Target Indicator SHINE

• By tire iron
• 24 May, 2014
• No Comments

SHINE

This installment in the Target Indicator series is SHINE.

SHINE – THINGS TO WATCH OUT FOR

We need to mitigate SHINE on almost everything we carry that is made from metal, plastic, polycarbonite (safety glasses) or glass, as these will all reflect light – which creates SHINE.

Metal – Shine

Metal objects are typically very shiny.  Metal is flat and hard, which makes it a good reflector of light.  So we need to “soften” it, which is done with flat color paint.  The flat paint absords the light cutting down on reflections.  Old school AK stocks are shiny wood, this is as bad or worse than the flat shiny metal of the AK.  The moral of the story is PAINT YOUR AK!  AR’s are typically not as shiny, the flat black anodizing, as well as the flat black furniture really cuts down on the SHINE factor.  However – since we know black is not a color found in nature very much – we paint our AR’s too.

Plastic – SHINE

Plastic, polycarbonite and glass is another compound that gear is made from that has high SHINE potential, due to these being hard and flat.  Watch faces, safety glasses, compass faces, scope lenses, bino lenses, flashlight lense, etc, are all things we must be aware of to mitigate the shine potential on our end, and to be situationally aware of when the enemy gives off shine to us.

Scope and Bino lenses can be covered with small net, which will cut down on glare.  A sweatband or the top of an OD sock that has been cutt off makes for a good watch cover.

There is not much that can be done with safety glasses except keep them in the shade.  This is done be wearing a hat, like a boonie hat.

DO NOT wear an old school anglehead flashlight on your ALICE gear.

Note the anglehead flashlights – and how the lens will reflect, especially if it were really sunny.

SKIN

Believe it or not – skin shines in sunlight and moonlight.  So – cammie your face! Cover as much skin as you can with clothing, wear a hat of some type (the “boonie hat” is an excellent choice as it does a good job of disguising shape as well as providing cover for the skin).  Be especially mindfull for when you are slick with sweat from physical excersion.  Sweaty skin is highly reflective and will be a SHINE violation.

WET

When things are wet, they are good reflecters of light.  Your nice, flat, camo’d rifle will be shiny after a rainstorm.  Same with your poncho, and other items.  You can’t always keep everything dry – the good news is that your enemy is in the same rainstorm (hopefully).  If they are, their stuff will be wet and shiny too.  Keep your eyes peeled for SHINE violations.

SO – watch out that you do not give off any SHINE violations and be situationally aware enough to catch your enemy’s shine violations!

Check out the video by clicking HERE.

As always, post any questions or comments below.

cheers

tire iron