orhot-iron
'-1
FM 21-15
coated fabric items. Donot usecleaning fluid
or bleach oncoated items.
Synthetic fabrics. Items madeof synthetic
fabrics should bewashed inlukewarm water
with mild soap or detergent: Donot usehot
water or harsh soaps onsynthetic fabrics.
Waterrepellent garments. Wash
water-repellent outer garments, such as
raincoats, by hand or machine. Do not use
starch. Rinsethemthoroughly. Restorewater
repellency by treating items with the stan- -~
dard water-repellent compound. C ~
Removing Stains, Removestains orsoil as
soon as possible.r'I'he longer the stains
remain; theharder they aretoremove. WhenC ~~
removing stains, start at the center of the
stain, and work toward the.edges. Table 1-1
provides procedures for removing several
kinds of stains fromclothing.
Pressing. Press clothing after it has been
cleaned and all stains have been removed.
DONOT PRESS DIRTY CLOTHING. When
you press clothing, make sure the tempera-
ture setting is adjusted for the type of
clothing being pressed.
Cotton clothing. Dampen the surface of ~
the clothing and apply the iron directly toit.
Wool clothing. Use adamp cloth between
theiron and the clothing.
Synthetic clothing. Iron clothing with the
temperature setting adjusted to the low
position onthe synthetic scale.
Repairing. Repair rips, tears, and frayed
edges as soon as possible before they get
worse. Replacebuttons as soon aspossible to
avoid losing themand soyour clothes will fit
properly.
Repairing rips, tears, and frayed
edges. When you repair a ripped seam.
(figure1-1);ctumthegarment inside out. Then
place.the twoedges together and sew. When
yourepair atear (figure1-2),tumthegarment
1-2
Table 1-1. Procedures for stain removal.
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FM 21-15
\
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REINF ORCED PLAIN SEAM (SEWED
WITH GARM ENT INSIDE OUT)
W
\ \
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Figure 11. Repairing a rip.
Figure 1-2. Repairing a tear.
1-4
inside out, place the twoedges together, and
sew. When you repair a frayed edge
(figure 1-3),turn theedgeunder and sew.
Replacing buttons. Before replacing a
button, selectthread that closelymatches the
color of the material. Ifthis is not possible,
use the thread you have. Figure 14shows
howtoreplace abutton.
Storing. Beforestoring clothing, makesure
it is clean and dry. Brush thoroughly, and
sun and air-dry all wool and cotton clothing
beforestoring it. This way it will not mildew
in humid weather. Use naphthalene or
mothballs toprotect wool clothing instorage.
The clothing and naphthalene or mothballs
must bein aclosed container tobeeffective.
Beforefoldingcoatedclothing, makesureitis
cool anddry. Ifpossible, foldtheclothing soa
coated sideisagainst an uncoated side. This
will help avoid sticking. Also, make sure it
does not comein contact with sharp objects
Figure 1-3. Repairing a frayed edge.
Insert the needle through the cloth from the inside. M ake ~>~~/
two or three stitches through the cloth to anchor the end
of the thread.
, '~
Figure 1-4. Replacing a button.
Thread a needle, and tie the two ends of thread together.
F rom the outside of the cloth, put the needle through one
of the holes in the button. let the button slide down the
thread into position.
To prevent strain on the cloth, hold the button slightly
away from the cloth. Stitch through the cloth and holes
on one side of the button. Then stitch through the holes
on the other side.
When you have made enough stitches to secure the
button, bring the needle and thread to the outside of the
cloth under the button. Wrap the thread five or six times
around the stitches. between the button and the cloth.
Stitch through the wrapped thread three or four times.
and push the needle through the cloth to the inside. lock
the stitches with a knot.
that may cause rips or tears. When possible,
dust coated clothing with talcum before
storing.
BOOTS, SHOES, AND INSOLES
Donot wear thesame pair of boots or shoes
every day. Givethe footwear achance toair
between wearings. Wear the ventilating
insoles so that air can circulate under your
feet.
FM21-15
Breaking In. There are three methods
which will help tobreak inyour boots. Each
of the processes will leave the boots soft,
pliable, and comfortable onthe foot. Choose
themethod which is easiest for youtodo.
Thefirst method istoimmerse thebootsin
warm water, preferably while you are
wearing them, for no more than 30
minutes. Whilethe boots are inthe water,
manipulate the leather often. Remember
when wetboots aredrying, thetoes should
'-5
FM21-15
bestuffed with paper. Allowthe boots to
dry with no added heat.
The second method is to apply alcohol to
the leather. Hand manipulate the leather
tosoften it. Stuff thetoewith paper, and let
theboot dry.
The third method is to rub the boot with
saddle soap. Apply it generously and
frequently. Followthe application with a
brisk brushing. Themoreoften thesoap is
used, the softer and more pliable the
leather becomes.
Cleaning and Drying. Scrape dirt or mud
fromboots orshoes with aflat stick, brush, or
dull instrument which will not cut leather or
rubber. Wash the boots or shoes with mild
soap and very little water. Remove all
soapsuds, and wipe the insides of the
footwear with acleancloth. Stuff paper inthe
toes of wet footwear tokeepthe leather from
shrinking. Dry theboots or shoes slowly ina
warm, dry place. DONOT DRY FOOTWEAR
BY EXPOSING ITTO HOT SUN, FIRE, OR
OTHER STRONG HEAT. This may damage
the rubber or leather. Rub saddle soap into
the boots or shoes beforethey arecompletely
dry to help soften the leather. Wash the
ventilating insoles with a warm solution of
mild soap or detergent, and let them air-dry.
DONOT BOIL THE INSOLES.
Polishing. Use only stains and polishes
that match thecolor of the boots or shoes.
Waxing. Apply silicone sealants, boot and
shoeoils, greases, and waxes ifnecessary. Be
sureleather iscompletely dry beforeapplying
these treatments.
Repairing. Thedirect moldedsoleisnonrepair-
able, except for theheel. Youshould have the
heels replaced after wear of seven sixteenths
of an inch or more.
1-6
CANVAS AND WEB EQUIPMENT
Aswith your clothing, youareresponsible
for keeping your canvas and webequipment
clean and ingoodrepair.
Cleaning. Dip canvas and webequipment
vigorously inapail ofwarmwater containing
soap or detergent. This makes it last longer
and stops it fromlosing color. Ifdirty spots
remain, scrub the spots with a white or
colorfast cloth, using warm, soapy water or
detergent solution. Do not use chlorine
bleach, yellowsoap, or cleaning fluids which
will discolor the equipment. Dry the equip-
ment inthe shade or indoors. Direct sunlight
causes it tolosecolor. Donot attempt todye
web equipment. Never machine-wash or
machine-dry canvas or webbing.
NOTE: Certain items, such as thecarrier for
the fieldprotective mask and thesmall arms
ammunition case, may be provided with
fiberboard or plastic stiffeners. If so, clean
these cases with adamp, soft brush and cool
water only.
Repairing. Repair small rips and tears in
canvas equipment as soon as youfind them.
Use the methods described earlier in this
chapter. Replacedamaged ormissing keepers
on the suspenders, small arms ammunition
cases, first aid dressing cases, intrenching
tool carrier, and canteen cover.
NETTING
Wash netting with a solution of warm
water and mild soap or detergent. Repair
small tears and holes by placing pieces of
adhesive tape or waterproof tape over both
sides of each hole while the netting is lying
flat. DONOT DRAWANDTIE THE EDGES
OF THE HOLE TOGETHER, EXCEPT IN
AN EMERGENCY_
FASTENERS
Besides buttons, the Army uses four other
main types of fasteners: snap fasteners, slide
fasteners (zippers), hook-and-pile fasteners,
and buckles. Ifyou use these fasteners
correctly, your uniforms and equipment will
fit properly and last longer.
Snap Fasteners. Becareful whenyouopen
snap fasteners. Place your thumb and
forefinger closeto the fastener, between the
two layers of cloth. Pry the two parts of the
fastener apart with your fingers. DO NOT
TUGAT THE CLOTH.
Slide Fasteners (Zippers)_ Always use
zippers carefully. When azipper gets stuck,
do not yank it or tug at it. Check to see if
fabric iscaught inthetrack. Ifitis, unzipthe
zipper about an inch, smooth out the fabric,
and try again. Whenthezipper works stiffly,
rub a thin coating of wax or lead-pencil
graphite on each side of the track. After
applying thewaxorgraphite, workthezipper
back and forth a few times. The wax or
graphite will lubricate thezipper and allowit
to open and close more easily. Close the
zipper beforewashing thegarment.
Hook-and-Pile Fa et en er e. These
fasteners are used on equipment and
clothing. Each is made upof twosections of
tape. Onesectioncontains many small nylon
hooks; theother section is awoven pilewith
FM21-15
many small nylon loops. When the two
sections arepressedtogether, thehookscatch
the loops on the pile, resulting in a tight
closure. Open the fastener by firmly pulling
onetape section fromthe other.
Buckles. Buckles are used to connect the
ends of belts and adjustment straps. The
Army uses three main types of buckles: aD-
ringwithatongue, aslidebuckle, andahook-
typefastener. Tomaintain these buckles-
Makesurebuckles arenot bent. Ifthey are,
gently try tostraighten them.
Watch for rough spots on your buckles.
They can snag and tear your clothing.
COATED ITEMS
DONOT MACHINE-WASH, MACHINE-
DRY, DRY-CLEAN, HOT-PRESS, ORHOT-
IRON COATED ITEMS. Wipedirty coated
items withaclean cloth. Washthembyhand
using a soft brush, warm water, and mild
soaporsynthetic detergent. After rinsing the
items, air-dry them. DONOT USE DIRECT
HEAT TODRY COATED MATERIALS AS
ITWILLCAUSE THEMTO DRYOUT AND
CRACK. Makesure that such things as oil,
grease, acid, or insect repellent are washed
off as soonas possible.
1-7
CHAPTER 2
Protective Clothing
and Equipment
REASONS FOR WEARING
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
You wear protective clothing to cover and
protect your body. The mostimportantreason
you wear clothing is to keep your body
comfortable sothat itcan function normally.
Inhot weather, the best way tokeepcool is to
put on lightweight, light-colored, and loose-
fitting clothing. This clothing will help keep
the heat and sunlight away fromyour body.
Incooler climates, thebest way tostay warm
istodress inlayers. If youget toowarm, you
can take off a layer of clothing, or you can
ventilate the clothing by adjusting openings
inthe garments. The protective clothing and
body armor furnished to you, when required
in your duty assignment, will help protect
you against both natural and man-made
hazards. You will have the best clothing
which can be produced to maintain your
personal safety, efficiency, and health.
FM 21-15
COLD WEATHER CLOTHING
Cold weather clothing is designed with
removable insulation, several layers of mate-
rial, and devices for ventilation. Insulation
slows the flow of heat from the body to the
outside. Layered material traps warm air
between layers of clothing. And, ventilation
allows the outside air to cool the overheated
areas through openings in the clothes, such
as cuffs, flies, and front closures.
Cold-Wet Ensemble. Cold-wet conditions
occur when temperatures are near freezing
and when change. inday and night tempera-
tures cause alternate freezing and thawing.
The freezing and thawing are often accompa-
nied by rain and wet snow, causing the
ground to become muddy and slushy. The
cold-wet ensemble (figure 2-1) protects you
against the hazards of a cold-wet environ-
ment. The main components ofthis ensemble
2-1
FM 21-15
Figure 2-1_ Cold-wet ensemble.
are full-length underwear, wool socks, wool
shirt and trousers, wind-resistant coat and
trousers, coat liner, insulated cap, mittens,
and black rubber insulated boots. Itisimpor-
tant that this clothing be ventilated when
necessary to keepthebody fromperspiring. If
the clothing becomes wet, it will not protect
the body as well. To care for each item, read
the label on the itemto find out what kind of
material itis. Then, refer tochapter 1for care
of this material.
