Strike Tent Steps

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The squad leader should warn the other tent occupants 30 minutes prior to move out time.

To strike the tent:

  1. 30 minutes prior, pack personal gear.
  2. No later than fifteen minutes prior place all rucksacks and personal gear outside the tent, far enough out of the way that it will not hinder soldiers striking the tent. Keep this gear organized, to preclude the danger of losing items in the snow.
  3. No later than fifteen minutes prior, shut off the stove to allow it to cool.
  4. Remove all tent group equipment and pack into the ahkio. Remove the lantern and fire extinguisher out of the tent last. The fire extinguisher must be present as long as a flame-producing device operates in the tent.
  5. As soon as the stove body cools enough to touch, disassemble and pack stove. Care should be taken to keep stove components out of the snow. Even if the stove cools enough to touch, it is probably still warm enough to melt snow on contact. This melted snow will re-freeze, coating the stove component(s) with ice, making it difficult, if not impossible to set up/light at your next stop.
  6. Remove all corner and eave lines, roll and secure them. As you undo each, pull its corresponding tent pin from the ground and place it into the ahkio; failure to do so may result in their becoming lost in the snow.
  7. Zip both the liner and tent doors fully closed.
  8. Remove the tent pole and pole board. Collapse the pole and place it and the pole board in the ahkio.
  9. Remove the corner eave lines from their anchors and fully extend them. Remove remaining tent pins and place them into the ahkio.
  10. Shake the tent out to remove ice, snow and debris. Spread the tent out by pulling the apex. Fold the tent accordion-style.
  11. Daisy chain the six corner eave lines together, and place them on top of the tent.
  12. Fold the tent in half lengthwise, with the "daisy-chain" folded inside.
  13. Place the two shovels opposite one another in the center of the tent. Fold the tent into thirds and place it next to the ahkio.
  14. Remove any remaining equipment and/or trash from the tent site.