--- title: "6 pieces of gear you won’t believe the military used" description: "Military budgets can contain some surprising items. These six pieces of gear probably raised some eyebrows when they were purchased." date: "2022-04-02" modified: "2023-03-29" authors: - name: "Logan Nye" job_title: "Senior Contributor, Army Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/logan-nye/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/lists/weird-military-gear/" categories: - "Tactical" --- # 6 pieces of gear you won’t believe the military used ![military gear]() Military budgets can contain some surprising items. These six pieces of gear probably raised some eyebrows when they were purchased. ## Here are 6 pieces of gear you won't believe the military used ### 1. Skateboards ![gear]() *Photo: US Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Christopher L. Vallee* Skateboards were tested during [Urban Warrior]() '99 for potential use in detecting booby traps and avoiding sniper fire. Documents from the exercise don't discuss how the "[urban combat skateboard]()" was to be employed, but the boards never made it to full fielding. ### 2. Go-karts ![gear]() *Photo: US Army Staff Sgt. Jason Hull* The ultra-lightweight combat vehicle is [currently in testing]() with the Army's 82nd Airborne Division, but [earlier versions have already ]()[seen]()[ combat]() with special operations troops in Afghanistan. The vehicles are easily delivered by air and can be used by paratroopers to quickly move around a drop zone, allowing them to mass forces for an assault, quickly move crew-served weapons around the battlefield, and evacuate wounded troops to a casualty collection point. ### 3. Video game controllers Since more than [half of adults play video games]() and the [average gamer plays 6.3 hours per week](), it's no surprise that many service members are handy with video game controllers. The military is capitalizing on that by [using video game controllers]() to replace unintuitive controls for certain weapons systems and drones. ### 4. Radioactive identification markers Small, [radioactive markers were worn by some World War II squad leaders]() so their troops could follow them easily at night. The "luminous discs" were painted with radium. After being exposed to light for a short period, they'd emit a glow for hours. Experiments with the technology [dated]()[ back to 1912]() when the Army was testing them for cavalry units. ### 5. Skis ![gear]() *Photo: US Army Staff Sgt. Michael Selvage* Quite a few modern militaries use ski troops, including three branches of the U.S. Armed Forces: The Navy, Marine Corps, and Army. The training and equipment allows the service members to move quickly in winter, mountain, and arctic environments. ### 6. Children's toys ![]() *Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Gloumouth1* When Allied paratroopers jumped into Normandy on D-Day, they needed a way to identify each other in the dark behind German lines. Military planners came up with [brass versions of a common children's toy](), the cricket noise maker. Troops would click the noisemaker while near an unknown person in the dark. If the other person responded with a click or code word, the soldiers knew each other as friendly. ### NOW: [8 genius military uses for civilian products ]() ### OR: DARPA's new android app can call in air strikes ## Author Logan was an Army journalist and paratrooper in the 82nd. Now, he's a freelance writer covering military history, culture, and technology. He has two upcoming podcasts and a Twitch channel focused on basic military literacy. ### Author social links [Twitter]() [Facebook]()