Cold-Dry Ensemble. Cold-dry conditions
occur when average temperatures are lower
than 14F. The ground isusually frozen, and
snowisoften inthe formof dry, finecrystals.
The cold-dry ensemble (figure 2-2) protects
you against the lower temperatures, high
winds, and snow of acold-dry environment.
Inaddition tothecomponents of thecold-wet
ensemble (with the exception of the wool
trousers), the components of this ensemble
are trouser liners, parka and parka liner,
2-2
Figure 2-2. Cold-dry ensemble.
winter hood, and white rubber insulated
boots. Tocare for each item, read the label on
theitemtofind out what kind ofmaterial it is.
Then, refer to chapter 1 for care of this
material.
Cold Weather Boots. There are two basic
types of boots for use in cold weather. The
black rubber insulated boots (figure 2-3) are
part of the cold-wet ensemble. The white
rubber insulated boots (figure 2-4)are part of
the cold-dry ensemble. The white boots have
additional insulation toprovidegreater protec-
tion. Although insulation provides protec-
tion, feet will get very cold if allowed to rest
for long periods of time,
Cleaning, The boots may be cleaned by
washing the outside with mild soap and
rinsing with water. DO NOT APPLY OIL-
BASED PAINT OR SOLVENT-BASED
POLISH TO ANY PART OF THE BOOT_
PAINT OR POLISH WILL CAUSE THE
RUBBER TO DETERIORATE.
Figure 23. Black rubber insulated boot.
Repairing. Punctures, tears, cuts, or holes
must berepaired promptly (within 1hour, if
possi ble) inorder toprevent severe damage to
the insulation. To make an emergency repair
of black or white boots, usethe maintenance
kit, gray, rubber patch (NSN 846500753-
6335), and proceed as follows:
Clean the area to bepatched.
Buff the area thoroughly with
abrasive.
Tear off the end of the tube of
cement, and apply acoat of cement
to thearea tobepatched. Allow the
cement todry 3to5 minutes.
Twist and tear off thebacking from
the patch (do not touch the fresh
surface).
Press the patch firmly in place.
If a repair kit is not available, make a
temporary repair by patching thehole with a
cold tire patch or with tape, such as rubber
FM 21-15
Figure 24. White rubber insulated boot.
tape, friction tape, or scotch tape. Even
chewing gum may serve as a temporary
patch. The important thing istoseal thehole
as quickly as possible so that the insulation
will not get wet.
TEMPERATE UNIFORM
The temperate uniform (figure 25) is
designed for usein combat, field, and garri-
sonenvironments where theaverage tempera-
ture does not fall below 40F. This uniform
consists of coat, trousers, fieldcap, and boots.
The bush-type coat has breast and lower
pockets. The trousers have four standard-
type pockets and acargo pocket on each leg.
The uniform is loose-fitting, allowing body
ventilation. Reinforcement patches areat the
elbows, knees, and seat. The fabric is afour-
color, disruptive camouflage pattern known
as the "woodland" pattern. To care for each
item, read the label on the item to find out
2-3
FM 21-15
Figure 2-5. Temperate uniform.
Figure 26. Day desert uniform.
24
what kind of material it is. Then, refer to
chapter 1for care of this material.
DESERT ENSEMBLE
The desert ensemble is actually two uni-
forms. The day uniform (figure 2-6) is of the
same design as the temperate uniform with
two exceptions. The coat has an internal
back yoke, and the hat is similar to the
standard jungle hat. The fabric isasix-color,
desert camouflage pattern. A hooded parka
with liner and trousers make up the night
desert uniform (figure 2-7). Itis worn over the
day uniform. The color is a light green with
dark green grid print. Tocare for each item in
this ensemble, read the label on the item to
find out what kind of material it is. Then,
refer to chapter 1for care of this material.
WET WEATHER ENSEMBLE
The wet weather ensemble (figure 2-8)
consists of coated nylon parka and trousers.
Use this clothing instead of the poncho when
you need more freedom of movement in rain
or wet snow. Itis sized to fit over cold- wet
clothing. Use one size smaller if it isnot to be
used over cold-wet clothing. Avoid moisture
buildup inthe clothing you wear underneath
the rain suit by wearing fewer underclothes
or by ventilating body heat to the outside. To
care for the wet weather ensem ble, refer tothe
coated items paragraph in chapter 1.
CHEMICAL PROTECTIVE ENSEMBLE
The chemical protective ensemble
(figure 29) consists of atwo-piece, two-layer
overgarment (coat and trousers), helmet
cover, glove set, footwear covers, and protec-
tive mask. Itprotects the wearer against
chemical agent vapors, aerosols, and droplets
of liquids; biological agents; toxins; and
radioactive alpha and beta particles.
Figure 27. Night. desert uniform.
Overgarment. The overgarment is pack.
aged in a sealed vapor- barrier bag that
protects it from rain, moisture, and sunlight.
Instructions on use of the overgarment are
printed on the label. The overgarment should
not beremoved from the bag until it is to be
used. The coat and trousers are made of a
two-layer materiaL The outer layer is nylon-
cotton, and the inner layer is charcoal-
impregnated polyurethane foam. The overgar-
ment is designed to beworn over the uniform.
However, in high temperatures or when
soldiers are engaged in heavy work, itmay be
worn directly over the underwear. The overgar-
ment cannot bedecontaminated or reirnpreg-
nated. It is to bediscarded when it becomes
contaminated or unserviceable.
Helmet Cover. This cover is intended to
provide the personnel armor system ground
troop (PASGT) helmet with protection from
chemical and biological contamination. It is
made of one piece of olive-green, butyl-coated
FM2115
Figure 2-8. Wet weather ensemble.
Figure 29. Chemical protectiue ensemble with
M17 Al mask and and hood.
25

FM 21-15
nylon cloth. Itis gathered at the opening by
an elastic band sewn in the hem.
Glove Set. Thegloves protect against liquid
chemical agents and vapor hazards. They
alsokeepdisease-carrying insects andradioac-
tive dust away from the skin. Each glove
consists of an outer glove for protection and
an inner glove for absorption ofperspiration.
The outer glove is made of an impermeable
black butyl-rubber, The inner liner glove is
made of white, thin cotton and can beworn
oneither hand. Iftheouter gloveispunctured
or torn, it must bereplaced.
Footwear Covers. Thefootwear covers are
worn over standard combat boots. They
protect the feet from contamination by all
knownchemical agents, vectors, and radiologi-
cal dust particles. Theoverboots areimperme-
able and have unsupported butyl-rubber
soles and butyl-sheet rubber uppers. When
the cold-weather insulated boots are worn,
the overboots are not necessary. The insu-
lated boots provide adequate protection ina
chemical environment.
PROTECTIVE MASKS
Protective masks are available in two
categories-the field protective mask issued
toevery soldier, and tank and aircraft protec-
tive masks provided to crews of armored
vehicles and aircraft. These masks protect
the face, eyes, and respiratory tract against
field concentrations of chemical and bio-
logical agents intheformof gases or aerosols.
They protect the face and eyes against
contamination from splashes and liquid
droplets of the agents.
MI7 AI/ M17 A2 Field Chemical! Biologi-
cal Mask. TheM17series mask (figure 2-10)
isthe standard fieldmask. ltdoes not protect
against ammonia vapors or carbon monox-
ide, and it must not be used for fire fighting.
Fi Iterelements, inthecheeks of thefacepiece,
filter contaminated air toremove the agents.
The mask does not provide breathable air
(oxygen); so when the air has a lowoxygen
content, as in tunnels or caves or when there
isahigh level of burning smoke mixtures, the
mask will not provide protection. Accessories
for the field mask are the ABC-M6A2 field
FILTER ELEMENTS
Figure 2-10. MI7-series mask.
2-6
protective mask hood, M4winterization kit,
and optical inserts for those who need them.
M25/ M25Al Tank Chemical/Biological
~fask. The M25/M25Al masks (figure 2-11)
are specially designed for crews of armored
vehicles. Like the M17 series masks, these
masks protect against all known chemical
and biological agents in vapor or aerosol
form. The only difference between the two
masks is that the M25Al has a higher
forehead tab. When used in a tank or other
armored vehicle, the mask is connected to a
filter unit which forces temperature'
conditioned air to the facepiece. This in-
creases protection and reduces stress when
worn in hot weather. When the mask isworn
outside the tank, the wearer inhales air
through the MlOAl cannister. A microphone
assembly in the mask allows the wearer to
communicate through the vehicle communi-
cations system. Accessories incl udetheABC-
M5 mask hood, M3 winterization kit, anti-
fogging kit, and optical inserts. The mask
FM 21-15
and accessories are stored in the M13Al
carrier.
ABC-M24Aircraft Chemical/Biological
Mask. This mask (figure2-11) protects person-
nel while inaircraft or onthe ground against
all known chemical and biological aerosols
and vapors. It can beattached tothe aircraft
oxygen supply system by using an MB
adapter kit. The facepiece is not forceventi-
lated as itisfor thetank mask. A microphone
assembly is in the nosecup. Accessories for
this mask include an antifogging kit, M2
antiglare eyelens outsert. M3 winterization
kit, M7 hood, and optical inserts when
needed.
Care. When not in use, all masks should be
kept clean and dry and stored in their
carriers. To clean any type of mask, use a
clean cloth that has been dipped in warm,
soapy water and wrung almost dry. To rinse
the mask, wipe it with a clean, damp cloth.
Dry the mask with alint-free cloth. and then
air-dry it. Detailed information on the care
and use of the field protective mask is in
FACE8LANK- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~~- -
LENS- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~~
.......,~::-..;~_.u.
NOSECUP VALVE AND DI SK- - - - - __
Figure 2-11. ABC-M24 end M25Al mask.
2-7
FM 21-15
3424027910. Detailed information on
the care and use of the tank and aircraft
masks isin 3424028010.
Carrying Methods. There are two recom-
mended positions for carrying protective
masks with the load-carrying equipment
(figure212). Use the method which is best for
you under the conditions in which you are
operating or as prescribed in your unit
standing operating procedure.
ARMOR VEST
Approximately 75 percent of all combat
casualties are caused by fragments from
mines, mortar shells, grenades, and artillery
fire. The armor vest(figure 213) helps protect
you from these hazards by slowing down the
missile fragments. Multiple layers of mate-
rial in the vest form astrong, pliable barrier.
A fragment may penetrate the outer layer of
the vest, butit isslowed down and eventua.lly
stopped by the inner layers. THE VEST
DOES NOT PROTECT YOU AGAINST
SMALL ARMS FIRE.
Design. The armor vest covers your upper
body. The three-quarter collar protects the
neck and throat areas. The vest closes in
front with ahook-and-pile fastener strip. Self-
adjusting elastic webbing on the sides pro-
vides flexibility. Cloth stops on the inside
prevent the elastic webbing from stretching
too far. The outer and inner shells ofthe vest
are made of water-repellent ballistic nylon.
The outer shell is camouflage printed. The
filler is made of water-repellent Kevlar.
