Israeli military watch covers- do other armies have them??

[IDFM203]

Is there any type of watch cover or any mandate to have one in the U.S. military or in any other military?!? I mean every time I look at some U.S. soldiers picture or any other armed forces in the world, I always wonder why they don’t have a watch covering like we do in Israel to prevent the reflection that the glass gives off. I mean it’s very simple to make. It’s a little thing like that, when if overlooked, wont seem so little in an ambush setting when the enemy spots you simply from the glare coming from the glass from your watch.

Here is just a couple of samples of watch covers and a couple of pics of soldiers with them.


http://www.israelmilitary.com/imp/images/bigimg36585.jpg
http://www.israelmilitary.com/imp/images/bigimg36587.jpg
here is a pic with a soldier with one of these. (its on HIS right hand)
http://www.waronline.org/IDF/pictures/Army/Misc_Soldiers/images/403.JPG
or heres a pic with a homemade elestic covering ((on the second soldiers LEFT hand)
http://www.isayeret.com/units/land/infantry/golany/273.jpg


Now I am just curious if other militaries have this same concept and give out watch covers and if not, why not?!?[/

[Jack Mehoff]

I used to have one of this. Wearing a watch is not a requirement in US infantry, but if someone ask me what time is it then I just smack them over the head with a wet mop.

http://www.casablancawatch.com/watches/images/military-watch-strap.jpg

[IDFM203]

I used to have one of this. Wearing a watch is not a requirement in US infantry, but if someone ask me what time is it then I just smack them over the head with a wet mop.

http://www.casablancawatch.com/watches/images/military-watch-strap.jpgso not only arent there any watch covers, your telling me that watches are not required in the infentry ranks at all?!? is that possible?!? why?!?

[Jack Mehoff]

1)I alway tuck my watch underneat my BDU sleeve so there is no point for camo. It's not part of the our uniform code to wear a big ass watch on top of our BDU sleeve anyway, at least not in garrison.
2)Just because they don't make us buy watch doesn't mean we don't wear them

[aeternum]

German army: (watch cover is not an requirenment or part of the standard unifrom tho.)


http://www.soldat-und-technik.de/8-2003/mp713.gif

http://www.soldat-und-technik.de/8-2003/mp16.gif

[seventy6er]

They are not issued with the regular gear here in Germany, but you can get that stuff in your first week during basic training. Nothing special bout it. Why shouldn't other armies have watch-covers? Is that sth very special? Just wondering... :oops:

[Seraphim]

German army: (watch cover is not an requirenment or part of the standard unifrom tho.)


http://www.soldat-und-technik.de/8-2003/mp713.gif

http://www.soldat-und-technik.de/8-2003/mp16.gif


What gun is that? Looks like it has a foldable foregrip.

[aeternum]

H&K MP7.. Will be issued to the German Army in 2004 as part of the program "Infanterist der Zukunft" our counterpart to the US Landwarrior.

[seventy6er]

http://www.seventy6er.de/bilder/div/idz/mp7_wtr_01.jpg


http://www.seventy6er.de/bilder/div/idz/mp7_wtr_02.jpg

[Apogee]

I know alot of guys who wear this type (A & B) of watch cover when we go to the field (which isn't often enough). Also alot of guys swear by them for jumping out of planes.

http://www.rangerjoes.com/images/0385_4565_6354_6355-od.jpg

stright off of the ol' Ranger Joes Website
http://www.rangerjoes.com

Hope that helps. I can't tell you what guys out on the line do though.

[IDFM203]

Actually “a” and “b” from your picture is also very popular throughout the IDF.

I am happy to see other militaries have them, I had hoped and assumed that they would, its just that I had never seen any picture of it.

I am just curious to know why it is not standard issued equipment for all front line infantry troops and not just a select few in the special forces. ?!?

[Jack Mehoff]

Actually “a” and “b” from your picture is also very popular throughout the IDF.

I am happy to see other militaries have them, I had hoped and assumed that they would, its just that I had never seen any picture of it.

I am just curious to know why it is not standard issued equipment for all front line infantry troops and not just a select few in the special forces. ?!?

ummm...go to the PX with 10 bucks and you have a choice to pick them in a variety of color: green, brown, black. See how easy that was?

http://www.rangerjoes.com/images/0385_4565_6354_6355-od.jpg

^^^I got one of of these somewhere in the basement

[IDFM203]

Actually “a” and “b” from your picture is also very popular throughout the IDF.

I am happy to see other militaries have them, I had hoped and assumed that they would, its just that I had never seen any picture of it.

I am just curious to know why it is not standard issued equipment for all front line infantry troops and not just a select few in the special forces. ?!?

ummm...go to the PX with 10 bucks and you have a choice to pick them in a variety of color: green, brown, black. See how easy that was?

[twhat?!? ten buck?!? Why so much?!? :D :D Oh and they can be found in every infantry base?!? (I doubt it).
Listen I don’t want to get into something here. I am happy that it is in use in the U.S. military. I just never have seen any pic of it on a U.S. soldier and it seems to me that it is in fact an over looked item in the U.S. military. Meaning except for a select few in the spec ops community (who I guess volatility put them on), it is not something that is really used throughout the U.S. infantry and combat ranks

I would be most happy to be wrong here.

