How to set up a military Ten Man Arctic Tent
             As a recently discharged combat veteran, I had to deal with all the seasons. While I was stationed at Fort Drum, NY, I had to especially deal with the extreme cold. The temperature there in the winter reached as low as -40 degrees. The U.S. Army's way to accommodate for us was for us to use their Ten Man Arctic Tents. The materials needed are a mini-sledge hammer and a Ten Man Arctic Tent Kit, which includes 1-tent shelter, 8-12 inch tent spikes, 8- 15 foot guide ropes, 1- floor liner, and 1-center pole. This is how to properly set up the Ten Man Arctic Tent using three stages. They are preparation, set up and final precautions.
             First you have to prepare for set up. Begin by clearing as much snow as possible from the area where you want to place the tent. Then, spread out the tent floor liner in the area where you cleared out the snow. Next, measure approximately 5 feet from the edge of the liner using your footsteps as measurement. Repeat this step 8 times evenly around the perimeter of the liner, clearing out the snow about 18 inches around each area you measured.
             Now you are ready to begin set up of the actual tent. Begin with spreading the tent shelter out over the floor liner. Tie all 8 pieces of rope together on one end. Then, lace the 15 foot rope through the loops that are on the exterior of the tent shelter, starting from top to bottom. The loops are labeled alphabetically A-H. Each individual rope is only laced through the loops that have matching letters, for example the rope that starts in a loop labeled A at the top, must run through only the A's all the way to the bottom. Second, you have to hammer the 8 tent stakes in the ground at the 8 areas where you measured and cleared the snow. Make sure when you drive the stakes in the ground that you are extremely careful of your hands. Also make sure the stake is not driven more than ¾ of the way into the ground, ...