Fit. Tables 21and 22show the vest size you
should select based on your chest or bust
measurements. Check the fit while you are
bending, stooping, and kneeling. Ifyour vest
is too loose, try the next smaller size. If it is
too tight, try the next larger size. Maximum
protection is achieved only when you wear
the vest with the three-quarter collar up and
the front hook-and-pile fastener properly
closed. Do this by laying the right side over
the left so that the full length of the right
edge meets the flap seam inside the flap. Fold
the flap, making sure that the flap completely
covers the pile tape closure. Make sure that
SHOULDER CARRY METHOD
LEG CARRY METHOD
(1 )The should.r carry method i,done
a. foUow.:
Hook shoukler strap (A) to Cnng (8)
and adj ust
Hook waist strap (Clto round nng 10)
and adj ust
(2) The leg carry method i,don. II
tcuewe:
Put shoulder Strap IAl around waist
and hook 10 OrlOg (8) Adj ust
80ng waist strap Ie) from back and
around InSIde of leg
Pass waist strap Ie} through round
nng (01, back around InSide 0' leg.
and hook to O,.ng (8) AdjUSt.
Figure 212. Carrying the field protective mask.
28
Figure 213. Armor uest.
all snaps of the shoulder pads are securely
fastened.
Wear. Wear the armor vest for training or
combat missions. When you are not wearing
a garment over the vest, you may wear the
straps of load-bearing equipment under or
over the shou Ider pads. Wear the vest as
Table 21. Armor vest sizes-men.
I
IF YOUR CHEST
MEASURES- TRY SllE-
33 inches or leu XSMAU
between 33and 37Inches -"MAU
between 37 and 41 inc he. MEDIUM
bolWn41 and46 Inch LARGE
46 inch or more XLARGE
FM 2115
indicated with the following uniforms or
ensembles:
Utility (field) uniform and desert ensem
ble. Wear the vest over your coat and under
any additional layers of clothing.
Cold-uiet ensemble. Wear the vest over
your field shirt and under the field jacket
with liner.
Cold-dry ensemble. Wear the vest over the
field shirt and under the field jacket with
liner or the parka with liner.
inspection. Examine your vest often for
tears, cuts, snags, or other damage to the
outer cover and elastic webbing which could
make the vest unserviceable. If such damage
is evident, tum your vest in as soon as
possible. If the ballistic material becomes
creased and folded inside the outer cover, try
to smooth it out by hand. Try to remove
lumps or bunches by inserting your hands
through the armholes and shaking the ballis-
tic material back into position. If you cannot
smooth out the filler material, TURN IN
THE VEST.
Cleaning Methods. Keep your vest clean to
prolong its protective life. Brush off mud and
loose dirt. Wet the vest thoroughly, and apply
soap or detergent solution. Scrub the vest
vigorously; then rinse it thoroughly in warm
Table 22. Armor vest sizes-women.
IF YOUR BUST
MEASURES- TRY SllE-
33 inches or Ie.. X-SMAU
between 33 end 38 inches -SMAU
bOlWeen 38 and 42 Incho. MEDIUM
42 inch or more .LARGE
29
FM21-15
water to remove all suds. After rinsing, air-
dry the vest. KEEP THE VEST AWAY
FROM DIRECT HEAT AND OPEN
FLAME.
Storing Procedures, When storing the
vest-
Clean it thoroughly.
Close the hook-and-pile fastener.
Place it in a box, a carton, or an open bin
located inside abuilding or tent.
Cover it with aclothorplastic sheet tokeep
out dust, dirt, or moisture.
Donot foldit.
HELMET, GROUND TROOP'S, STEEL,
TYPEl
This helmet (figure 2-14)isoneof two used
by ground troops. Itis used with the chin
strap and helmet liner. Although it is a
sturdy item that can withstand rough treat-
ment, you should not useit as acooking pan;
heat softens the metal, weakens the helmet,
Figure 214. Helmet, ground troop's, steel,
type 1.
2-10
and reducestheprotective quali ties. Also, the
helmet should not beused as aseat, ashovel,
ora hammer.
Chin Strap. The chin strap (figure 2-15)
helps hold the helmet on your head during
combat-type activities. Center the chin strap
onyour chin, and adjust the tension until it is
comfortable.
Replacement. If your helmet has the ball-
and-hook chin strap, replace it with the
webbing cup. Todothis, remove theball-and-
hook chin strap by prying upthe metal tabs
with ascrewdriver or knife. CAUTION: To
avoid injury, point the screwdriver or
knife away from you. Attach the chin
strap with the webbing cup by snapping the
slanted hook portion of each buckle over one
of the O-rings attached to each side of the
helmet. Make sure the hook is slanting
downward toward thefront and theadjusting
tabs are to the outside. CAUTION: The
chin strap with the webbing cup is for
ground troops only. Itis not designed
for use by parachutists. Information for
parachutists is in TM 57-220, Technical
Training of Parachutists.
Figure 2-15. Chin strap.

Cleaning. Clean the chin strap with mild

soap and warm water, and air-dry it.
Helmet Liner. Wear the ground troop's
helmet liner (figure 216) with the ground
troop's helmet for comfort and added ballistic
protection. Youmay also wear it. without the
helmet, as ahead covering. The liner includes
a six-point suspension system made up of
cotton webbing with six slide fastener clips
attached. The headband is attached to the
suspension webbing. There are also three
small buckles attached to the neck band.
Clean the helmet liner with mild soap and
warm water. Rinse and dry it thoroughly.
Clean headbands, neckbands, and chin
straps by scrubbing them with a cloth and
soapy water. Rinse them thoroughly, and let
them air-dry.
Liner suspension system. The helmet liner
suspension system, sometimes called the
cradle (figure 2.17). is made up of three
adjustable web straps. Each strap has a
buckle for adjusting the liner to the proper
height on your head. The liner may beissued
with afixed or detachable suspension system.
The fixed system isattached with rivets. The
Figure 216. Helmet liner.
FM2115
detachable system uses studs attached tothe
liner and clip fasteners attached to a fixed
web strap to connect the suspension ~ystem
to the liner. Ifyour liner has the detachable
system, attach it as follows:
Place the suspension web straps in
the liner with the three web strap
buckles toward the rear of the liner.
Grasp a web strap and clip fas-
tener, and slide the fastener over
the stud. Pull downward until you
hear aclick.
Repeat the procedure forthe remain-
ing five clips.
Liner headband. The helmet liner
headband (figure 218) is a leather-lined web
strap. It has six metal clips and a buckle for
attaching and adjusting the headband to the
liner. To install the headband inthe Uner-
Open the six headband clips, and
adjust the headband toasize larger
than your head size.
Put the headband on your head,
making sure the leather portion is
REAR
Figure 217. Liner suspension system.
211
FM21-15
against your forehead, the buckle
is at the back, and the clips are
open and are facing upward.
Adjust the headband to asnug fit.
Then remove the headband, and
insert it into the liner so that the
clips are toward the crown of the
liner and the buckle is at the back.
Place the clips over the fixed web
strap of thehead suspension band, .
making sure the two front clips are
centered.
Close all clips.
Adjust the height of the liner by
lengthening or shortening the
three adjustable straps of the
cradle inside the liner. Adjust the
straps by using the three buckles
toward the rear of the liner.
Liner neckband. The helmet liner
neckband (figure 2-19) is aweb strap with a
long adjusting tape sewn to each end and a
BUCKLE METAL CLIP
Figure 2-18. Helmet liner headband.
2-12
short adjusting tape sewn to the middle. The
smooth surface of the neckband is opposite
that to which the tapes are sewn. To install
theneckband, refer to thefigure, and proceed
as follows:
Thread the two long tapes into the
small buckles at each side of the
liner, making sure the smooth
surface of the neckband faces the
front of the liner.
Thread the short tape into the rear
buckle.
Make certain all tapes are straight
and freeof kinks.
Put the liner on your head, and
adjust to fit by tightening the long
tapes uniformly so that the
neckband fits snugly and comfort-
ably against the back of your neck.
Camouflage Cover. The camouflage-
patterned cover (figure 2-20)isreversible and
has slits for inserting twigs or foliage for
SHORT AOJ USTING TAPE
Figure 219. Liner neckband.
additional camouflage. Attach the cover by
placing it over the helmet, tucking the cover
flaps inside the helmet and inserting the
helmet liner into the helmet.
HELMET, PERSONNEL ARMOR
SYSTEM FOR GROUND TROOPS
This helmet (figure 221), along with your
armor vest, makes up your body armor
system. Itwill help protect you against
fragments from exploding munitions. The
helmet is issued in extra small, small,
medium, and large sizes. It is made of ahigh
strength Kevlar laminate. The strength of
this material is close to that of steel. It
provides better ballistic protection than does
steel. The helmet has four single parts:
helmet shell, suspension band, headband,
and chin stap. The suspension band and chin
strap are already installed. All you need todo
is adjust and install the headband and fasten
the chin strap.
Figure 220. Camouflage couer on helmet.
FM21-15
Headband. The headband is a padded,
leather-lined web strap. Ithas six metal clips
used to attach the headband to the fixed web
strap in the helmet. There is also a rear
buckle to adjust it to your head size. Tofit the
headband-
Open all headband clips.
Make it larger than your size.
Put the headband on your head, making
sure that the leather is against your
forehead. The buckle should beat the back,
and the clips should be open and face
upward.
Adjust the headband until it fits snugly,
then take it off.
Insert the headband into the helmet so the
clips are toward the rim of the helmet.
Make sure the buckle is at the back.
Slip the clips over the fixed web strap, and
center the two front clips. Close all clips.
Figure 221. Helmet, personnel armor system
for ground troops.
213
FM21-15
Place the helmet on your head. Ifit sits
toohigh, adjust thedrawstring tab toward
the crown of the helmet. Ifit sits too low,
adjust the drawstring tab toward the rim
of the helmet.
Chin Strap. The chin strap consists of aweb
strap with an open chin cup, two adjusting
buckles and tabs, and one Lift-the-Dot snap
fastener and tab. After adjusting the helmet
214
on your head, fasten the snap of the chin
strap, making sure thesmall strap isin front
of the chin. Grasp the adjustment tabs on
each buckle and pull evenly until thechin cup
issnugand comfortable. REMEMBER: THIS
SNAP FASTENER CAN ONLY BE
OPENED BY PULUNG THE SNAP TAB
DIRECTLY DOWN.
FM 21-15
CHAPTER 3
Bivouac Equipment
PONCHO
Theponcho(figure3-1)ismadeof waterproof-
treated nyloncloth. Itisrectangular inshape
and has a hood and neck opening in the
center. Thereisadrawstring inthehoodand
oneat thewaist.
Care. To care for the poncho, follow the
instructions given in the coated items para-
graph inchapter l.
Use. The poncho may be used as a rain
garment, shelter, ground cloth, or sleeping
bag.
Rain garment. Wear theponcho as arain
capewithyour arms insideorwithyour arms
outsidefor freedomof movement (figure3-2).
Toput ontheponcho, slipit over your head
and closethesnap fasteners oneach side. If Figure 3-1. Poncho.
3-1
Figure 3-3. Poncho in miscellaneous shelter configurations.
FM 21-15
Figure 3-2. Poncho worn as rain garment.
3-2
you wear the poncho hood, adjust the
drawstring for proper fit. Wear the helmet
under thehood,
Shelter. Various types of shelters and
lean-tos canbemade byattaching ponchos to
trees, tree branches, bushes, sticks, or poles.
Always digaditch under the bottomedgeof
the shelter todrain off rainwater. Pitch the
poncho with the hood closed, and use as a
shelter for oneperson. Attach twoponchos to
each other tomake various types of shelters
(figure3-3).
Ground cloth. Youcanusetheponcho asa
ground cloth(figure3-4)forshelters, andasa
waterproof barrier between theground and a
sleeping bag.
Sleeping bag. Usetheponcho asasleeping
bag(figure3-5)whenthetemperature is50F
or above, Use it with a blanket or poncho
liner for extra warmth. Spread the poncho
flat on the ground, making sure the hood
openingistightly closed. Ifyouuseablanket,
placeitontopof theponcho, foldtheponcho
and blanket inhalf lengthwise, andclosethe
snap fasteners. Instructions for attaching
the poncho liner to the poncho are on
pages 3-4and 3-5. Ifyou use the poncho
without a blanket or liner, snap the sides
together and tuck thefootendunder tokeep
yourfeetfromsticking out. CAUTION: Do
not closethe snap fasteners when the
poncho is used as a sleeping bag in
combat areas. Itcannot be opened
quickly!
