Very few people would automatically think of going to an army surplus store to buy camping gear, furniture or tools but this is probably the best place to shop especially if you are working with a tight budget. Admittedly, this kind of store can be a bit difficult to find. Owners hardly set up shop in malls or other popular hang-out places. But if you know where to find government surplus stores, then you just might be in for a great shopping spree.

The question that many people would like to ask is: what exactly can you buy from a military surplus store? The answer is quite simple: almost any object or tool that the army issues to its personnel can be availed of it in the said store. This might include military-standard furniture, vehicles and even weaponry. Smaller items might include: clothes, first aid kits and MRE or meal-ready-to-eat packets.

Because these items are considered surplus, prices are usually 10%to 75% less expensive as compared to its conventional counterparts that you will find in mall stores or with online merchants. Although the choices are somewhat limited, these might still suit whatever needs you have at the moment.

The sale of some of the larger and more dangerous items like vehicles and weaponry are not usually advertised in the local papers. But if you want to buy these, it is a good idea to establish regular contacts with a couple of military bases (e.g. National Guard) in your area and other organizations (third-party licensed contractors) that specialize in selling army items that needs to be liquidated, including scrap metal and recyclables. You might also want to sign up for regular alerts from government and online merchants so that you can get to sales or auctions that are held infrequently in certain army bases or camps.

However, if you are setting your sights on smaller and innocuous items, you can check out online stores and brick-and-mortar businesses that sell military surplus items. Smaller items that you can easily buy in an army surplus store include:

1. Protective gear and military standard clothes. You can buy gas masks, jackets, shoes and even an entire army-issued uniform.

2. Hunting or camping gear. These are actually the best selling items in the aforementioned stores. You can easily buy quality but discounted camp stoves, tents, duffel bags, wool blankets, etc.

3. Furniture. Army issued cots and a few tables and chairs are often times put up for sale too. This list might also include empty ammunition cases.

4. Personal first aid kits. These include: alcohol swabs, band aids, butterfly finger dressings, mini flashlight, pressure dressings, rolled gauze bandages, scissors, space blankets, tensor bandages, and triangular bandages. There are also smaller and more compact first aid kits available.

5. Other items include: MRE packets and flags.

Did you know that hundreds of women fought in the American Civil War on both the Union and Confederate sides?

What is so unusual about that?

Well, for one thing, women were not allowed to serve in the army at the time. In each of the hundreds of known cases – and there are surely many more we don’t know about – the women entered the army and fought alongside the other soldiers disguised as men.

How could that have passed the standard physicals given to soldiers? Well, apparently the standard physicals where not terribly thorough – or particularly physical for that matter. As the war drug on and the need for new soldiers became ever more acute, most army surgeons did nothing more than give new recruits a quick – fully clothed – once over and sent them into the fields.

Once there it was pretty easy to maintain the disguise, late Victorian mores being what they were. Most people bathed very little, relieved themselves in the woods and no one really knew what a woman should look like in pants.

Furthermore, the very idea of a woman joining the fighting was so foreign to most men that the presence of a high voiced, slightly built, smooth cheeked soldier would never make them think twice. That and the fact that many other high voiced, slightly built, smooth cheeked soldiers were joining as boys aged 16 and younger were lying about their ages and enlisting.

Gotta share one last thing with you – One of the known women to serve along side the male soldiers in the Civil War was named – get this – Melverina Elverina Peppercorn. That’s enough to make you want to fight right there.

Many people use Swiss Army knives, but army officers use them, and they are popular among hunters, and even outdoor fan and survivalists. Its many use permit for diverse people all across the earth to take benefit of one. It’s been known to rescue a person’s life in the or even when they are trapped. However, people need to beware when they have one in their ownership. It still has a lot of hazardous pieces to it, but you ought to use it no more than when you need it to let down the danger of damage or harm.

