Putting together these cots makes basic look easy.

[@jarrid.b]

Supply - “They are handing out cots for those that want one.” Me- “I’d rather sleep on my PT mat…..”

[@chilogutierrez8760]

For real brother…. For real

[@rickygillett1932]

You guys had PT mats? Man you had it good. We just slept on the ground or in alcoves on our big trucks.

[@hitmanzerosix9978]

No greater truth.

[@cailhagen3571]

Until you learn about scorpions

[@qmangillett]

WTF is a PT mat?! Is that a new name for the sleeping pad lol

[@macaroniwithoutcheese175]

At the scout camp nearest me (Black Creek scout reservation), they use those same cots. When we are the last week of the summer we will break them down, but they come put together (mostly) but teaching the new guys how to fix it when that bar slips off the end (or fixing it myself in the dark) Is more of a pain in the butt than it ever needed to be.

[@jeremypace249]

I struggled with cots in the field for months as a 2LT until I learned the trick of using my own body weight on that last peg-hole bar. Just upend the cot, put a booted foot on the half-way-in-bar, and ease it down to the peg-hole until it pops in. You can take off the peg-bar the next morning by using your booted foot to get the bar out of the peg-hole. No extra bar needed. And yes, I've carried my own cot as an officer to the field for years.

[@Btap5140]

Which specialist showed you that?

[@nojackingoff]

@@Btap5140 lmao, he can't catch a break.

[@hitmanzerosix9978]

​@@nojackingoffLOL, Butters

[@thexnijxnij]

This is the way

[@g00gleisgayerthanaids56]

Of course, and youll just swap it out after you inevitably break the little plastic locking lugs, then some poor fuck has to struggle in futility for 5 minutes before realizing its never going to lock in anymore.

[@tc03firewatch]

Getting one of those new high speed one man tents back in their bags should be a asvab question/challenge 😂😂

[@lordflashheart3706]

I honestly think i was petty lucky in my cot selection because i never really had an issue putting them together. Where my cot was located, however was another story. It was like murphys law. The only uneventful night i spent on a cot was in those weird foam buildings at NTC.

[@LouisT0108]

I agree.... I am calling the hotel maid to do it.... Long Live The USAF 😂😅😂

[@SirBearingtonSupporter]

Just sleeping on one is hazardous, make sure you collect that pay.

[@LouisT0108]

@@SirBearingtonSupporter Hazardous Pay, Sub-Standart Living Conditions, and Mental Anguish pay.... triple pay thank you for the reminder....🤣😂🤣

[@TELBOYO10]

I spent 22 years in the RAF, one time we went to Camp Lejeune for a 2 month exercise we brought camp cots with us but the USMC delivered bunk beds for us to build inside these wooden sheds we were staying in. In 100 degree heat there was no way we were gonna sleep on a top bunk in a tin roofed shed. We told the driver to take his bunk beds away.

[@jimmyrittmann8208]

Not in military, but I had some surplus cots like these for Scout camp, and once I learned to stand it up and step on the cross bar, it became much easier

[@whitezombieiniraq]

I had a broom handle that I cut off and took with me to the field specifically for putting cots together.

[@vicvic3499]

Everyone knows you never put the second pole on the first night when u are exhausted and just throw it on the next day when you have the energy to wrestle the beast. 😂

[@ralffsmith2655]

We had a deal for everyone. If you wanted one of these, you only had to sign for it...and carry the clumsy , poking, p.o.s. It's amazing how few were ever issued to individuals 😊

[@spencegame]

We were being transferred this LMTV from another unit and the guy that drove it over was being major d-bag. "As is, so dont be complaining to me about anything, you gotta take it." Truck was filthy, full of trash, and all kinds of bullshit was broke on it. However, it did come with 10 cots, some TA-50, and a few spare parts for other vehicles. Homie came back a week later and was asking for some of the stuff back and I gave him a big shit eating grin and said "Nah that shit was 'As is' we cleaned it out. Whatever was in it is gone now." Pretty sure he was the company supply clerk and he was on the hook for all of that shit.

[@ralffsmith2655]

@spencegame i love it when a d-canoe gets beat with his own paddle. I was taught and passed on, "The most valuable thing you have is your name." If you are known as a "good guy" who won't needlessly fob people around, you can expect to get at least a fair shot.

[@bearb1asting]

Pinchies

[@tmccloudjr13]

That’s crazy cause you can tie them down pretty tight and they don’t move around. Used them all 9yrs.

[@SuperEcho64]

This is squad level task.