Folding and Packing Methods. When
possible, completelyair-drytheponchobefore
foldingit. If itisnecessary tofoldtheponcho
whileitiswet,unfold, air-dry, andrefolditas
soon as possible. The poncho can befolded
Figure 3-4. Poncho used as a ground cloth.
FM21-15
and carried with your load-carrying equip-
ment. Foldit inany manner, and carry it in
the duffel bag or the field pack if space
permits. Take care not to press it against
sharp or rough objects which may cause
damage. Foldtheponchoforcarry.ingonthe
individual equipment beltasshowninfigure
3-6. In somecommands youmay betoldto
roll uptheponchotoprepareit for carrying.
PONCHO LINER
Theponcho liner (figure3-7)is similar in
sizeand shape to the poncho. Itis madeof
polyester batting sandwiched between two
panels of camouflage-patterned, lightweight
nylonfabric. Ithas eight tietapes toattach it
totheponcho.
Care. Hand wash the liner with lukewarm
11('
Figure 3-5. Poncho used as a sleeping bag.
3-3
FM21-15
Bring both curved edges ofthe po-nchotoward the neck
opening until the center grommets of the curved sides
overlap.
Laythe poncho flat with the waist drawstring up. Pull the
hood through the neck opening andflatten it toward -
either curved side.
Fold the edge nearest to-you back over the overlap to ,8
ppint 1O'inches~from the cppcette side.
Fold the neerest edge over to align with the opposite
adg,B. Thefold should beabout 11 inches wide.. ~
Make oneadditional fold inthe samedirection.
FOldin halffrom rightto left.
Fold inhalf again fromright to left. This should result in8
foldabout 61/2 inches wide and 16inches long.
Now fold the poncho over the back ofthe individual
equipment belt. Tieit around the bottom with astring or
shoelace. or use arubber_b_snd to hold it inplace.
CAUTION: DO NOT USE PRESSURE SENSITIVE
PAPER OR ANY TYPE OF TAPE TO HOLD THE
PONCHO INA FOLDED OR ROLLED SHAPE.
THE WATERPROOF COATING CAN BE DAMAGED
WHEN THE TAPE IS REMOVED.
Figure 3-6. Folding poncho for wear on individual equipment belt.
water and amildsoapor detergent. DONOT
BOIL IT OR HAVE IT DRY-CLEANED.
Use. The poncho liner may be used as a
blanket or withtheponcho asasleeping bag
when the temperature is 50F or above.
Figure 3-8shows howto attach the liner to
theponcho.
Figure 3-7. Poncho liner.
3-4
SHELTER HALF
The shelter half (figure 3-9) is made of
water-repellent, mildew-resistant cotton and
rayon duck. Itisissued withfivetent pins, a
three-section. pole, and aguy line. Whentwo
shelter halves arejoined together, ashelter
for twopeopleis formed. It is ventilated by
FM21-15
Spread the poncho on the ground. making sure that the
hood opening is tight-Iy-closed and is on the underside.
Place the liner on the poncho. matching the tie tapes on
the liner with the gromme,ts on the poncho. Tie the liner to
the poncho.
Fold the poncho and the liner in half lengthwise. !lnci close
all snap fasteners along the side. CAUTION: DO NOT
CLOSE SNAP FASTENERS WHENTHE PONCHO IS
USEOAS A SLEEPINGBAG INCOMBAT AREAS.IT
CANNOt BEOPENEDQUICKLY.
r -
I
I
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L_
Tuck the foot end under to keep your feet covered.
,
,
I
,
L ~
Figure 3-8. Attaching poncho liner toponcho.
opening oneorbothends. Theshelter may be
usedby itself as aflyfor shade and shelter.
To care for the shelter half; follow the
instructions given in the canvas' and web
equipment paragraph of chapter 1.
Pitching the Tuio-Pereon. Tent. Two
people can pitch the two-person tent in 5
minutes. Figure 3-10shows howtodothis,
Striking. Open enough snap fasteners so
that the tent poles can fall to the ground.
Whenthetent poles aredownand thetent is
flat, removethepins. Unfasten all remaining
snap fasteners, disassemble the poles, and
untietheguylines fromtheloopsat eachend
of thetent. Figure 39. Shelter half.
3-5
FM21-15
1. SPREAD SHELTER HALVES ONGROUND.
SNAP THEM TOGETHER.
2. RAISE FRONT ENDOF TENT.
SPINDLE OF FRONT POLE
3. RAISE REAR OF TENT.
SPINDLE OF REAR POLE
THROUGH GROMMETS
5. DRIVE END PINS, ATTACH FOOT STOPS,
AND CLOSE END SNAPS.
6. INSTEAD OF CLOSING ENDS, THEY MAY
BE FOLDED BACK FOR VENTILATION.
Figure 310. Pitching the tuio-persoti tent.
3-6
r
Folding. To fold the shelter half, see
figure3-11.
Carrying. Carry the rolled shelter half
under theexpandable flap of the fieldpack,
attached to the bottomof the fieldpack, or
insidethefieldpack or duffel bag.
INTERMEDIATE COLD WEATHER
SLEEPING BAG
Thismummy-shaped bag(figure3-12)isfor
use in areas where the temperature ranges
FM21-15
from10to40F.ltis madeofwater-repellent
fabric, weighsabout 7112pounds; andcomes
inonesize.Theinner andouter channels are
filledwith twolayers of 6-ounce-per-square-
yard polyester batting. Thefull-length, free-
running zipper has webbing loops attached
to the slider for ease of operation. Snap
fasteners areprovidedincasethezipperfails.
Tapes at thefootofthe bagareusedtotiethe
bag whenit isrolled.
Care. Tocarefor thesleeping bag-
Keep it as dryas possible. Itis water
repellent, not waterproof.
Spread the shelter half out flat with the "tr.S." side up.
Place the tent pole sections. the pins. and the guy lines in
the center of the wide side of either triangle-shaped end.
Fold the trianqle-sheped-ends toward the center, with the
pointed ends overlapping.
Working at either unfolded side. fold lengthwise. bringing
the edge over one third of the width of the shelter half.
Fold the other unfolded side over the first fold.
Starting at the end where the tent pole sections were
placed. roll the shelter tightly and evenly until about
6 inches from the end.
Fold back all layers except the bottom one on the
opposite. end to form a pocket or envelope. Tuck the
rolled portion into the pocket.
Figure 3-11. Folding the shelter half.
3-7
FM21-15
Ifyou can, air it thoroughly each day.
Hang itupbythetwowebbing loopsonthe
inside of thefoot of the bag.
Fluff thebag beforeusing it.
Repair all holes and tears as soon as
possible, as shown inTM 10-8400-201-23.
Remove dirt and grease fromthe bag by
spot cleaning with adamp cloth.
Launder the sleeping bag according to
FM 10-280, Formula II, or FM 10-17,
FormulaG.
CAUTION: Because of possible health
and fire hazards, donot dry-clean the
sleeping bag. Donot smokeinthesleep-
ingbag.
. Use. When using the sleeping bag, breathe
through the face opening to prevent your
breath fromwetting the bag. Ifyour face is
cold, make the face opening smaller by
pulling the drawstrings. DONOT TIE THE
STRINGS. When you get up, open the bag
wide, andfluff outthemoist, warmair. Avoid
wearing damp clothing whileinthesleeping
bag. If you become too warm, ventilate the
sleeping bagbypartially opening thezipper.
Toprevent coldair fromentering thebottom
of the bag, place the insulated pneumatic
mattress, items of clothing, or treebranches
under the bag. Protect against ground mois-
turebyplacing theponcho under thesleeping
bag. Whenever possible and needed, wear
clean, dry winter underwear and socks while
you are in the"bag. For additional warmth,
wear thewool shirt and trousers. Toopenthe
bag, pull the webloopattached tothezipper
downtothefootendof thesleeping bag. FOR
EMERGENCY EXIT, GRASP EACH SIDE
OF THE OPENING ABOVE THE ZIPPER
AND SPREAD APART QUICKLY, FORC-
INGTHE ZIPPERDOWNWARD. FOREMER-
GENCY EXITS WHEN USING THE SNAP
FASTENERS, GRASP EACH SIDE OF
THE OPENING ABOVE THE SNAPS AND
SPREAD APART QUICKLY ALONG THE
FRONT OPENING .
Packing Procedures. Topack thesleeping
bag-
Closethezipper; fasten thetop, center, and
bottomsnaps.
Laythebagoutflat withthezipper sideup,
and foldlengthwise along thezipper.
Start at t-hehead end, and roll the bag
tightly andevenly tothefootendtietapes.
Figure 3-12. Intermediate cold weather sleeping bag.
3-8
Wrap the foot end tie, tapes around the
rolledbag, tighten thestraps, and,tiewith
abowknot.
When possible, carry, store, or transport
the sleeping bag inside the waterproof
clothing bag. '
EXTREME COLD WEATHER
SLEEPING BAG ,
Thissleepingbagisidentical totheinterme-
diate cold weather sleeping bag except it
weighs about 2 pounds more. Itcontains
downandpolyester batting forinsulation. It,
too, comes inonesize. Itisfor useinareas
wheretemperatures arebelow10F. Carefor
and usethis sleepingbaginthesamewayas
theintermediate coldsleeping bag, withone
difference-always use the insulated pneu-
matic mattress or foamsleeping mat under
this bag.
INSULATED PNEUMATIC
MATTRESS
The insulated pneumatic mattress
(figure3-13)is made of rubber-coated nylon
clothandisshapedtoconformtothesleeping
FM21-15
bag. Themattress weighsabout 3112pounds
and, has batting inside each channel for
insulation.
Care. Tocarefor themattress-
Air-dry awet mattress befo:eusing it. '
Check for small holes by, dipping the
inflated mattress inwater ,,';_dlookingfor
air bubbles.
Repair small holes and tears byusing the
cold-weather, insulated-boot/pneumatic
mattress main tenance kit., Refer to
TM10-8400-201-23forinstructions.
Use. Alwaysusethemattress (withtheinflat-
ingtubeup)under sleepingequipment toadd
warmth and' comfort and tokeepthe equip-
ment dry. Whenusing themattress=
Inflate it by blowing air into it. DONOT
USEAIRLINES OROTHERMECHANI-
CALMEANS TOINFLATE IT.
~Donot overinflate, asthis decreases sleep-
ing comfort. 'Test the mattress for proper
inflation by sitting on it. When you are
sitting on the mattress;' your buttocks
should barely touchtheground.
Do not bring, a mattress that has been
Figure 3-13. Insulated pneumatic mattress.
3-9
I.
FM 21-15
inflated outdoors into a heated shelter
without firstlettingouttheair. Thetempera-
ture changes will cause the inner air to
expand, and themattress will tear orburst.
Folding and Packing Procedure. Tofold
the mattress for packing-
Remove the stopper, fold the mattress
lengthwise, and roll the mattress toward
theopenvalve torelease all the air.
Replacethestopper.
Unroll themattress.
Foldthe mattress over twice, and place it
inthewaterproof clothing bag.
FOAM SLEEPING MAT
Thefoamsleeping mat (figure3-14)isused
inplaceof theinsulated pneumatic mattress.
Itis made of closed cell foam and weighs
about 1114pounds. Itwill not absorb water
and stays flexibletotemperatures of-100"F.
Care. Cleanthemat bybrushing with asoft
brush or sponging with soap and water.
