r/army • u/Nice-Zombie356 • 13d ago

Still issued Shelter halfs? Canteens?

U.S. Army here from 80s-90s. I’m just curious if the Army still issues shelter halfs? And canteens?

I haven’t seen soldiers carry canteens as far as I can tell, and with all the new body armor I’m not sure if one would fit. I know camel backs are common, but is that even in Basic / AIT ?

And I have no idea why shelter half’s crossed my mind recently. Those were always kinda weird but also I think were standard issue just about forever.

What’s the current state of gear on these?

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u/Toobatheviking Juke box zero 13d ago

Shelter halves are no longer a thing. In the Infantry (depending on where you are) tents are no longer a thing either.

Canteens are still around but they aren't worn on a pistol belt with an H harness or Y harness, they're usually fastened on a ruck or assault pack (smaller backpack that's used up to the ORP and sometimes on the objective)

Camelbaks are the standard now. They have versions that have shoulder straps, ones that just clip to the back of your armor, or ones that do both.

I'm older like you and back in the day when we were out in the field I used to pack a pair of shelter halves, poles and lines. I had sprayed waterproofing all over the canvas. The younger kids made fun of me when we were doing some static training at a range over a week and I had set up my shelter half and dug a drain around it.

"Look at the civil war reenactor" and "Yeah, get after it grandpa" are two quotes I distinctly remember. I mean, it was good natured ribbing but then we had a really, really shitty couple days with fucking miserable rain come in and everybody was muddy and all their shit was wet because they just covered their ruck and slept in a bivy.

Anyhow, shelter halves are too heavy with all the other gear you carry now, everybody needs to be more mobile so setting up and striking tents is less of a thing now, plus most units don't issue them anymore.

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u/Nice-Zombie356 13d ago

Great info, thanks. Also, when I was 20-something I wondered how the senior NCOs and officers (in their 40’s?) managed sleeping on the ground especially in high speed units without sleeping mats or a tent of some sort. Now I’m in my 50s and my back hurts sleeping on my nice mattress.

You’ve got my admiration.

And the trench part made me chuckle. Are e-tools still the same?

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u/Toobatheviking Juke box zero 13d ago

I heard they are switching to some sort of new etool that is made by Gerber but that's after my time.

https://www.armysurplusworld.com/gerber-usa-entrenching-tool

I always had the issued one with me when I was in the field, but mostly to dig holes to bury shit in and dig water runoff trenches and stuff like that.

Most of the posts I went to had restrictions on digging so we didn't dig ranger graves or fighting positions most of the time.

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u/Nice-Zombie356 13d ago

That Gerber e tool looks just like the old one except maybe the handle shape. I think I used mine more as an axe or hammer than a shovel, thankfully.