--- title: "The 8 most useless pieces of gear ever issued" date: "2021-06-03" modified: "2021-06-04" authors: - name: "Blake Stilwell" job_title: "Editor-In-Chief, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/blake/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-trending/useless-gear/" categories: - "Join the Military" - "Military Culture" - "Tactical" --- # The 8 most useless pieces of gear ever issued ![]() Quality of gear aside, when the U.S. military is equipping its troops, it tries to ensure they have everything they need to defeat the enemy and – if funding permits – not be entirely miserable in the meantime. Given the Pentagon's track record with winning battles, one would have to concede they're doing a pretty good job. Operationally, however, the troops figure out very quickly what's going to work and what they need to improvise. ### 1. Mosquito Nets – Vietnam --- ![]() *Somewhere in there is a troop still trying to get out of his mosquito net.* One private in the Army who was deployed to an aircraft maintenance detachment in Vietnam mentions using the mosquito net diligently, just as he was trained. Except, when the base was attacked, he stumbled in the dark looking for the zipper, nearly getting himself killed in the process. He, like many in Vietnam, never used the mosquito net again. ### 2. Army Cold Weather Mask ![]() *"Bring out the E-3"* ### 3. Black Berets Are you into bondage? Then this is the issued gear for you. If you hate how much it itches your face or if you wear glasses, it definitely is not. ![]() *If they only wore them in dress blues, that would be one thing.* Patrol caps and boonie hats serve the dual purpose of protecting your head from the sun while giving your kevlar a place to rest. They're also both breathable and prevent the interior of the hat from becoming a swampy mess. The beret did none of these things, but the Army insisted every soldier wear one. ### 4. Sun-Wind-Dust Goggles – Iraq & Afghanistan ![]() The only Sun-Dust-Wind goggles that couldn't protect your eyes from sun, dust, or wind. All that and after a while, the padding slips out of place, the elastic wears out, and they become unwearable. Which isn't a big deal because they get so scratched up you can't see from them anyway. ### 5. NBC Gear – U.S. Navy ![]() The U.S. military's old MOPP system used what is essentially a charcoal suit to protect troops from chemical agents in the air. The only problem was they were useless when wet – which is exactly what happened to the sailors during nuclear, biological, chemical warfare drills when they had to start cleaning the ship. ### 6. Black Leather Gloves with Wool Inserts ![]() The dual glove system pretty much meant any fine motor skills you needed weren't going to happen while wearing these things. Many troops would take off the leather gloves to use their fingers, which promptly froze because the liners themselves were useless in the cold. ### 7. M65 Field Jacket ![]() *Have at it hipsters, you poor deserving bastards.* Speaking of things that are useless in the cold, there was a time when the only jacket issued for the battle dress uniform was this cruel joke. ### 8. Load-Bearing Equipment ![]() Presenting the most miserable troop of the 1980s. This is a great way to carry many different kinds of gear. Until someone starts shooting at you and you need to get down on the ground, stay low, and/or maneuver while you're down there. ## Author Blake Stilwell is We Are The Mighty's Editor-in-Chief, covering military news, entertainment, and history, along with veteran education, employment and entrepreneurship. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angeles, work that included ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO Sports. He then spent two years in Washington with White House Communications, before joining the Near East Foundation. At NEF he served as an International Development Fellow, then Communications Officer, and finally, Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media, and government and NGO partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015 with We Are The Mighty. He left in 2019 for Military.com, but returned as Editor-in-Chief in 2025. Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Task & Purpose, Military Times, Recoil, Skillset, American History, and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in Ohio, where he spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()