Rolling Method. Lay the mat out with the
tietapes ontheunderside of theendfarthest
fromyou. Roll themat as tightly aspossible,
wrap the tie tapes around the mat, and tie
with abowknot.
Carrying Methods. Therolled mat should
be placed directly on top (figure 3-15) or
directly beneath (figure-3-16)the three large
cargo pockets onthefieldpack. Placetheflap
tiedown straps over the mat, and pull them
tight toholdthemat inposition. Ifthemat is
ontopofthepockets, thepouchflapshould be
over therolledmat as far as possible.
SLEEPING HOOD
The sleeping hood (figure 3-17) has chin
flaps with ahook-and-pile fastener. Wear it
whenyouareinthesleeping bag. Its purpose
istoprotect thehead area of thesleeping bag
Figure 3-14. Foam sleeping mat.
310
Figure 315. Rolled sleeping mat on top of
field pack.
fromperspiration, dirt, and head or hair oils.
Wash the hoodby first closing the fastener
and then hand squeezing it in lukewarm
water and mild detergent. Rinse it in
lukewarm water and squeezeout the excess
water. DONOT WRINGIT. AIRDRY IT.
BLANKET
Fold the blanket sothat it can becarried
inside the field pack under the expandable
flap or outside, attached tothebottomof the
packwiththetwoadjustable securing straps.
Youmay also fold it and carry it in your
duffel bag. Washtheblanket frequently with
lukewarm water and mild soap. DO NOT
USE HOT OR BOILING WATER. Stretch
theblanket backintoshapewhileitisdrying.
Theblanket canbeusedwiththeponcho asa
sleeping baginmild climates.
FM21-15
Figure 316. Rolled sleeping mat beneath
field pack.
Figure 317. Sleeping hood.
3-11
FM 21-15
CHAPTER 4


FIGHlrING AND EXI STE NCE LOAD
CONCEPT
The main purpose of th e fig hti ng a nd
exis tence load concept is to lighten your loa d.
You should onl y ca rry th e ite ms necessary for
your mis sion. The load you car ry shou ld not
inc lude any item that can be ca r ried a not her
way. Becau se th e ty pe of mission, terrain ,
a nd environment will affect your clothi ng
a nd equi pment requir ements , your un it com
mander may decide what ite ms will be in
your fight ing or exis tence load .
FIGlHITING LOAD
f:
The ty pical fighting load (fig ure 4-1) is
made up of essen tial items of in dividual
clot hing , equipment, weapons , and a rnmu
nit ion th at are carried by you to complete the
immedia te missi on of your unit.
. -,

- - - - ,
I
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Figure 4-1. A typical figh ting load.
4'
p
FM 21-15
Figure 4-2. Individual equipment belt.
Figure 4-3. Individual equipment
belt suspenders.
Figure 4-4. Small-arms ammunition case.
4-2
Individual Equipment Belt. Carry the
ammunition cases, intrenching tool carrier,
and the canteen cover on the individual
equipment belt (figure 4-2). The belt comes in
two sizes-medium for persons whose bare
waist measures 30 inches or less; large for
persons whose bare waist measures more
than 30 inches.
Individual Equipment Belt Suspenders.
The suspenders (figure 4-3) support the indi
vidual equipment belt when the appropriate
components are attached to the belt. Web
band metal loops are provided on each
suspender strap for attachment of small
items such as the first aid/compass case or a
flashlight.
Small-ArmsAmmunitionCase. Thesmall
arms ammunition case (figure 4-4) holds
three 3D-round magazines (M16 rifle). The
case has fragmentation grenade pockets on
each side and a plastic fastener that can be
opened and closed with one hand.
Intrenching Tool Carrier. This carrier
(figure 4-5) holds the lightweight, collapsible
intrenching tool.
Canteen Cover. The canteen cover
(figure 4-6) holds the plastic canteen and
metal cup. The cover has a small pocket
attached for water purification tablets.
FirstAidDressing/Compass Case. This
Figure 4-5. Intrenching tool carrier.
FM 21-15
case (f igure 47) holds either a first aid
dressing or an unmounted magnetic
compass.
PROCEDURES FOR ASSEMBLING
:""7 FIGHTING LOAD COMPONENTS
The procedure for assembling the fighting
lo ad com ponen ts of the all -purpos e
lightweight individual carrying equ ipment
(ALICE) follows . (A different procedure must
be followed by parachutists when preparing
for a jump. This procedure is described in
TM 57-220.)
Pitting and Adjusting the Belt. Tr yon
the individual equipment belt . and determine
the length needed for a snug- but not tight
fit. Th en if you need to adjust the belt
Slide the two metal keepers away from the
belt a nd the adjusting clamp. Unlock the
adjusting clamp by sprea ding ap a rt the
looped webbing (figure 4-8).
Slide the adjusting clamp toward the belt
buckle to loosen the belt and away from the
buckle to tighten it . Squeeze th e adj usting
chi mp to lock th e belt in place; then slide
th e metal keepers so that one is next to the
adjusting clamp and t he other is next to
the belt buckl e. Each adjusting clamp
should be a bout the same distance from
the belt buckl e (figu re 4-9).
Figure 4-7. First aid dressing/compass case.
Figure 4-8. Adjusting indiinauat equipment
belt .
:[J
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Figure 4-6. Canteen cover. Figure 4-9. Loosening and tightening
individual equipment belt .
4-3
4-4
FM21-15
Figure 4-10. Ammunition ca ses on individual
equipment belt.
Figure 4-11. Slide keepers on ammunition cases.
Figure 4-12. Locking the slide keeper.
Attaching the Ammunition Cases to the
Individual Equipment Belt. Attach one
ammunit ion case to the left side of the belt
next to the belt buckle and the other ammuni
tion case to the right side of the belt next to
th e buckle (figure 4-10). To do this
Pull each slide keeper (fi gure 4-11)attached
to the case to an open position. and slide it
over one thickness of the webbing. Make
s ure the slide keepers are vertical and the
bottom holes are out beyond the webbing.
Push each slide keeper down arid into the
holes to lock it (figure 4-12).
When attaching 20-round ammunition cases,
attach the front suspender snap hooks to the
top eyelet nearest the buckle on each end of
the belt. Fasten the snap hooks on the end of
each ammunition case supporting strap to
the metal loop on the front of each shoulder
strap (figure 4-13).
A ttaching the Suspenders to the Individ
ual Equipment Belt and Ammunition
Cases. To attach the suspenders to the belt
and ammunition cases
Open all suspender snap hooks by pushing
the hooks up and out of the retainers
(figure 4-14).
Figure 4-13. Twentyround ammunition cases
on individual equipment belt.
I.i
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FM 21-15
ilir
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. Attach the back suspender snap hooks
into the eyelet at each side of the two center
top eyelets at t he back of the equipment
belt , Close t he snap hooks .., .:. . .
snap hooks to
the eyelets on the back ofthe ammunitionv
cases . Close the snap hooks (figure 4-15).
When theammunirioncases are not used,
".attach thefrontsuspender sna p hooks to .
, t he top eyelet on the si de of each belt
buckle, and close' the sna p hooks. ' .
Attaching Tool Car
rier. Using the twoslide keepers on th eback
ofthe carrie r.nttach the carrie r to tile belt on '
the left s ide as close as possible to t he:
ammunition . case .(figure . 4-16). Place t he
Intrenchi ng' tool' in the carrier so that the .
blade port ion is t o t he back of th e car rier. ..
I .. ,' " ,,", . ,: . ' .' ' - ;-
Attachingthe Canteen Cover; Using the '
two slide keepers on the ba ck of the canteen '
cover , att ach the cover on the . right si de as
close as possibl e to. t he ammunit ion case
(figure 4-16).
Attaching the ' First Aid Dressing/
Compass Case. . Usi ng,the slide keeper on
the back of th e case, attac h the case to the
webbing loop onthe front of eit her shoulder
- . . ,
Figure 4-15. Attaching suspenders to l)lilt
and ammuni tion cases . ' .
4-5
,::11""
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FM 21-15
.....---
FIRST AID DRESSING
OR COMPASs CASE
CANTEEN COVER
INTRENCHING TOOL .
I
CARRIER
I
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\
Figure 4-16. Attaching intrenching tool carrier, canteen cover, and first aid dressing/compass
case to belt.
strap. It can also be attached to the right side
of the belt, next to the ammunition case
(figure 4-16). The case should be attached in
an upright position to prevent loss of the
contents.
AdjustingtheFront andBackSuspender
Straps. After you have attached the equip
ment to the belt and suspenders, put it on and
fasten the buckle. Adjust the length of the
front and back suspender straps using the
loose ends of the straps (figu-re 4-17). Pull
down on the loose end of each strap to raise
the belt. Lift the end of each strap to lower the
belt. Secure the loose ends of the straps with
the elastic loops. When you are finished, the
belt should hang evenly at your waist, and
the yoke should be positioned comfortably.
Although you can adjust the back .strap
yourself, you can do it easier by using the
buddy system.
4-6
Figure 4-17. Adjusting the front and back
suspender straps.
EXISTENCE LOAD
The t ypi cal exis tence load (fig ure 418)
consists of th e fighting loa d plus th ose it ems
whic h are requ ir ed to sus tai n or pr otect you
or which may be necessary for your in crea sed
per sonal and envi ronmenta l pr otecti on. Un
less other transpor t ati on is availa ble, both
the fightin g a nd existence load s are carried
by you, the soldier .
Ground Troops Pack Frame. Us e th e
ground troops pa ck frame as a mount for the
medium or large combat field pack.
Pack Frame Straps. Stra ps a ttached to
th e pa ck frame are a lower back strap, waist
stra ps, and two shoulder stra ps. There is a
quick-release device on eac h shoulder strap.
Cargo Support Shelf. Use th e cargo sup
port shelf to support bulky load s such as
water , gasoline , a nd ammuni tion cans; field
rations; and radi o.
Cargo Tiedown Straps. Use th e two cargo
tiedown strap s t o secure equipment to the
pack frame.
Figure 4-18. Exis tence load components.
FM 21 -15
Medium Combat Field Pack. Use th e
med ium combat field pack (fig ure 4-19) to
carry exis tence loads incl udi ng clothi ng ,
ration s, and perso na l items. The pa ck has a
pouch wit h a drawcord closure a nd t hree
outs ide smaller pockets. These pockets are
tunneled to th e pouch so th at long objects ca n
be ca rried bet ween t he pouch a nd each
pocket. The pouch a lso ha s a special ins ide
pocket t o car ry t he AN/ PRe 25 or 77 radio if
necessary. The pouch fla p has a pocket t hat
ca n be opened by pulling t wo ta bs apart .
Small flat it ems ca n be ca rried in this pocket.
Pressing th e flap si des toget her closes it .
Hangers are a lso pr ovided tocar ry individua l
equi pment or ext ra ammunition. Th is pack
ca n be carrie d dir ectl y on your back or on the
pa ck fra me. In extr emely cold cl ima tes , you
mu st car ry th e pack on the fr ame.
Large Combat Field Pack. Use th e large
combat field pack (fig ure 420) to ca rry
excessively large load s-usually during s pe
cial missions or in arctic region s. It is much
POUCH FLAP _ - = ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
POCKET TABS
INSiDE POCKET
DRAWCORD
CLOSURE
Figure 4-19. Medium combat field pack.
4-7
4-8
FM 21-15
Figure 420. Large combat field pack.
Figure 421. Back strap.
the same as the medium combat field pack,
except that it is larger, and there are three
more small pockets at the top of the pouch. Of
the three lower outside pockets, the two outer
ones are tunneled to the pouch so that long
objects can be carried between the pouch and
each pocket. There are tiedown cords and D
rings inside the pouch to shorten this pack if
it is not filled.