It is a small and simple thing that when over looked especially in a combat ambushe type of a setting, can in fact become a huge problem for it can give away your position simply from the glare emanating from the glass on your watch.

[Jack Mehoff]

I'll try to find my old watch with camo cover and put it up here.

Edit: i'm no special ops, just a regular grunt.
Yes, you can find camo cover for your watch in any PX in any military base.

[...]

Most infantry Marines I know just wear their watch on the inside of the wrist under their rolled down sleaves.

[Jack Mehoff]

Most infantry Marines I know just wear their watch on the inside of the wrist under their rolled down sleaves.

Precisely, most people will learn very quick within first two day of basic/bootcamp that a watch is a necessity. No need for the military to mandate everybody to have a watch. Clean underwear? Yes

[Trigger]

I like to smear greasepaint on my watch face. I use darker colors for the more prominent features (bezel, buttons, etc.) and lighter colors for the less prominent areas. I generally try to work in a tiger striped pattern that will hopefully blend in with my surroundings. p-)

[Jack Mehoff]

I found it. Here's my camo watch I bought it way back in basic training. I can't believe I still have this POS to this day.

http://www.nastyburger.com/watch.jpg

[Apogee]

I think you may be getting a little confused IDF. Ranger Joes is just a catologe out of FT Benning. Anyone can and does buy stuff out of it. Its not restricted to SOF guys. Alot of the stuff you find in there can be found at a good PX.

[Jack Mehoff]

You can buy/own anything just like the special operation guys, except having a long ass beard and unkempt hair

[Mortimer]

i just cut the top off an army issue sock and put it over my watch...works fine.

[Tom.G]

Why don't you just tuck your watch under your sleve?

[S'13]

Why don't you just tuck your watch under your sleve?

What if you have your hand stretched out and your watch can then be seen? Also anyone who has been to Israel will tell you that Israel can sometimes be a very hot place and soldiers sometimes roll there sleves back in order to keep cool.

[digrar]

So unless you were going to put cam cream up to your elbows, why would you bother camming up your watch?

I used the top of a sock like the majority of the blokes I served with.

[Apogee]

just wear some long cuff CVC gloves or flight gloves that covers your watch. And it keeps your hands protected and camo'ed up. Thats what I do.

[S'13]

So unless you were going to put cam cream up to your elbows, why would you bother camming up your watch?

Your skin is nothing compared to the reflection of light which can be caused by your watch.

[Deuterium]

The most popular watch in Special Forces right now is the Suunto. It replaced the Casio G-shock. Before that, and still popular today, is a Rolex GMT II or Submariner. At one time scuba dets were issued a Tudor(Rolex knock-off).

[11F5S]

I know alot of guys who wear this type (A & B) of watch cover when we go to the field (which isn't often enough). Also alot of guys swear by them for jumping out of planes.

How times have changed...back in the day we preferred parachutes for jumping out of aircraft. :lol:

[alon]

Hello your private messages were full so please get back to me ..

Hello....

I have a couple questions for you and I hope you can answer me, becasue they will help me SO much...

I'm graduating highschool this year and Ever wsince i was 12 years old it was my goal to go to the IDF..

I am an american citizien, I go to israel every summer and speak perfectly fluent hebrew.

I am aware one of the best options for me is the mahal program..

The problem is that I do not want to be limited to only the nahal unit.. From your pics you are from the Palsar Nahal right? That is the Nahal special forces...

Here are my questions..

1. Are you an american that volunteered?
2. How did you get into palsar nahal, or any sayeret for that means.. Do i simply ask or what??

3. Was there a physical test you had to pass to get in? what did it consist of???

Thank you very much..

your answers will help me on my quest to becoming an israeli combat soldier ( special forces BE EZRAT ASHEM) .. I'll be sure to provide this board with nice pics ;)

[RP]

This is better to "General Discussion" forum.
Also, If you have Hebrew fonts on your computer, I suggest you'll try this forum - Altough that it's possible to write there in english.
http://www.fresh.co.il/vBulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=21 - It's an Israeli forums for people who're about to be drafted.

[alon]

I cant really read hebrew that well, all i remmeber is basic **** from right before my barmitzvah.. but i speak and understand fluent... If someoen can help me please message me..
i am going to serve either way i just dont want to end up JUST doing guard duty the whole time wasting 3 years of my life.. because many mahalniks told me not to go to regular nahal or you will regret it..

[NimDod]

I cant really read hebrew that well, all i remmeber is basic **** from right before my barmitzvah.. but i speak and understand fluent... If someoen can help me please message me..
i am going to serve either way i just dont want to end up JUST doing guard duty the whole time wasting 3 years of my life.. because many mahalniks told me not to go to regular nahal or you will regret it..

This site might help you out a bit:
the Israeli special forces database (even though some of its data is a bit old).
http://www.isayeret.com/content/

personally, I think the Nahal is great (Mostly because I once heard that an average female soldier in the Nahal gets 1.6 abortions during her service).

good luck.

[alon]

thank you but I know about all the units I just need more information on how to get into them since i am an american citizen it is alot harder..

Also, Isayeret sold out!!