When camouflaging yourself, consider that certain shapes are particular to humans. The enemy will look for these shapes. The shape of a hat, helmet, or black boots can give you away. Even animals know and run from the shape of a human silhouette. Break up your outline by placing small amounts of vegetation from the surrounding area in your uniform, equipment, and headgear. Try to reduce any shine from skin or equipment. Blend in with the surrounding colors and simulate the texture of your surroundings.
Change the outline of weapons and equipment by tying vegetation or strips of cloth onto them. Make sure the added camouflage does not hinder the equipment's operation. When hiding, cover yourself and your equipment with leaves, grass, or other local debris. Conceal any signaling devices you have prepared, but keep them ready for use.
Each area of the world and each climatic condition (arctic/winter,
temperate/jungle, or swamp/desert) has color patterns and textures
that are natural for that area. While color is self-explanatory,
texture defines the surface characteristics of something when
looking at it. For example, surface textures may be smooth, rough,
rocky, leafy, or many other possible combinations. Use color and
texture together to camouflage yourself effectively. It makes
little sense to cover yourself with dead, brown vegetation in
the middle of a large grassy field. Similarly, it would be useless
to camouflage yourself with green grass in the middle of a desert
or rocky area.
To hide and camouflage movement in any specific area of the world,
you must take on the color and texture of the immediate surroundings.
Use natural or man-made materials to camouflage yourself. Camouflage
paint, charcoal from burned paper or wood, mud, grass, leaves,
strips of cloth or burlap, pine boughs, and camouflaged uniforms
are a few examples.
Cover all areas of exposed skin, including face, hands, neck,
and ears. Use camouflage paint, charcoal, or mud to camouflage
yourself. Cover with a darker color areas that stick out more
and catch more light (forehead, nose, cheekbones, chin, and ears).
Cover other areas, particularly recessed or shaded areas (around
the eyes and under the chin), with lighter colors. Be sure to
use an irregular pattern. Attach vegetation from the area or strips
of cloth of the proper color to clothing and equipment. If you
use vegetation, replace it as it wilts. As you move through an
area, be alert to the color changes and modify your camouflage
colors as necessary.
Figure 21-1 gives a general idea of how to apply camouflage for
various areas and climates. Use appropriate colors for your surroundings.
The blotches or slashes will help to simulate texture.
Area Method
Temperate deciduous forest ..................Blotches
Coniferous forest ..................................Broad
slash
Jungle ...................................................Broad
slash
Desert ...................................................Slash
Arctic ....................................................Blotches
Grass or open area ................................Slash
As skin gets oily, it becomes shiny. Equipment with worn off
paint is also shiny. Even painted objects, if smooth, may shine.
Glass objects such as mirrors, glasses, binoculars, and telescopes
shine. You must cover these glass objects when not in use. Anything
that shines automatically attracts attention and will give away
your location.
Whenever possible, wash oily skin and reapply camouflage. Skin
oil will wash off camouflage, so reapply it frequently. If you
must wear glasses, camouflage them by applying a thin layer of
dust to the outside of the lenses. This layer of dust will reduce
the reflection of light. Cover shiny spots on equipment by painting,
covering with mud, or wrapping with cloth or tape. Pay particular
attention to covering boot eyelets, buckles on equipment, watches
and jewelry, zippers, and uniform insignia. Carry a signal mirror
in its designed pouch or in a pocket with the mirror portion facing
your body.
When hiding or traveling, stay in the deepest part of the shadows.
The outer edges of the shadows are lighter and the deeper parts
are darker. Remember, if you are in an area where there is plenty
of vegetation, keep as much vegetation between you and a potential
enemy as possible. This action will make it very hard for the
enemy to see you as the vegetation will partially mask you from
his view. Forcing an enemy to look through many layers of masking
vegetation will fatigue his eyes very quickly.
When traveling, especially in built-up areas at night, be aware
of where you cast your shadow. It may extend out around the comer
of a building and give away your position. Also, if you are in
a dark shadow and there is a light source to one side, an enemy
on the other side can see your silhouette against the light.
Movement, especially fast movement, attracts attention. If
at all possible, avoid movement in the presence of an enemy. If
capture appears imminent in your present location and you must
move, move away slowly, making as little noise as possible. By
moving slowly in a survival situation, you decrease the chance
of detection and conserve energy that you may need for long-term
survival or long-distance evasion.
When moving past obstacles, avoid going over them. If you must
climb over an obstacle, keep your body level with its top to avoid
silhouetting yourself. Do not silhouette yourself against the
skyline when crossing hills or ridges. When you are moving, you
will have difficulty detecting the movement of others. Stop frequently,
listen, and look around slowly to detect signs of hostile movement.
Noise attracts attention, especially if there is a sequence
of loud noises such as several snapping twigs. If possible, avoid
making any noise at all. Slow down your pace as much as necessary
to avoid making noise when moving around or away from possible
threats.
Use background noises to cover the noise of your movement. Sounds
of aircraft, trucks, generators, strong winds, and people talking
will cover some or all the sounds produced by your movement. Rain
will mask a lot of movement noise, but it also reduces your ability
to detect potential enemy noise.
Whether hunting animals or avoiding the enemy, it is always
wise to camouflage the scent associated with humans. Start by
washing yourself and your clothes without using soap. This washing
method removes soap and body odors. Avoiding strong smelling foods,
such as garlic, helps reduce body odors. Do not use tobacco products,
candy, gum, or cosmetics.
You can use aromatic herbs or plants to wash yourself and your
clothing, to rub on your body and clothing, or to chew on to camouflage
your breath. Pine needles, mint, or any similar aromatic plant
will help camouflage your scent from both animals and humans.
Standing in smoke from a fire can help mask your scent from animals.
While animals are afraid of fresh smoke from a fire, older smoke
scents are normal smells after forest fires and do not scare them.
While traveling, use your sense of smell to help you find or avoid
humans. Pay attention to smells associated with humans, such as
fire, cigarettes, gasoline, oil, soap, and food. Such smells may
alert you to their presence long before you can see or hear them,
depending on wind speed and direction. Note the wind's direction
and, when possible, approach from or skirt around on the downwind
side when nearing humans or animals.