Field Pack Camouflage Cover. Use the
white camouflage field pack cover over the
field pack when operating in snow-covered
terrain or the desert camouflage field pack
cover when in a desert environment.
PROCEDURES FOR ASSEMBLING
EXISTENCE LOAD COMPONENTS
Procedures for assembling the existence
load components follow. Refer to TM 57220
for parachutist procedures.
Attaching and Adjusting the Lower
Back Strap to Pack Frame. The lower
back strap (figure 421) keeps the load away
from your back and lets air circulate between
your back and the load. The strap should be
loose enough to curve in and fit against the
lower part of your back. To attach the lower
back strap
With the padded surface outward, insert
each end of the strap through the metal
loops on the bottom ofthe pack frame.
Attach the quick-release strap to the back
strap by threading the quick-release strap
through the smaller metal loops on the
back strap. To adjust the quick-release
strap, refer to figure.422. .
Attaching Shoulder Strap to Pack
Frame. Both shoulder straps have quick
release assemblies on them. To attach the
.'
straps (figure 4-23)
Insert the looped end, from the inside of the
frame, through the plastic grommet to the
outside of the frame. Pass the other end of
FM 21 ..15
HOLD BUCKLE AS SHOWN "
~
FEED STRAP UNDER BOTH BARS
FEED OVER FIRST BAR, UNDER SECOND BAR
ADJUST TO SIZE BY PULLING FREE END OF STRAP
CLOSE QUICK-RELEASE CLAMP
--
"TO REMOVE, PULL UP FREE ENDOF STRAP
Figure 4-22. Adjusting quick-release strap.
4-9
4-10
FM 21-15
th e s houlder strap through the loop, and
pull tight (A).
Insert th e webb ed strap on the shoulder
pad th rough the met al keeper on the top of
the pack frame (B). Make sure the padded
side fac es inwar d. .
Thread th e webbing through the nonslip
buckl e and ti ghten.
Attaching Waist Straps to Pack
Frame. The waist straps are threaded
through th e buckles on the outside of the
lower back st rap (C). The strap with the male
buckle goes on the left sid e. The strap with
the female buckl e goes on the right side.
AdjustingShoulder and Waist Straps. Ad
just th e s ho u l de r a n d waist s traps
(figure 424) after you hav e put on the frame
with th e load you a re goi ng to carry. Each set
of straps has adjus tment buckl es.
Shoulder st raps . To lift the load on your
ba ck, shorten the strap by pulling down on
th e loose end ofthe webbing (A). To lower the
load , lengthen th e strap by pulling up on the
cord .
Waist strap. To tighten the waist strap,
pull the loose end of the st ra p on either side
forward (B). To loosen th e waist st rap, pull
th e web strap on either buckle to the rear .

Figure 4-23. ' Att aching st raps to pack frame .
FM 21-15
Figure 424. Adjusting shoulder and waist strap.
Attaching Medium Combat Field Pack
to Pack Frame. To at tac h the mediumpack
to the pa ck frame (figure 425)
Insert the bare frame into the envelope on
the back of the pack.
Loop the strap located on the bottom ofthe
pack around the frame twice.
Buckle the end of the strap to the nonslip
buckle.
Attach and adjust the shoulder straps and
waist straps as pr evi ously described.
Attaching Shoulder Straps to Medium
Combat Field Pack. The medium pack
may be carried using the shoulder straps
without the pack frame. To attach the shoul
der straps to the pack (figure 426), insert the
looped end through the Dvring on the bottom
ofthe pack, pass the other end of the shoulder
strap through the loop, and pull tight. Next,
insert the webbing of the loose end of the
shoulder strap through the metal loop at the
top of the pack, making sure the padded side
of the shoulder strap is facing inward. Then
thread the webbing through the nonslip Figure 425. Medium combat field pack
attached to pack fram e.
4-11
4-12
FM 2115
buckle and tighten. Adjust the shoulder strap
as previously described.
WARNING: Whenyou carrythe medium
combat field pack in extreme cold cli
mates, you must wear it on the pack
frame. Using the pack frame will pre
vent accumulation of sweat in the area
where the pack contacts your back; this
moisture can cause you to cool rapidly.
Attaching Large Combat Field Pack to
Pack Frame. Use the same procedures to
attach the large combat field pack to the pack
frame as those used to attach the medium
combat field pack.
Attaching Cargo Shelf to Pack
Frame. Attach the cargo shelf to the pack
Figure 4-26. Attaching shoulder straps to
medium combat field pack.
frame by hooking it into the middle or bottom
brace of the frame as shown in figure 4-27.
AttachingCargotoPackFrame. Use the
cargo tiedown straps to secure a load (such as
a 5-gallon can, ammunition case, field ration
case, or radio) to the pack frame (figure 4-28).
First, wrap the tiedown strap around the load
and the frame. Next, place the flat hook end
of the tiedown strap into the slot at the
buckle, and pull the loose end to tighten,
leaving a little slack in the strap. Then push
the fastener into the closed position. This
takes up the slack and tightens the strap
around the cargo. Leave enough slack in the
strap so that when you close the fastener, the
strap will not crush the cargo. To open the
fastener, pull up on the end of the strap.
Figure 427. Cargo shelf attached to pack
frame .
FM 21-15
CARGO STRAPS - JI
Figure 4-28. Attaching cargo to pack frame.
Attaching Sleeping Bag. When using the
large combat field pack, always carry your
sleeping bag inside the pack. When using the
medium combat field pack, carry the sleeping
bag inside or outside the pack. To attach the
bag to the outside of the pack (figure 4-29)
Using the cargo tied own straps, pass the
hook ends of the straps through the
webbing loops on the bottom of the pack.
Wrap the straps around the sleeping bag,
and attach the ends of the straps as shown.
Push the fasteners into the closed position,
and tighten the straps.
. .1'.".
;
,
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Figure 4-29. Attaching sleeping bag.
4-13
FM 21-15
When using the pack frame with the pack
(figure 4-30), pass the cargo tiedown straps
under and around the horizontal barofthe
frame a ft er completing step one . Continue
as described in steps two and three.
COMBAT FIELD PACK CLOSURES
Close the pockets on either of the combat
field packs (figure 4-31) by following these
instructions:
Inside (Radio) Pocket. Thread the
webbing through the nonslip buckle. Pull the
STRAP FASTENERS
PACK FRAME - - - - 2 ~ ~ ~ i ~ ~ ~
Figure4-30. Attaching sleeping bag when
using pack frame.
loose end to tighten and close the pocket (A).
Three Outside Pockets (B). Make sure the
two snap fasteners at one end of the webbing
are fastened, then pull the webbing to tighten
and close the pocket. You can open the pocket
easily by pull ing the tab to unsnap th e snap
fasteners. You can close the pocket again by
snapping the snap fasteners (C).
Pouch. Pull the two drawstring cord clamp
ends outward. This will gather the top into a
tight closure (D). To loosen the drawstring,
push the button on the drawstring buckle
down, and at the same time, pull the clamp
down (E) .
Figure 4-31. Combat field pack closures.
Pouch Flap. Inser t t he pouch flap tiedown
str a p (figure 4-32) through th e web loop on
top of the pouch flap, down over th e pouch
flap , and into th e bottomnonslip buckl e. Pull
t ight.
QUICK-RELEASE DEVICE
Your backpac k, with or wit hout the pack
frame, can be removed quickl y by using th e
quick-release devices on th e sh oulder str aps.
The quick-release device (figure 433) consists
of two met al loops , a ret ainer cli p (plastic
prongs), and a pull tab .
Assembly. To 'assemble th e qui ck-rel ease
device, place th e large met al loop over . the
small met al loop. Insert th e ret ainer clip
(prongs) t hrough the sma ller metal loop, and
fasten t he sna p fastener on th e pull ta b.
Release, To r emove the load quickly , pull
up firml y on th e t ab .
UNIVERSAL LOAD-CARRYING
SLING
The un i v ers al Io a d- c ar r y i n g s ling
(figure 434) is an add ition t o the individual
load -carrying syst ems when special loads ar e
to be carried-,The adjustable sling is 1 3/ 4
inches wide and about 6 1/2 feet long . It has
lightweight hardware components, such as
buckles, slide loops, and Yrings, which can
be shifted to the position required to attach
the various loads. Use th e sling to carry
I ...
general utility loads, ammunition, and infan
try crew-ser ved weapons. You can use one
sling by itself, or use two or more at a ti me,
depending on th e load to be carried. Slings
can be used with or without load-carrying
equipment. DO NOT CARRY LOADS OF
OYER 35 POUNDS WITH EACH SLING.
Instructions for assembling typical loads
follow.
FM 21 -15
Figure 432. Pouch {lap.
TWO METAL LOOPS
" .:, I
Figure 4-33. Quickrelease device.
. -1
OUICK ADJUSTABLE
BUCKLE ---.,
QUICK ADJUSTABLE
I
BUCKLE WITH SNAP
I
I
Figure 434. Uniuersal lood-carrving sling.
4-15
I
FM 21-15
Figure 4-35. Assembling fiber ammunit ions
contai ners in sling.
416
Fi ber A mmu n iti o n s Containers. A
met hod for carryi ng fiber ammuni t ions con
tainers is illustr at ed in fig ure 4-35.
Ammunition Boxes. Figure 436 shows a
method for carrying two boxes of a mmu
niti on . For this load, a djus t th e loop end to
secure one box; use th e adj us table buckl e
with snap fastener and the V-ring to secure
the other box.
Five -Gallon Wat er Can. Figure 437
shows a meth od for ca rryi ng a 5-gallon wa ter
ca n using two sli ngs. To reduce leakage, the
ca n is carried wit h the spout up.
Figure 4-36. Ammunition boxes.
FM 21-15
I
1,
Litter. Figure 438 shows a method for
carrying a litter using four slings. This
method frees your hands for other uses.
PACKBOARD
The plywood packboard (figure 439) is an
efficient means to carry loads of considerable
weight or of irregular shap e. Fifty pounds
Figure 437. Flue-gallon water can .
can be easily carried, and when necessary,
mor e than 100 pounds can be carried. The
packboard consists of a rugged frame of
molded plywood bent at each side, a canvas
backrest fastened to the frame by lacing
cords, two packboard attachments, shoulder
pads, a lashing rope, and quick-release strap
and buckle assemblies. The packboard can
vas backrest should fit against your pack,
and the packboard frame should support the
I
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4-17
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Figure 438. Litter.
FM 21 -15
QU ICK
RELEASE
Figure 439. Packboard.
CD
____ LACING CORD
l oa d. Be for e fas teni ng a loa d t o t he
packboard, make sure the ca nvas backrest is
properly laced to the fr ame.
Lacing Canvas Backre st to Frame. To
la ce t he backrest to t he frame', r efer t o
figure 440. Thi s procedure should be followed
to lace both edges of the canvas.
Tightening Laces . Tighten la ces on the
ca nvas before packi ng a loa d, a nd retigh ten
th em as often as necessary to keep th e canvas
t au t . To t ighten la cings, twist t he cord
aroun d a stic k, a nd pull the cor d t ight .
Lacings may also be t ighte ned by pl a cing th e
packboard frame on edge, gradua lly applying
gentle pressure un til th e frame is slightly
bowed , a nd the n tightenin g t he la cin gs .
When the pressure is released, th e fr ame will
retu rn to its original shape a nd tighten t he
ca nvas.
Using Packboard Attachment. Use th e
packboard att achment (figure 441) to sup
port heavy rigid load s at th e bottom. To
at tach the pa ckboa r d attachme nt t o t he
packboard , pl ace t he fl anges of the a ttach
ment ove r t he lower edge of one of t he
Tie the end of a lacing cord into the top eyelet on one side of the
canvas. Hold the canvas so that its edge is about 1 1/4 inches from
the packboard frame, and run the cord around th e' edge of the
padc:board frame and twice through the top hole of the frame.
