What light to send to a US soldier in Iraq? ... **UPDATE in POST #119**

[RobertM]

Re: What light to send to a US soldier in Iraq? ... THANK YOU CPF FOR YOUR GENEROSITY

Received lots of lights/equipment today!

Received the SF G2, FM35, TLS Drop-in, and 12xSF123 from OpticsHQ.
Received the Gerber Infinity Ultra.
Received the SF G2 and 8xCR123 from bullfrog.

Thanks again to everyone who has donated so far!!

-Robert

 

[CampingLED]

Re: What light to send to a US soldier in Iraq? ... THANK YOU CPF FOR YOUR GENEROSITY

Hey everybody, I need to start with lovecpf and I love flashlights, but I feel that I need to share reality with you. :tsk: I did some military training many years ago and as part of the training they showed us how far a light can be seen at night. It is also amazing how far you can see a person smoking at night.

Although it is nice to see at night, but in a military situation you DO NOT WANT TO BE SEEN at night. If you must see a tritium light is more than sufficient. My guess is that most of the lights will be confiscated upon arrival and will end up in the hands of military officers. :mecry:

Sorry for sidetracking the tread, but I feel that it is important to share the reality with you.:duck:

 

[drmaxx]

Re: What light to send to a US soldier in Iraq? ... THANK YOU CPF FOR YOUR GENEROSITY

Hey everybody, I need to start with lovecpf and I love flashlights, but I feel that I need to share reality with you. :tsk: I did some military training many years ago and as part of the training they showed us how far a light can be seen at night. It is also amazing how far you can see a person smoking at night.

Although it is nice to see at night, but in a military situation you DO NOT WANT TO BE SEEN at night. If you must see a tritium light is more than sufficient. My guess is that most of the lights will be confiscated upon arrival and will end up in the hands of military officers. :mecry:

Sorry for sidetracking the tread, but I feel that it is important to share the reality with you.:duck:

In most armies things changed quite a bit in the last few years. I went through the same experience like you - owning a light was a big NO NO and if found confiscated. This was the time of large dumb troups, where thinking was delegated to the higher rank officers.
In the last year I experienced how things changed. Combat units got smaller and more independent. Common soldiers are requested to think and act correspondingly. What item helps you to do the job is a good item. And flashlights are needed in certain situations. However, you need to make sure that you don't get detected and shot - the responsibility is yours.

I guess this change also happened in the US Army - not just here in my little country

 

[TMedina]

Re: What light to send to a US soldier in Iraq? ... THANK YOU CPF FOR YOUR GENEROSITY

The policy on light discipline will vary from unit to unit and hell, for that matter from FOB to FOB - but I highly recommend sending the lights regardless.

They might be confiscated, they may not - I tend to believe they won't be. A good light is too valuable, generally speaking, to not have on hand.

Even a $10 incandescent miniMag is better than nothing.

-Trevor

Edited to add: The US Army has become a lot more lenient on the use of individually purchased equipment in recent years - they've even gone so far as to start tagging certain bits of gear as "Army Certified", including the Family of Flashlights.

The theory was to provide Soldiers guidance in what equipment was legitimately practical and not just marketing hype - however, with any bureaucracy, you may notice delays, inconsistencies and similar headaches.

 

[Kevin1322]

Re: What light to send to a US soldier in Iraq? ... THANK YOU CPF FOR YOUR GENEROSITY

Hey everybody, I need to start with lovecpf and I love flashlights, but I feel that I need to share reality with you. :tsk: I did some military training many years ago and as part of the training they showed us how far a light can be seen at night. It is also amazing how far you can see a person smoking at night.

Although it is nice to see at night, but in a military situation you DO NOT WANT TO BE SEEN at night. If you must see a tritium light is more than sufficient. My guess is that most of the lights will be confiscated upon arrival and will end up in the hands of military officers. :mecry:

Sorry for sidetracking the tread, but I feel that it is important to share the reality with you.:duck:

Being that I was deployed recently, I believe that lights are neccessary, and am in agreement with Tmedina and drmaxx.

You obviously do not know that many units, particularly infantry, issue their soldiers Surefire flashlights to be mounted to their weapons and used accordingly. I traveled all over Afghanistan and there is a wide variety of FOBs (Foreward Opperating Base) and regulations on light discipline. You are right that a flashlight can be seen a long ways away, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be used. It depends on the circumstance. Bottom line, lights are needed, neccessary, and USED!

 

[ElectronGuru]

Re: What light to send to a US soldier in Iraq? ... THANK YOU CPF FOR YOUR GENEROSITY

Gene is donating a M60WL. I should have it to ship in a few days.

 

[RobertM]

Re: What light to send to a US soldier in Iraq? ... THANK YOU CPF FOR YOUR GENEROSITY

Gene is donating a M60WL. I should have it to ship in a few days.

This is so cool that Gene is donating one! It's going to pretty hard to beat the reliability of a SF G2 with a Malkoff M60WL! Thanks for contacting Gene about this and please let him know how much I appreciate it.

-Robert

 

[Kestrel]

Re: What light to send to a US soldier in Iraq? ... THANK YOU CPF FOR YOUR GENEROSITY

Edited to add: The US Army has become a lot more lenient on the use of individually purchased equipment in recent years - they've even gone so far as to start tagging certain bits of gear as "Army Certified", including the Family of Flashlights.

