Sunglasses in Iraq

OK, I got the flashlights I need. I noticed there are some deployed US military troops on this forum. Any suggestions on sunglasses? Or, do those duststorms pretty much ruin all of them. I know the US Army issues tinted "cups" that go over the standard goggles. I would not mind having a good scratch resistant, mirror-type, pair (don't want the bad guys to see me watching them).
Thanks

LOL, leave it to an Airborne fella to wanna use mirror lenses so they can spot and sight in on the glint from a long ways away... Reminds me of the newbie 2nd LT that wears the nice shiny rank....flat black my friend.

Yes, the sand will mess up normal sunglasses in a heartbeat, it gets into everything (even toilet paper), something with a nice UV coat and something like "Diamond Coat" (such as Cyro puts on their plastic(steelwool doesn't hardly do much to it)), or even something a little harder like glass lenses might be a little more durable.

Did my time over there during Operation Desert Storm/Shield, with the US Marines as a Marine.

Mr Z,
Greetings on the day.

Our little px sells cheap sun glasses and sun goggles. The road convoys toss out a lot of stones. Using real glass could be a problem here. Plastic is the way to go. When they get scratched, toss em. Like a disposable razor.

Try this link for some photos of this base SCANIA. We are currently being protected by the 82nd AB. Interesting guys. I make an effort to be nice to them. The guys that watch the gate for the Hajji mart I buy sodas for every so often.

http://www.obscure-reference.com/hosted/RadioMike/index.html

As you may have guessed by the news, this place is heating up. The local mob has put the word out for hajji's not to come to work here. What a bunch of cheap thugs. That will change when they run into the Army.

Hope all is well.
Jack Crow in Iraq

[ QUOTE ]
NewBie said:
LOL, leave it to an Airborne fella to wanna use mirror lenses so they can spot and sight in on the glint from a long ways away...

[/ QUOTE ]

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/whoopin.gif Doh! It figures you'd catch that. I don't know what the Heck I was thinkin when I posted that. Sorta like standing all alone on the hilltop admiring the beautiful moonlit night huh?

Go with a nice pair of WileyX sunglasses. I've got the SG-1 and really like them. All the sunglasses and replacement parts have National Stock Numbers, so your supply sergeant can order parts as they break. The complete list of NSNs are on the WileyX web site. The only gripe I have, and have seen from others, is when they are sealed against your face with the headband strap, they tend to fog up. The seal is TOO GOOD. I haven't tried any of the commercial anti-fog liquids so I can't say if they would work or not. The lenses are sufficiently dark the bad guys (or good guys) can't see where you are looking, or if you are asleep.

When I was in Baghdad last year, I had several locals wanting to look at my WileyX sunglasses. They thought they were special X-ray glasses and that I could see through their buildings and clothes. I guess it was a case of watching one too many James Bond movies, or overestimating our technology. This mikght be something you can use to your advantage while on patrol. I had even heard of one bright soldier using his Inova LED clip light to "scan" a person, then push the backlight button on his watch to determine the guy in question was hiding something or lying. The guy got nervous and confessed. A bit off topic, but be sure to use all your gadgets to your advantage and be creative; you never know what might just work. Stay safe,

RadarGreg

Jack, cool pics.

In a pinch, a little bit of common soap on the lens helps if you don't have the anti-fog stuff.

Not that I recommend any of these whatsoever, but here is a range of selection,

http://www.safetyglassesusa.com/migo.html
http://www.quanticoarms.com/eyeSafetySystems/ess.asp

While I was there, we used something very close to the
M1944 (it may have been it)
http://www.imsplus.com/ims31.html

These are similar, and have NSN's so they can be
ordered through the normal stock system, includes
the NSNs for them:
http://www.essgoggles.com/products/striker.html
http://www.essgoggles.com/products/nsn.html

Wiley's also have a NSN:
http://www.army-technology.com/contractors/personal/protective/

Another NSN stocked item:
http://ct.dscp.dla.mil/Ascot/CatalogSearch.80?NSNSearch&nsn='8465013288268'&sendimages='1'

I'm guessing that since your in the 82nd, you should be gowing through the RFI where they issue a tone of the new toys. You should get a pair of the WIley-X SG2 glasses. Those are pretty decent. I bought a couple pairs of cheap sunglasses as well, because I have terrible luck breaking or losing them all the time. Even when I had expensive ones, so it's not just a case of not caring about the cheapies. They do tend to get scratched up quite a bit fro m the blowing sand. If you have to do any vehicle operations, and you don't get issued the ESS Profile or Land Ops goggles, I suggest getting a pair of good fitting goggles as well.

And just out of habit for my active days,
Rakkassans (187 INF, 3rd BDE 101st) led the way... again while the 82nd sat around and watched on CNN. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evilgrin07.gif
At least they didn't get stuck with the French this time around.

Don't have anything to offer regarding sunglasses sorry, but just wanted to say Hi to Jack as you must be keeping up with this thread. I've left the country quite earlier than I expected and am a bit dissapointed.
Also, there has been a very unfortunate incident involving some of my fellow citizens. I wish for their safe return.

Apologies for this thread hijack. zlast1, Jack, Unicorn and all of you in Iraq, stay safe and the best of luck.
Nekomane

[ QUOTE ]
Unicorn said:
I'm guessing that since your in the 82nd, you should be gowing through the RFI where they issue a tone of the new toys.

[/ QUOTE ]
Actually, my 82nd days were back in 1987. I will be going over with a National Gurad unit now (Yup, I enlisted right after 9/11.......Umm, to tell you the truth, it took me a little while to get in proper physical shape this time around - /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif *then* I enlisted).
Anyway guys, thanks for the suggestions. I like the Wiley-X SG1.