Tent: The Camping Equipment For the Military
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Tents can be as large as marquees or circus tents, or as small as the bivouac to accommodate just one person lying down. They have a rich tradition among nomadic peoples across the globe, from the natives of the American continents to the Mongols in present day China. Today, they are employed by Mongols and Bedouin and numerous other ethnic groups as standard habitations. However, they are also frequently required camping equipment for vacation makers and backpackers.
Tents usually comprise sheets of fabric and a framework that is made of wood or metal and ropes. The poles and ropes hold the fabric in place above a ground sheet which may be made of a more durable or a harder material than the sheet which makes up the roof of the tent. The reasons for this are obvious. For example, one of the main purposes of the roof material in the tent may be to prevent rain and provide shelter. The ground sheet, meanwhile, will also have to prevent water from seeping into those staying in the tent. However, it may need to be made of a thicker material to prevent bugs or insects from penetrating the tent or to provide a level of comfort that the thinner material may not provide.
Thanks to the portability of even large sized tents, many armies use these pieces of camping equipment, although they wouldn’t be classed as “camping equipment” when used to accommodate platoons, companies, and regiments in the Armed Forces of any nation. They are used to house field hospitals by many armies. They often have the ability to accommodate humidifiers or air condition devices, as well as medical equipment. The US Armed Forces have operating procedures and quality controls when it comes to tent set up and maintenance. Among the kinds of housing that tents can be employed for, there are entire Forward Operating Bases, barracks (sleeping quarters), dining quarters, and tactical operations centers. Tents can be expanded or added to and can be rapidly deployed, much like the armed forces they are there to accommodate. It makes the occupation of an area far easier if permanent buildings do not have to be built. The temporary nature of the tent also means that an occupying force’s presence in an area can be less psychologically debilitating to a people, enabling them to understand that the armed force will not be a permanent presence, but is only there to offer temporary relief.
However, smaller groups of soldiers can use “camping equipment” style tents effectively. This enhances the ability of a military force to set up very small outposts in regions where they are necessary. These tents can be carried by each member of a team in backpacks, or perhaps by one individual in the team if the tent is large enough to accommodate each soldier. If a longer term presence is required, more solid bunkers or quarters can be built by a small force using – for example – tin roofs, bricks and sandbags – while the temporary tents are used in the meantime.