Run the co rd down along the inside of the frame, through the
second hole of the frame. around the edge of the frame. through
the second eyelet of the canvas, around the edge o f the frame,
and again through the second hole of the f rame.
Repeat the procedure unt il the co rd reaches the bottom hole
of the fram e on one side.
Run the cord twice through the bonom hole of the frame and
around t he edge of the frame and t ie the cord to the bottom eye let
of the canvas.
Be sure the edge of the canvas is about 1 1/4 inches from the frame
all along the we of the packbo ard.
Figure 440. Lacing canvas back rest to frame.
4-18
ope ni ngs in the fr ame. Pack all loads so that
they will be compact and can be ca rried hig h
on your shoulders. Fasten t he load to the
pack board wit h a lashing rope or a qui ck
release strap a nd cla mp assembly.
l -
Lashing Load to the Packboard With
Rope. Attach bulky , nonri gid, or irregular
shaped loads wit h a la shing rope. Keep t he
lashi ng simple; never use t wo loops when one
will do. Use knots th at will hold but will not
be hard to untie. Lashin g by rope is easier to
start if a short loop is tied i n one end of the
rope so that it may be attached to a hook on
t he packboard fra me. When you ca n, use a
bowli ne knot to form th e loop in th e end ofthe
rope . Fa sten th e coil with a kn ot , or s lip t he
coil between the ca n vas a nd t he pl ywood
fra me. Always keep the lash ing rope at tached
to the packboard. Wind the rop e around the
top of t he packboard when the packboard is
not in use (figure 4-42).
Four-hook me thod. One method oflashing
a loa d with rope, usin g four packboard hooks ,
is shown in figure 443.
Figur e 441. Packb oard attachm ent.
. ; I
. I
!
FM 21 -15
Figure 4-42. Lashi ng rope wound around top
of packboard.
FIRST .
Form a loop in the rope, and place it over hook AA .
SECOND. .
Run the rope across the load to hook A.
THIRD .
Run the rope diagonally downw ard KroSS the load to
hook ce. and back across th e &oad to hook C.
FOURTH. ..
Run the rope back to hoo k AA as shown end then t o
po int K. and secure the rope with .ill knot at po int K.
HOOK CC
I
.. ; '
LAST. .
To ti '-ten the lashing. run t he ro pe from the knot at
po int K up under po int L an d back to po int K. Tie
another knot at po int K. (not Ihown)
--- HOOK aD
ATTACHMENT
Figu re 4-43. Rope lashing method using
four hooks.
419
FM 21-15
I:.
Figure 4-44. Rope lashing method using
','
six hooks.
Six -hook method. Another method oflash
ing loads, using six hooks, is shown in
figure 4-44.
Quick lashing method. Refer to figure 4-45
for a quick lashing method.
Lashing Loads With Quick-Release
Strap and Clamp Assemblies. This meth
od is used when loads must be packed and
unpacked quickly. To use the quick-release
strap, place the load on the packboard with
the packboard attachment supporting the
load at the bottom. Pass the desired number
of straps between the packboard frame and
canvas, and fasten them around the load
(figure 4-46). The procedure for tightening a
quick-release strap and for closing and releas
ing a quick-release clamp is illustrated in
figure 4-47.
Carrying the Packboard Frame. When
using shoulder pads, place each shoulder
strap through the two loops on the surface of
one ofthe shoulder pads. Adjust the shoulder
straps so th at the packboard will rest high on
- t :
I
I
Attach the loop of the rope to hook AA . Hold the rope
with your right hand at Rand your left hand at L, 8sshown
in the first step . Then twist your wr ist so that
the rope appears as shown in the second
step .
On the resulting lower loop of the rope. fasten
points (1) and 12) to hooks C and CC of the
pack-board. Tighten the rope.
and tie it securelv at A .
HOOK
c
DO
Figure 445. Quick lashing method.
4-20
" 1
i
your back. If it is not hea vil y load ed, sli ng it
on your shoul ders as you would any ot her
pa ck , and a dj ust th e s ho ulde r pads for
comfort. If it is heavily load ed, pl ace th e
loaded packb oard upright on th e gro und. Sit
with your back agai ns t t he ca nvas, and place
your arms th rough th e sho ulde r stra ps . Roll
over on your hands and kn ees, and stand.
Caring f or Packboard. Mend or repair
damaged fabric compo nents before the da m
age becomes serious . When fabric becomes
soi led, scrape' off a ny ca ked mud . Scr ub th e
fa bric wit h wat er a nd mild so ap. Rin se it, and
let it dr y in t he su n. Brus h sh oulder straps to
remove dir t a nd dust. If excessively dirt y,
wash and dry them using the sa me meth od as
for th e ot her fa br ic. The ca nvas will need
mor e freq uent washi ng a nd sunni ng th an the
shoulder st ra ps . If the hooks on t he fra me
become loose, tig hten the m. Mak e sure th e
la cings that fas ten the ca nvas backrest to the
frame are ta ut enough to prevent the frame
from pressing agai nst your back; a taut
ca nvas also allows air to circula te bet ween
Figu re 4-46. Load las hed with quick -release
st rap and clamp ass emblies.
FM 21-15
,.:j?
4. TIGHTENED STRAP . QUICK-RELEASE
CLAMP CLOSED


3. TIGHTENED STRAP. OUICKR ELEASE CLAMP
READY FOR CLOSING
I . PL ACING HOOK OF BUCKLE OVER BAR
OF CLAMP


5. PULLING FREE END OF STRAP OUT
TO RELEASE
6. REMOVING HOO K OF BUC KLE FROM BAR

.,..-/ '-
Figure 447. Adiusting quic k-release st rap
and clamp assembly.
4-21
FM 21-15
the frame and your back. Do not drop the
packb oard; lay it down gently.
GRENADE-CARRIER VEST
The grenade-carrier vest (fig ure 4-48) is
design ed to be worn over the armor vest a nd
t he s us pende rs of the in dividual load
ca rryi ng equi pment. It enables you to ca rry
fou r 40m illimeter pyr otechnic ca rtri dges
and t wenty 40-milli meter gre nades for th e
M79 a nd M203 gre nade la unc hers. Each
grenade is held in pla ce in t he pocket by a
snap fasten er closure. Each grenade ca n be
removed with one hand. Table 4-1 s ho ws th e
size vest you sho uld select based on your
chest measurement. To clean th e vest, use a
bru sh or a da mp or dry cl oth . Scrub very dirty
areas with a sma ll a mount of water . Rin se it
and let it ai r-dry .
BAGS
Th ere are several types of bags which ha ve
many uses. These bags ar e mad e of a coated
,..
j '
4-22
Table 4-1. Grenade-carrier vest sizes.
;r - . . p
. C-HEST SIZE OF
MEASUREMENT VEST
, ~ . 4 ~ ' , .
To 38 inches SMAll
391042 i nches MEDIUM
43 inche s or l.r g8' lARGE
ma teri al or ca n vas. To clean th em, see the
appropriate paragr a ph in chapter l.
Barracks Bag. Use t he olive -gr een barracks
ba g (fig ure 449) for gen er al storing a nd
ca rryi ng pu rposes. Close th e bag with th e
draws t ring. .
Clothing Bag. Use t he waterproof cloth in g
ba g (fig ure 4-50) to carry extra clothing a nd
perso nal effects t hat must be protected from
moisture , especially du ring amphi bious or
jungle operations. Keep in mind, however,
t hat it is not constructed to withstand rough
Figure 4-48. Grenade-carrier ves t.
..
FM 21-15
Figure 4-49. Barracks bag.
use or ha ndling. You ca n also use the bag to
carry and store your sleepi ng bag and blan
ket o Close the bag by placing the tie cord
around the mouth of the bag, inserting the tie
cord ends through one of the three attached
loops, wra pping the cord, and tying it with a
bow knot.
Duffel Bag. Use t he duffel bag (figure 451)
wit h ha ndle and shoulder straps in the field
to carry individual clothing a nd equipment
not carried in the fiel d pack. Close the duffel
bag by folding the top of the bag in envelope
fashion, placing the grom mets over the U
shaped keepe r, and attachi ng t he snap on the
carrying strap to the keeper. Carry the bag by
the handle as a s uitcase or by the shoulder
straps sl ung over your shoulde rs pac k-sty le.
Waterproof Covers. Use t he mul tipurpose
water proof cover s ( bags) to pr ovide
ligh tweigh t, waterproof protecti on for small
a rms against rain a nd moisture. Th e dirnen
sions a nd uses of th e covers a re shown in
I
I
./
I
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t -, Figure 450. Clothing bag.
'. ,
,
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I
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Figure 4-51. Duffel bag.
:1
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I
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423
I
,
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- - - - = - - - - - - - - - ~ = ~ - ' - - = - - " = - - "
FM 21-15
table 4-2. You ca n also us e th e mult ipur pose
waterproof covers for
Carryi ng water.
Prot ecti ng miscell aneous small items of
cl othing and equipment.
Floating lightweight loads in water
cros si ng opera tions . Th e bag mu st be
infla ted for th is purpose.
Lining the duffel bag to for ma n emergency
waterp roof cl othing bag. For th is purpose,
use a size 3 cover. Cut about 21 inc hes off
th e top of the cover to make it suita ble for
ins erti ng in th e duffel bag.
424
Table 4-2 . Multipurpose waterproof covers.
1 __ 0 8 by 18 _ For pisto l or perso nal effec ts .
2 _ _ 10 by 56 For rifl e or ca rbine .
3 _ _ 15 by 45 For submachi ne gun.
4 __2 0 by 84 For machi ne gun.
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FM21- 15
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CHAPTER 5
Miscellaneous Clothing
and Equipment
I I

MOSQUITO HAT AND NET
This equ ipmen t (fig ure 5-1) is worn for
prot ecti on agai nst mos qui toes a nd oth er
insects. The cloth top piece has a n elastic
s us pension t ha t fits over your head or helmet.
You may also wea r it bet ween the liner a nd
the helmet . Met al ri ngs hold the net a way
from your face a nd neck, eve n when you are
sleepi ng. The hat a nd mosquito net fit over
t he collar in back. Th ey are held i n pl ace i n
front by t wo elastic loops th at ca n be attached
to t he pocket buttons of your shirt. An ela stic
dr aw ta pe at the bottom may be drawn t ight
when the net is not fastened to th e pocket
bott om. To clea n the net , spo t wash ver y dirty
areas with hot water a nd soap or detergen t.
Rin se it thoroughly a nd let it air-dry .
KNITTED WOOL SCARF
The knit ted wool scarf is a seamless tubular
type with rei nfor ced end s. It is ordinarily

used for warm th around the neck, but in
emergencies you ca n use it for other purposes .
Forexa mple, it ca n be used as a hat orcan be
wrapped around t he hands for additio nal
warmt h.
Figure 51. Mosquito hat and net.
5-1
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FM 21-15
IDENTIFICATION TAGS
AND NECKLACE
Wear your identification tags at all times
when you are engaged in field training, while
traveling in aircraft, and when outside the
continental United States. Suspend one tag
from your neck, underneath your clothing,
using a 25inch, noncorrosive, nontoxic, heat
resistant material, looped to form a necklace.
Attach the second tag to the necklace using a
2 1/2-inch loop of material similar to that of
the necklace.
FIRST AID PACKET
The first aid packet is a sealed package
containing sterilized cotton gauze used for
emergency dressing of wounds when medical
services are not quickly available. DO NOT
OPEN THE PACKET UNTIL IT IS
NEEDED. Exposure to air may cause the
contents to become soiled and nonsterile.