[@RomaniRai]

Ex Australian infantry here. Those bastard things were the most uncomfortable stress inducing places to lay my farter (sleeping bag) down on 😂 I’d rather sleep with the drop bears

[@Oleandra-13]

Remember having to use my entire body weight to brace and pull and...ugh. I worked in the supply room at one point and my SGT thought the rookies should have "fun" testing the 100+ cots to see if all the pieces were present and working. I don't miss the Army.

[@lordfrz9339]

My dad swiped a couple of those cotts when he got out in the 70s. They are still very good cots. Pretty much used them anytime we went camping or somebody slept over.

[@iamvezm]

Hook one side of the lose end in, stand it up with the part on the floor and stand on it. The. Use the leverage of the whole cot to put it in place.

[@thexnijxnij]

Some know the secret ways. Others...

[@carsonsugden9807]

My dad got my brother and I these when we were kids. Finally finishing them gave me that feeling too. Idk why they had to be made that way

[@jediknight1294]

Because they are actually solid designs vs the earlier ones

[@g00gleisgayerthanaids56]

Yeah, as the other guy said, theyre actually awesome to sleep on when theyre nice and taught.

[@grimreaper7044]

The guys who leave the end down know what life really needs.

[@twostep1953]

By having one cross-bar under the connectors you can stretch out the cot and get the other end connected 'correctly'. Not only does this keep the cot tight, but eliminates the wear on the end-connectors.

[@josephbishop3231]

💯 it's one helluva task

[@dominickalbino2839]

That bit about the last bed. To true, lol

[@brothertyler]

I put these together as a sporting event. They're not that bad if you leave them assembled for a few days and use it as a bench seat. The fabric stretches and it's not a huge pain to get the end bars put in. That, with a little lubricant in the joints makes for an easy time.

[@DooshBag7000]

We had those cots, we used them when camping. first time I did it, I was 7!

[@georgehopper7310]

Boy Scouts of America, Summer Camp, Camp White Beach, Okinawa '70, '71 and '72. Cots, mosquito netting and 20 man tents. Habus. Banana Spiders and outdoor latrines. Good times.

[@jinksomiabodyart3189]

🤣 good one, the one was a OG scout

[@fernandoburrage3388]

I had to fix like 70 of these at NTC

[@Godfadda]

I just left the loose end by my feet.

[@bobrice5159]

A scholar and a true professional. It made it perfect for not putting boots on your cot.

[@JustAnotherSmith]

ROFL...I did the same thing

[@josephrainbolt3849]

Me too

[@TheKauff]

I'd use it to raise my pillow as I'm a side sleeper. There's no way I'm packing a pillow big enough to be the right height for me.

[@g00gleisgayerthanaids56]

Back pain too?

[@flashthompson1085]

That end piece is always a pain in the ass.

[@SMILEY007]

Bro 😂😂😂. I have smacked the shit out of my face multiple times trying to get those fuckin bars set 😂

[@gssarin2765]

I had a Stanley Fatmax fubar on my ruck for just such occasions. It also doubled as a kickstand for the ruck, making a comfy backrest. Easily worth every extra ounce to carry it.

[@jasonm887]

For real man. I swear thats how i delt with this as well! Makes it so much easier

[@generalvictorironraven.1347]

What size fubar did you use?

[@gssarin2765]

@@generalvictorironraven.1347 15"

[@JC839]

I spent two months unable to figure out how to connect the head head and feet end bars. So I used my main pack to support my head and let my feet dangle for the whole duration of the ITX

[@JosephHenry-l5e]

We used to charge the butter bars $20 to assemble theirs.

[@slammer00x]

We always set up one for our W2 in NTC we we had a rotation out there.

[@dylan9610]

Same should go for those industrial field tents. Those supper sensitive and always bent in the wrong place tents.

[@masonmcgrew9790]

Cot assembly is ikea, but fun

[@kumakaroshi117]

Best nap after being awake 36 hours

[@timknapper6990]

Now I'm a civilian and I own a cot and the cussing you hear from me putting it together will make you think I was in the military

[@gohantanaka]

The field? Is that like the Hilton? Yes, I’m prior Air Force. Why did you ask?

[@dutchmorales3052]

The memories

[@jcaleca60]

I was a emergency electrician. For New York City fire. Had to stay with Generator When Utility company power went out. Sometimes for a week. The army cot help a lot. Better than sleeping on a concrete floor.

[@sl600rt]

I had a butter bar fresh from west point that couldn't figure out how to set up a cot.

[@slammer00x]

They thought they were in the chair force.....

[@Qui-Dad-Jinn]

Paracord or tarred line with a good strong log/branch/stick. Won't be pretty, but it's mostly functional(ish).

[@corbinbollschweiler2130]

It’s better than when command says it’s time to turn in, dig a ditch, while they have a tent set up already or are posted up in the range tower

[@jameswood3239]

Slept on one in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and Tusla, Bosnia. Not bad.