It should always be well cared for. Dulling it out the it is makes the knife and the tool almost useless. You ought to keep it as well kept up as possible because you may never know when the time will come when you’ll call for it. Because there are so lots of uses for them, there are several knives that can be a custom fit for the individual personality and skill of the end user. Flash Drives for the computer, screwdrivers for the carpenter, extra blades for the hunter, and can openers for the camper can be found easily on a Victorinox Swiss Army knife.

If you have or want to have this knife or are thinking about buying one as a gift, it is a wise thing to buy accessories for the victorinox champion plus and its inner tools. A leather carrying case or some kind of waterproof protective covering is the perfect choice to buy as a complement to this knife.

These swiss army knives are widely popular because of how tiny they are and the fact that they’re easy to carry and move around. It’s always amazing how many different uses a well made Swiss Army knife can have, but what’s even more astounding is the fact that can be very durable under any severe or harsh condition. It is always a sound idea to have one or two of them on you often. You can never know when you can use a good knife and multifunctional tool.

Most people think that watches are only for one thing – to keep time. But, women’s watches are used for much more than that! One of the reasons most women will buy something like a Swiss Army Watch is for the looks! Women are usually such fashionistas, even when it comes to something as simple as a watch, and thankfully with most watches available these days, they have so many different choices to choose from that will not only bring out their personality, but what they would be wearing that day as well!

Ladies watches differ depending on the style, design and brand. But, you are sure to see a few differences such as types of styles, colours, materials, types of bands, themes and most importantly – sizes. One of the more popular watches amongst not only women, but men as well is the trusty Swiss Army Watch. These watches really have a specific look to them, a look that makes people want to know what kind of a time piece it is and where you got it from! If you like getting attention for the things you wear, then a Swiss Army Watch is definitely for you! These are not only technologically advanced, more so than other watches, but it is amazingly made. Precision crafted metal that will captivate anyone!

While the Swiss Army Watch is more well-known for men, they have also becoming quite popular with women as well. Chances are it is because while they are rugged and durable, they are also incredibly functional, they include a much modernized design, and they are just… beautiful to be honest! You know a time piece is well-made when it includes things like synthetic stylized black cases, screw backs, rotating bezels and various jewels and strong metals – unlike nickel which is one of the weakest metals that you are getting an amazingly produced watch. Also, besides the Swiss Army Watch being well-constructed, durable, and nice to look at, the battery also lasts for quite a long time as well. Oftentimes this can become a problem with other watches because the user needs to change it time and time again, which really just becomes more of a pain than anything else. And if you have ever bought a time piece battery before, you know that they are not exactly cheap!

If you are like most people, you believe that a high quality watch is a watch that dreams are made of! A lot of people buy watches simply because of the price tag and the way it looks, it makes them feel popular, and rich, and lavish!

Over all, these Swiss Army Watches really are everything you ever dreamed of. Amazing price incredibly made, beautiful to look at and they also will keep on ticking! These watches have an anti-scratch wear and are shock resilient. If you use the standards that you have seen in this article, chances are you will love your new Swiss Army Watch!

Swiss Army knives and pocket knives were a unique life saving invention in the 1900s (created 1987), as different attachments were stored inside the handle of the knife through a pivot point mechanism. The most common tools featured are, in addition to the main blade, a smaller second blade, tweezers, toothpick, corkscrew, can opener, bottle opener, slotted/flat-head screwdriver(s), phillips-head screwdriver, nail file, scissors, saw, file, hook, magnifying glass, ballpoint pen, fish scaler, hex wrench w/bits, pliers, and a key chain.

These attachments provided the tools needed to stay alive in any conditions. One could create a fire, scale a fish, open canned goods (if available) and basically perform any necessary task to stay alive for a short period of time.

Smartphones such as the more advanced Blackberries, iPhones and Androids have the tools needed to survive in any condition in the new decade. Applications can be downloaded onto the cell phone for almost any need or desire and can also be used (not downloaded) in areas where there is no signal or no available internet.

Flashlight – There are a plethora of flashlight applications for your smartphone. If you are caught in the forest and need light, or need a little extra illumination during the walk to your seat at the movie theatre, a flashlight on your smartphone is much more useful than using the light from your regular phone.