Thanks for including the link, that was interesting.

 

[bullfrog]

Re: What light to send to a US soldier in Iraq? ... THANK YOU CPF FOR YOUR GENEROSITY

It's going to pretty hard to beat the reliability of a SF G2 with a Malkoff M60WL!

This is the combo I would choose (and I keep in my BOB) :twothumbs

Kudos to Gene!

 

[flasherByNight]

Re: What light to send to a US soldier in Iraq? ... THANK YOU CPF FOR YOUR GENEROSITY

sending a bunch of the itty bitty cheapies for putzing around (tents/facilities etc) would be great...plus give a chance for everyone to get one in the unit.

 

[RobertM]

Re: What light to send to a US soldier in Iraq? ... THANK YOU CPF FOR YOUR GENEROSITY

sending a bunch of the itty bitty cheapies for putzing around (tents/facilities etc) would be great...plus give a chance for everyone to get one in the unit.

I've actually been debating between ordering 2 Fenix E01 lights or a box of coin cells lights for the unit with the last remaining funds. What do you guys think?

If I go with the coin cell lights, I was thinking of maybe getting some white and also some red LED lights.

-Robert

 

[Monocrom]

Re: What light to send to a US soldier in Iraq? ... THANK YOU CPF FOR YOUR GENEROSITY

I'd go with the box of coin cells. At least that way, several men in his unit would have a light source.

 

[scout24]

Re: What light to send to a US soldier in Iraq? ... THANK YOU CPF FOR YOUR GENEROSITY

RobertM-
Haven't forgotten about you, as soon as the zebralight makes it to me, I will get it in the mail to you. Glad this is going well!!!
Greg

 

[baterija]

Re: What light to send to a US soldier in Iraq? ... THANK YOU CPF FOR YOUR GENEROSITY

Long before I found my way here I usually carried a little coin cell light in my field gear. Small, lightweight, good enough for most things. Even a little too bright for some. In most cases it was my go to light. Before the 2xAA maglite I usually had on me or the Fulton in the vehicle. Many times it was my only light.I remember spending what seemed like a lot for an early Photon...and then sweeping up it's shattered pieces to drop in the trash while my driver apologized profusely. Good times.

A lot of people with a coin cell light seems like a better use of the funds than just two with E01's.

 

[RobertM]

Re: What light to send to a US soldier in Iraq? ... THANK YOU CPF FOR YOUR GENEROSITY

Thanks for the comments and suggestions regarding the usefulness of the coin-cell lights over 2-3x E01s. I went ahead and order 40 keychain lights. 🙂

scout24, no problem on the delay, I understand. I am amazed at what this has turned in to! Truly amazing. 🙂

-Robert

 

[Kevin1322]

Re: What light to send to a US soldier in Iraq? ... THANK YOU CPF FOR YOUR GENEROSITY

When you send everything over, I would love to see a list of everything that is going. A pic would be cool too, but mostly just to see everything that is going in one place would be cool.
I almost feel bad that I am not apart of this, but I have my own soldiers to tend too. 😀

To everyone who has become involved in this, thanks.:twothumbs

 

[RobertM]

Re: What light to send to a US soldier in Iraq? ... THANK YOU CPF FOR YOUR GENEROSITY

When you send everything over, I would love to see a list of everything that is going. A pic would be cool too, but mostly just to see everything that is going in one place would be cool.
I almost feel bad that I am not apart of this, but I have my own soldiers to tend too. 😀

To everyone who has become involved in this, thanks.:twothumbs

Don't worry, I definitely plan on taking a photo of everything before it all goes out. 🙂

 

[MattK]

Re: What light to send to a US soldier in Iraq? ... THANK YOU CPF FOR YOUR GENEROSITY

Thanks for the comments and suggestions regarding the usefulness of the coin-cell lights over 2-3x E01s. I went ahead and order 40 keychain lights. 🙂

-Robert

Robert,

I'm not sure if you noticed but after reviewing your notes and the thread we decided to 'match' your donation and added 40 more Titanium Innovations keylight keychain lightss to your order.

They're scheduled for delivery tomorrow. 🙂

 

[Kestrel]

Re: What light to send to a US soldier in Iraq? ... THANK YOU CPF FOR YOUR GENEROSITY

I'm not sure if you noticed but after reviewing your notes and the thread we decided to 'match' your donation and added 40 more Titanium Innovations keylight keychain lightss to your order.

They're scheduled for delivery tomorrow. 🙂

:twothumbs
BTW, RM, when you photograph the complete 'family', it would be cool if you included all the CPF ID's (just a list or something) so we can see just how many have contributed. 🙂 Good job to all.

 

[RobertM]

Re: What light to send to a US soldier in Iraq? ... THANK YOU CPF FOR YOUR GENEROSITY

Robert,

I'm not sure if you noticed but after reviewing your notes and the thread we decided to 'match' your donation and added 40 more Titanium Innovations keylight keychain lightss to your order.

They're scheduled for delivery tomorrow. 🙂

Wow, that is very cool! Thank you very much for your generosity, Matt. 🙂

:twothumbs
BTW, RM, when you photograph the complete 'family', it would be cool if you included all the CPF ID's (just a list or something) so we can see just how many have contributed. 🙂 Good job to all.

Will do. 🙂

-Robert