[@Dave_300]

I've seen so many more Army guys mess this up and no clue how to fix than Air Force guys. I've deployed 7 times to Afghan fobs. It's always funny seeing new guys come in and say where do I sleep. Haha we say anywhere you can.

[@EdgyShooter]

God I remember the old version of these that essentially looked like stretchers with coat hangers on the bottom, if you did the legs out of the magical order, unique to every bed, it became impossible to complete without either you or it breaking

[@direwolf8703]

I've been putting them together since I was a kid

[@johnb8440]

Legitimately, I have been putting them together since I was about 8 years old. Dad had one and if I had friends staying over I had to put it together.

[@Rougar00u]

In the Air Guard, enjoy those beautiful baby's every hurricane season in Louisiana.

[@drvgxn4719]

I have a cot as a bed. Once disconnected and took all my strength to put it back on.

[@semperfi-1918]

Tottaly can relate. Theres always 1.

[@johnstewart1404]

laughs in navy coffin rack

[@dgeneeknapp3168]

Air Force medic in the 80s and 90s here. I put one of these damned things together every damned time I was in the field.... strangely, I joined the AF BECAUSE I didn't want to go camping. Both my current and exhusbands are veterans of the era as well, and I spent more time in the feild (and live fired weapons for qualification) than the both of the COMBINED. So much for "join the AF....they don't camp." 🤷

[@aidenashford3129]

Can confirm I use one very similar for long camping trips and it's a pain to put together

[@johnbasedman4988]

Stand it up, step on the end that isn't attached yet, and push the cot to the side and rotate it into the bar you are standing on.

[@g00gleisgayerthanaids56]

Ah, so youre the guy who breaks the plastic locking lugs, fuck you very much lmao Im jk btw

[@phillipallen3259]

Super secret, if you only add one of your end pieces the cot is a lot softer. Also doing this prevents really tall people's ankles from hurting in the morning. I'm not really tall so the second part is only hearsay.

[@bobsaget7164]

It’s all fun till that last foot bar which you need another food bar to do so someone always picks the short straw lol

[@joewilson3393]

I always just left the end unhooked. It was never tight, but it held me off the ground

[@thomasgeorge4384]

... I remember having to put together a whole mess of these things... worst part was they were Marine Corps issue and we had to bodge them together with parts missing and the leg trick not working.

[@MaxxYurri]

I had one of those in boy scouts, it took me at least an hour everytime. its so fun

[@xon662]

Lol in the Marines a cot is like a 5 star hotel we got sleep system in the dirt that's it but you can use a 16 to assemble one. Not sure if a stubby m4 can be used we didn't have too many of them. Also just make the boot not have a leg one. Most of the time we had like 25% missing legs a pack can hold them up for like the 3 times in my 4 years of service I've had them.

[@tommothedog]

That person without there's together is actually the guy who was going round holding the pieces for everyone else while they were putting up theirs. I'm that guy.

[@sgtstr3am785]

That big guy who pinches his finger then next thing you know theres a flying cot cot overhead

[@TrippinBusa]

As a short ish marine mine was the leg that got used to put it all together. Did not fully assemble my cot. Still more comfortable than being on the floor

[@jagerwahl]

Must be nice to be able to sleep on a cot (grumbles in grunt)

[@spacedout8462]

Facts fam lol

[@g00gleisgayerthanaids56]

Youd just sleep on the ground in the tents? What unit were you in? I was 2/503 173... airborne light infantry... we absolutely had and used cots... unless we were doing an overnight mission. In which case, the ground is always more comfortable than trying to sleep in the trucks. Legit would rather sleep outside in a german winter with nothing but a sleeping bag and bivvy cover than try to sleep in the damn 1151.

[@jagerwahl]

@g00gleisgayerthanaids56 we didn't even use tents lol I was in 4-9 1SBCT 4ID outta Carson. We just slept on the ground cause that's all we had

[@g00gleisgayerthanaids56]

@@jagerwahl you were mounted right?

[@jagerwahl]

@g00gleisgayerthanaids56 our unit didn't see us as mounted. They wanted us to be light but had to use the strykers like LMTVs. Let's dismount 15 klicks from the objective and then keep our strykers in the rear for evac. No fire support it was a shit show.

[@g00gleisgayerthanaids56]

Those cots are legit, it sucks when youre struggling for 5 minutes only to realize the little plastic nub is broken so the end just wont lock in... fuckin great, i was looking forward to this firm bed, but now i get lower back pain for the entire ftx.

[@velarswood]

I liked sleeping on the cot besides having to Hulk the end bars together. Granted I only spent like 5 nights with it but better then sleeping on the armory floor.