SOS/ Morse Code Flasher – Some flashlight applications have an “SOS” or help setting, where you can actually send out SOS signals when in danger. Although it may not be seen as well as a fire, it still works and is a handy tool to keep on your phone.

Pocket First Aid – A great application for emergencies is a first aid application such as “Pocket First Aid.” Although it may seem a little unwise to check on your phone before performing the Heimlich Manoeuvre, it is helpful for people who do not know how to prevent shock or help a person in the event of a heart attack.

iDistress – An application for iPhone, I distress sends an SMS (text message) and email to three contacts simultaneously along with the users coordinates (down to the street number) for added response time. It dials a pre-selected number, in order to avoid the need to find the contact in the address book. Similar applications can be downloaded for Blackberry and Android.

Emergency Radio – An emergency radio can be downloaded to your smartphone, as is designed to act as a Police, Fire, EMS, ATC, Weather, Railroad, and Marine Scanner. Very helpful if there is no power near you.

Magnifying Glass – Magnifying glass applications are now available for download for almost all smartphones! Very important if you lose your glasses somewhere and need to read a sign or signal.

Clock – For people who are stuck in the woods or are without power, the clock on the smartphone will tell you not only what time it is, but what time zone as well. In addition, it will offer the time in multiple areas if needed.

Whistle – If you are in the woods and stuck somewhere, or are very lost, save your energy and use the whistle application for smartphone.

Language Translator – In case you are stuck in an emergency in a foreign country, or get VERY lost in your own, the language translator for smartphones will allow you to communicate with people in other languages. Although most applications do not take into consideration slang or most idioms, it still allows basic communication.

While batter life may run out, Blackberry and Android users can purchase additional batteries and use them in the event of an emergency.

Although the smartphone will never be able to replace the actual knife or tools of a Swiss Army knife, the smartphone can be a lifesaving tool in the event of an emergency.

Army boot camps play a vital role in transforming civilians into tough and disciplined soldiers. The people who undergo training at army boot camps or military boot camps are more obedient, prompt and they respond to commands given to them. All these things are required in army, as combat situations require a great deal of intelligence and bravery. These camps help to instill confidence and bravery in an individual.

These camps acknowledge the importance of team work. They encourage recruits to put team before self. The recruits are shaped psychologically, physically as well as mentally so that they can deal with extremely difficult situations that they face during the time of crisis. If any soldier is unable to perform his duties or responsibilities in a rightful manner, he can put himself as well as his unit in grave danger. Thus, it becomes important for a soldier to successfully undergo training in an army boot camp. You will also come across a lot of fitness programs that have borrowed the training and fitness schedules from the military boot camps and devised their weight loss or health plans.

In every camp, training is imparted through a trainer or an instructor, who is well versed and experienced in it. Recruits are formed into groups and trainer is assigned to the group to help them perform various tasks. Also, it's not that all the exercises or training schedules in training program are extremely tough and challenging, you will also find some traditional exercises being used including running sit-ups, thrusts etc. Nevertheless, majority of the exercises that are done in military boot camp are demanding and intense.

Perhaps the biggest benefit that this camp offers is that they make you more disciplined and people tend to continue with their daily workouts even after they leave the training. Also, the relationship between the recruits that is developed during the training program continues even after the training in finished. This also acts as a strong motivational force among the trainees.

Also, there is no place for monotony in these camps. The exercises differ widely. As the training in these camps progress, the exercises become much more challenging, adventurous and complicated. Thus, trainees have to push themselves really hard.

Lastly, if a person continues with the things that he had learnt in these camps, he will discover a healthy lifestyle which will be full of strength and energy.

With the declaration of World War 2 in 1939, the Australian Army decided to use the Balcombe Estuary area at Mount Martha on the Mornington Peninsula as a training ground. In 1940 The Army 4th Division took over the area and including trainees, numbered about 3000 personnel. Late in 1940 the Commonwealth Government purchased 209 acres from the Graves, Ostberg and Henty Families to establish a permanent camp.