COMPASS
Use the lensatic compass to establish
direction. An accurate line of direction can be
established for a specific object by using the
arrangement of a lensatic eye lens, a sight
line, and the object being sighted. When you
are not using the compass, keep it in its case
to protect it from dirt and dust.
WATERPROOF MATCHBOX
The waterproof matchbox (figure 5-2) is
usedto keep matches dry and to start fires by
spark ignition in an emergency. The box is a
small, cylinder-shaped, plastic container
with a screw cap, a striking disk, and a
striking bar.
Screw Cap. A sealing gasket fits inside the
screw cap and provides a tight seal when the
cap is closed by hand, tight onto the cylinder.
5-2
Striking Disk. The striking disk is
mounted on the inside top surface of the cap.
It has an abrasive surface for striking safety
matches.
StrikingBar. The striking bar is 1oca ted on
the bottom of the container. When the bar is
struck with the sharp edge of a knife or some
other piece of metal, a spark will be produced.
INTRENCHING TOOL
The collapsible intrenching tool (figure 5-3)
is about 91/2 inches long when collapsed and
23 1/2 inches long when fully extended. It
has'a hollow, triangle-shaped handle. One

SHARPR IBBED
GROOVES

SIDE view BODY--->
BOTTOM view
Figure 5-2.' Waterproof matchbox.
edge of th e blad e is sharpened for cutting.
The ot her edge is serra ted t o ai d in diggin g
and chopping . Th e posit ion of th e bla de ca n
be changed by loosen ing th e lockin g nut at
th e bl ad e end of th e handle, adj usti ng th e
blad e to th e desir ed positi on, and tighteni ng
th e locking nu t.
Use. Use th e intrenchi ng t ool for di ggin g,
break in g hard ground, cleari ng bru sh or
und er gr owth, a nd cutti ng root s, sapli ngs,
and s ma ll t rees. DO NOT USE IT FOR
CUTTING LARGE-SIZE TIMBER.
Shoveling or cutti ng. Extend th e shovel
blade out ward in a st raight-li ne projecti on of
th e handl e (ope n pos iti on) . Tighten t he
lockin g nut.
~
) ~
~
Iii
BLADE FOLDED
~ " o."o.o,o
~
" o , , ~
Figure 53. Intrenching tool.
FM 21-15
Clearing ground. Turn th e shovel bl ad e to
a posi t ion perpendi cul ar (upright) to th e
handle so th at it is hoe-shap ed. Tighten th e
locking nut.
Care. Clea n the intrenching tool 'a fter eac h
use. Keep th e thre ads on th e locking nut clean
and oiled so th e nut will turn easily.
CANVAS COT
AND INSECT BAR FRAME
The col1aps ible canva s cot (figure 5-4) has
three set s of foldin g legs. 'The insect bar
frame consis ts of four upright pieces of wood
which are at tache d to th e end cot legs with
stee l cl ips. Two crosspieces serve as br aces.
"
Figure 5-4. Can vas cot and insect bar frame.
5-3
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FM 21-15
INSECT BAR
The in sect bar (figure 55) is a ca nopy mad e
from finely woven nyl on mesh.
Use. Use the inse ct bar to pr otect you from
mosqu i toes, sand fli es, and ot her small
insects . Use the following i nforma tion to
help you set up the insect ba r.
Sus pe ndi ng th e bar oue r a cot or bed. To
use the ins ect bar with a wooden cot' or a bed,
attach a wooden insect bar fr ame to eac h end
of th e cot . Tie th e tie tap es of the insect bar to
th e top corners of each frame. ' To use th e
in sect bar _with a met al bed, attach a T
sha ped metal fra me to eac h' end of th e bed.
Tie th e ti e tapes at the top corners of th e
insect bar to th e ends of the cros spieces at t he
top of each Tvsh aped frame.
Fast ening th e bar in side a shelte r-half
te nt. Fas ten the insect bar in side th e she lter
hal f tent while th e tent is being pit ched. Fi rst,
snap th e shelte r hal ves together . Pl ace th em
over t he sprea d-out insect ba r so th at the foot
stops of t he ten t a re aligned wit h the tie ta pes '
54
near t he bott om edges of the insect ba r . The
grommets at the ridge of the ten t should be
a lig ned with th e slits at th e top of th e insect
bar. Next, pla ce the ten t poles through th e
slots a t t he top of th e insect bar a nd t hro ugh
th e grommets a t th e ridge of th e t ent. After
folding the ten t end sections over th e sides of
th e tent, tie th e tapes near th e bottom edges of
th e in sect bar aro und the tent pin s .
S us pendi ng the ba r fro m t rees or
bus hes. For pr ot ect ion outdoors whe na tent
is not a va ilable, susp end th e in sect bar by
tying t he tie ta pes a t the t op corners to tr ees
or bus hes .
Care. Spot was h ver y dirty a reas wit h hot
water and soap or det ergen t. Rinse th e insect
bar th oroughly a nd air-dry it .
Pack ing. Fold th e i nsect bar in toa small
bundle, a nd eithe r pl a ce it in the fiel d pack or
at tach it to th e pa ck. It may a lso be pla ced in
th e duffel bag.
Figure 55. In sect bar .
MULTIPURPOSE NET
The nylon multipu rpose net (fig ure 5-6) is
about 5 feet wide a nd 9 feet long . Two cords ,
about 14 feet long, are packed wit h ea ch net .
When folded , the net can be attached to th e
indiv idual equipme nt belt in a way similar to
that descr ibed for th e pon cho. You ca n use
th e net as a hammock, a camouflage net , a
carrier for bulky load s , a litter, a net , a trap
for ga me, a storage pl ace for food or ammuni
ti on, a sni per's roost , and many other field
expedients . You will find detail ed info r
mation on the multipurpose net in TM 10-276.
ONE-QUART CANTEEN
AND CUP
Your pla stic (polyethylene) water ca nteen
(figure 5-7) holds 1 qu art. The olive-g reen
canteen , wh ich fits into the standard met al
cup, has a pl astic screwcap with an a tta chi ng
stra p and is carried in th e sta ndard ca nteen
cover . Wa sh th e canteen and"cup wit h warm,
so a py wat er a nd r in se t hem tho roug hly.
Keep t he m dr ained a nd dr y when not in use.
Do not force th e pl astic ca p on th e ca nteen;
t he ca p may split . DO NOT PUT TH E
PLASTIC CANTEEN NEAR AN OPEN
FLAME OR BURNER PLATE.
TWO-QUART CANTEEN
AND COVER "
The 2-qua rt ca nteen (figure 5-8)is a colla ps
ible pl astic contain er . Care for it th e same
way as for the l -qu art ca nteen. The cover for
the canteen attaches to the pistol belt with
sta nda rd cli ps and has a detachable shoulder
st ra p. Th e case al so has an external pouch for
a bottle of iodi ne disinfectant tablets. A bag
a nd case-carrying sling ca n al so be used to
carry the 2-qua rt ca nteen. Clean th e sling
with mild soap a nd water, and let it dr y.
Figu re 5-6. Multipurpose net.
FM 21-15
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Figure 5-7_ One-quart cant een and cup.
Figur e 5-8. Two-quart canteen and cover.
5-5
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FM 21- 15
MESS GEAR
Your mess gear (figure 5-9) cons is ts of th e
mess kit pan a nd lid a nd the field mess kn ife,
fork , a nd spoon . Before using yo ur mess gear,
clean it a nd di p it in boiling wa ter for at least
3 seconds. EATING WITH GREASY OR
DIRTY MESS GEAR MAY CAUSE SERI
OUS I LLNESS OR MAKE THE FOOD
LESS APPETIZING. As soon as possib le
a fte r yo u fini sh eating, scr ape off foo d
particl es . Dip mess ge ar in a hot s oa p,
detergent, or hand-washing solution . Use a
brush, if you have one, to wash off food or
gr ease. Rin se gear thoroughl y for about
30 se conds in cl ean , boili ng wa ter. Air-dry the
gea r by swinging it ba ck and forth until it is
dry. NEVER WIPE MESS GEAR WITH A
CLOTH OR TOWEL.
, Figu re 59. Mess gear.
5-6
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ALI CE
DA
F
FM
HQ
NBC
NO
NSN
PA SGT
TM
TR ADOC
US
FM.21 -15
Glossary
all-purpose lightweight individu al ca rrying equipment
Department of th e Army
Fah ren heit
fiel d manual
headqu a rter s
nuclear, biologica l, chemica l
num ber
nation a l s tock number
per sonnel a rmor system ground tr oop
tech ni ca l ma nua l
United St ates Army Trai ning and Doctrine Comma nd
Unit ed Sta tes (of America)
Glossary -'
2028
FM 21-15
Related References
Related references are sources of additional information. They are not required in order to .
understand this publication.
ARMY REGULATIONS ----'- _
32-4
640-3
670-1
700-84
700-86
Special Measurement Clothing and Footwear, Orthopedic
Footwear.. Guidons, Streamers and Flags
Identification Cards, Tags, and Badges
'Wear and Appearance of Army Insignia
Issue and Sale of Personal Clothing
. Life Cycle Management of Clothing and Individual Equipment
COMMON TABLE OFALLOWANCES .
50-900 .Clothing and IndividualEquipment
---..;, :....__
RecommendedChanges toPublications .and Blank Forms
DA PAMPHLETS _----'-
108-1
310-1
.FIELD MANUALS
10-16
10-17
10-267
10-280
21-11(TEST)
21-18
21-40
21-75
22-5
22-6
Index of Army Motion Pictures and Related Audio-Visual Aids
Consolidated: Index of Army Publications and Blank Forms
-:-- __
General Repair of Tents, Canvas, and Webbing
Army Fixed Laundry, Organization and Operation
General Repair for Clothing and Textiles
Field Laundry, Clothing Exchange, and Bath Operations
First Aid for Soldiers
Foot Marches
NBC (Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical) Defense
Combat Training of the Individual Soldier and Patrolling
Drill and Ceremonies
Guard Duty
Size Tariff for Clothing, Equipage, and Footwear.
References-'
I
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FM21-15
TECHNICAL BULLETIN ~ _
QM 13 Clothing, Equipment, and Rations for Use in the Jungle
TECHNICAL MANUALS
3-4240-279-10
3 - 4 2 4 0 - 2 ~ 0 - 1 0
9-1300-200
10-227
10-276
10-277
10-8340-221-13
10-8400-201-23
10-8465-202-23
57-220
21-3
TRAINING FILMS
10-2430
10-3092
10-3593
10-4223
10-4300
10-4780
References-2
_
Operator's Manual: Mask, Chemical-Biological; Field ABC-MI7,
MI7Al, and M17A2
Operator's Manual for Mask, Chemical-Biological: Aircraft,
ABC-M24 and Tank, M25 and M25Al and Accessories
Ammunition, General
Fitting of Army Uniforms and Footwear
Hot Weather Clothing and Equipment
Chemical, Toxicological and Missile Fuel Handlers Protective
. Clothing
Operator's, Organizational and Direct Support Maintenance
Manual: Tent, Shelter Half and Tent, Mountain, Two-Man
Organizational and Direct Support Maintenance Manual:
General Repair Procedure for Clothing and Individual
Equipment
Organizational and Field (Third Echelon) Maintenance Manual:
Packboard, Plywood
Technical Training of Parachutists
Soldier's Handbook for Individual Operations and Survival in
Cold Weather Areas
_
Fitting Army Uniforms and Footwear-Fitting of Footwear
Individual Load Carrying Equipment
Individual Load Carrying System-Variations of Use
Hot Weather Clothing and Equipment
Care and Storage of Tentage
How to Use Cold Weather Clothing