[@thexnijxnij]

You step on it. Place the second bar, stand the cot up on its end, step on the bar, easy peasy. I used to assemble my cot inside my 1-person tent. Hooah

[@blakebindus3102]

That's why I bought my own

[@kapsanscrazypsycho2735]

I went to my grandparents for my birthday one year and all the beds were taken and I had to use my grandpa’s old cot, that thing was comfy as fuck but goddamn do I want to punch whoever designed it

[@williamwilcox6031]

I always just slept in the humvee. Ops officer was gonna wake me up to drive him somewhere at 2a.m. anyway, might as well save the trip.

[@KollektorKahn]

I always use the old ones.

[@NebulousPenguin]

Space Force: "You mean you guys leave Colorado?"

[@kenstaten-l2i]

You are not kidding those things are a pain- the first one I never had to open I kept with me every deployment! AFSOC rules baby

[@Heather-xm9ul]

I never bothered with the foot bar. I just got used to having a cot for my top half, and a hammock for my bottom half.

[@steventucker6057]

In the desert in the snow... it was a well used piece of equipment...

[@i8764theKevassitant]

My gramps gave us a couple and id sleep in my cousins room in our house on the cot so we could watch DBZ together and play games. Miss you holdy

[@rrc3]

Did both sides of the equation. Never had problems putting the cot together. Still prefer the hotels, though.

[@katietheekat]

I agree with putting one of these together being a basic requirement.

[@davidm8371]

To be nostalgic, I was slightly disappointed when I found that the camping ones at Walmart weren't impossible to put together.

[@stonks_n_chomps_gaming92]

LOL I have three in my storage shed with the inflatable mats

[@ladytalksalot4097]

Air Force, here. Putting those cots together suuuuuucks, but yeah, it's satisfying 😂

[@rikyleholstine3452]

I put together every cot for our company once. The last one has two different lengths for the bars running lengthwise. I had to bend it to make it fit. It took three of us. The guy that slept in it broke it the last day in the field so that we didn't have to put it together again. The only part of this that is a lie is that I put them all together, the actual last one had to be pieced out for its parts and had a massive rip in the bed.

[@gravewalkerz7787]

Easy peasy, its all in the technique. Stand cot up on the short end your trying to put together and step on the cross bar with your foot and use the entire cot as a lever.

[@garyblack8717]

Wrestling with the end bar until you finally just give up and leave it on top instead and put your pillow on it. Get one end on finally then it falls off when you try to pry the other end on! Oh, and you're wet, the grounds wet, it's 40 degrees, and you just spent an hour in a fox hole!

[@tiffanydelgado342]

I was decent enough at putting them together that I’d get like $5 to put up someone else’s 😂 the tension and the order of assembly is the trick

[@RCQuadPatriot94]

My platoon tactically acquired another platoons cot leg to put all of ours together. They never noticed😬 of course that’s if we were able to use them and not having to sleep on the ground or in our trucks.

[@dougkeyes4406]

Looks like a simple enough task

[@bullithedjames937]

I was the only one in my battalion who could fully assemble 1 of them.

[@Fixxate]

I've been putting those together since cub scouts it's easy

[@dylanclark9488]

90% of ours were missing the end poles lol

[@charliecoronado4657]

Air force called maid support 😂

[@chasingthetrail9375]

I mean we used to have to put them together along with a field tent for beast week but they got rid of that last I heard sucks that was the best part

[@einsteinjr3021]

Some of the best sleep I ever got was on one of these cots :D

[@Justinwiggler1]

If the other branches had half the intelligence of Air Force members, they could put their cots together, and disassemble them without problems too. I never had an issue in assembling mine.

[@theduke7539]

man, maybe I really abused myself with my friends, but I consider sleeping on cots while out in the field a luxury, and I find putting them together relatively easy. Compared to building a hooch with an old tarp and paracord and trying not tie the hammock too close to either end so that the hammock acts like a rain bucket because the tarp is always 6 inches too short.

[@WillieBrownsWeiner]

1 humanitarian mission will fulfill that requirement in spades.

[@thinkingape7655]

Just gotta roll the last end piece onto the nubs. Work smarter, not harder. 😉

[@oliviaolsen8718]

I wanna see it being put together

[@swagnut9864]

When I put the cot together for the first time it took me a good 20 minutes 😅😂

[@NoName-OG1]

Two sides NP! The two ENDS are a secret leverage trick that can only be solved by the end of another cot!

[@tek4]

They suck but you have to be covered in vasoline and the cot too, cause grip strength

[@nathanielserra874]

Cloth and wood lol

[@andrewmonahan8358]

In Canada we sleep on the ground with a shitty half inch foam roll out. I wish we got cots