According to the book “To Kokoda and Beyond” many of the men stationed at Balcombe Army Camp volunteered to join the 39th Battalion which fought on the Kokoda Trail.

After the Pearl Harbour attack by the Japanese in 1941 the US used the Balcombe Camp for rest and rehabilitation of American servicemen and it became Headquarters for the 1st Division of the US Marine Corps in 1942. They carried out beach landing exercises near Martha Point, using the ship HMAS Manoora. The HMAS Manoora was built for the Adelaide Steamship Company in 1935 and was requisitioned by the Royal Australian Navy in 1939.

After World War II, in 1947, The Army Apprentice School was established at the Balcombe Camp Here they trained as plumbers, electricians, fitters and turners, mechanics and carpenters among other trades.

In 1982 The apprentices school was moved to northern Victoria and he area around Balcombe Reserve was turned into a housing estate and recreational park.

The original parade grounds is now the car park for Mace oval and a boardwalk has been built from the mouth of Balcombe creek to the oval.

For more fascinating historical facts, photos, and other information about the magnificent Mornington Peninsula, please visit us.

Backpacking is one of the most popular hobbies these days. More and more people are heading out and seeking the solitude and beauty of nature. It's also a good time for this activity as advances in technology has made backpacking materials and equipment lighter and more compact. A decade or so ago, backpackers would probably need to bring gear like a water canteen, mess kit, matches, compass, bed roll, plumb hatchet and a sheathed knife. Now a large chunk of gear can be left behind and only the essential ones should be brought along. Whereas several kinds of knives might be necessary before, now all one needs is a good Swiss Army knife or two to ensure their safety and survival in the great outdoors. Here are some good knives to consider –

• Victorinox Swiss Army Camper: This classic pocket knife is one of the best knives to take along when trudging in nature. Crafted by Victorinox, this 3.5 "knife is equipped with tools for any situation that might come up while one is backpacking. The Camper has 2 blades, a bottle opener with screwdriver and wire stripper, a can opener with screwdriver, a corkscrew, a reamer With sewing eye, tweezers, toothpick and a wood saw. Each tool is made from stainless-steel materials, strong handles and an aluminum interior casing that helps the knife last for years.

• Victorinox Swiss Army Pioneer: This compact pocketknife is another good one to take along when backpacking, camping, hiking and even for puttering around the house. The Pioneer is a stylish, 3.5 "long Swiss knife that has handy mini-tools. Attachments included are one massive blade, a bottle opener with a big screwdriver, a can opener with a small screwdriver, a reamer and a wire stripper. The Pioneer boasts of high quality steel that has been made and hardened according to the tool's designated use.

• Victorinox Swiss Army Rambler: The compact and sturdy, 2 ¼ "Rambler should not be underestimated. It might be smaller than other backpacking knives, but it has 10 tools that are essential when you're on an outdoors adventure. The knife's stainless steel attachments include a blade, a bottle opener with a Philips screwdriver, a key ring, a nail file with a screwdriver, scissors, tweezers, wire stripper and toothpick.

• Victorinox Swiss Army Climber II: Another compact, backpacking knife from premier Swiss knife maker Victorinox. The Climber II is a light 3.55 ounces and a tidy 3.58 "when all tools are retracted. It comes with a good selection of more than 10 tools – a large blade and another, much smaller one, 2 screwdrivers, a bottle opener, can opener , a corkscrew, a hook for parcels, a key ring, scissors, reamer, and a wire stripper. The Climber II also has tweezers and a toothpick that are pulled out from the ends of the pocketknife. As with other Victorinox products, the Climber II is made from 100% stainless steel that can survive anything you throw at it.

Knives are one gear that should always be on your person when backpacking. The knives mentioned here are not only ideal for backpacking but also for ordinary, day to day activities.

In 1962 the pacifist policies of Pandit Nehru bore fruit and the Chinese Army mounted an offensive against the weakly held northern border in Ladakh and NEFA. The Chinese in a short time routed the Indian forces and the plains of India beckoned them But for some inexplicable reason they stopped their advance and declared a unilateral cease fire. Maybe their objective of cutting India to size and humiliating Nehru had been achieved. Gen Kaul and Gen Thapar the favorites of Nehru and the Defense Minister Krishna Menon had to go and the Indian nation did a lot of introspection.

The general appointed to take over 4 Corps at Tezpur was Lt Gen Harbaksh Singh. He quickly got down to the task and restored army morale and confidence in the eastern theatre. Later he was moved as commander 33 corps at Bengudubi near Siliguri.

War clouds were building up in the western theater as Pakistan under Gen Ayub khan thought it the right time to settle the Kashmir issue once and for all. They thus sent their raiders into the Kashmir valley and the Indian government had a difficult decision to make. But Shastri the then Indian Prime Minister reversed the negative policies of Nehru and adopted a proactive approach. He ordered the Army to open a second front on the Lahore sector.

In the mean time after his posting with the 33 Corps, Harbaksh was appointed as the GOC-in-C of the Western Command, whose area used to stretch from down south to Kashmir. He led the Western Command successfully against the Pakistan Army along the entire border. The outstanding leadership of Lt. Gen Harbaksh Singh played a key role in boosting the morale of a defeated army turning it into a striking force within just three years of the Chinese encounter.

However one factor must be mentioned. During the war in 1965 the Pakistan army equipped with Patton Tanks mounted an offensive in the Chamb jaurian sector. The COAS General Chaudhry panicked and ordered a withdrawal to the south of the Beas River to Harbaksh. This is confirmed by the war dispatches of Harbaksh as well as Gen Kaul in his book. History will forever remember that Harbaksh kept his nerve and disobeyed the COAS order. Punjab was saved. He was also a man decision as can be seen from the fact that he dismissed Mag Gen Niranjan Prasad for cowardice during the same war. Independent observers have confirmed this decision as correct.

The general was honored with a Padma Vibhusan, a rare honor for a soldier. He was to be made the Army chief and reports suggest that Sardar Swarn Singh the Defense minister was in his favor. But Indira Gandhi overnight bypassed Harbaksh in favor of Maneckshaw. The general retired from active service in 1969.

This was a cruel decision to a man who had done so much for India, but as a true soldier he took it in his stride and like the saying as an old soldier he just faded away. But Indians must remember that on that fateful day when Harbaksh took the decision not to fall back to the Beas he saved India. Let his souls rest in peace.

Have you heard of the salvation army auto auction? It is one of the Salvation Army’s ways of raising funds for their social improvement endeavors. This is their way of telling you to donate and help make a difference in another person’s life.

The Salvation Army is an international non-profit charitable institution that is based upon the ministry of service to the peoples of the world. Their work is based upon God’s love so if you do business with them you’re sure to get the fairest trade for your donations.

The organization will gladly accept donations that will help them in their cause. These donations can be monetary or not. A few dollars will do but others do donate something else of more value. These non monetary donations can probably be a few hectares of your land or if you don’t have any to spare, then you could certainly donate your auto. It is after all for a good cause and you actually do get something out of it.

These donations are tax deductible so you actually share in the organizations gain. You get to have someone sell your car for you in the salvation army auto auction and you get your sweet tax deduction; now isn’t that a good deal?

You can also get that sense of achievement knowing that what you did changed someone’s life. The proceeds go to the organization’s rehabilitation program in your area. The little act of donating your car will give someone a new chance at life and this will be a good chance since their growth and rehabilitation will be under the guidance of the charitable organization.

The car you donated may have been an old friend that has been your companion for several good years and you want to give her a great chance at a brand new life. It may be an over sentimental way of looking at it, but these cars do get sold at the salvation army auto auction to owners who want them and hopefully will love them the way you did.

There are two ways a person can donate and yet gain something at the same time. One is if you are the car donor. You get the satisfaction of giving away something in exchange for a better life for someone else; plus you also get the reward of tax deduction. Then two, if you win the bid at the auction then you get to have your car at a great bargain.

If you want to donate a car or find one at a bargain, then head on over to the resource below for details on the salvation army auto auction.