When you’re overseas or at war, you have a limit to what you can carry. Most of the gear a service member has on them is on their person, and it usually pertains to their uniforms and work-related items.

Active-duty military members must make the most of what they have so that they can rough the elements when the seasons change. Here are three ways to stay warm while deployed during winter for service members.

Make Use of the Layering System

Many people practice layering year-round, but it truly comes in handy during the winter season. If you follow the procedure the way that it was meant to be used, it can be a helpful tool when braving the elements.

The first thing you will want to do is have an inside layer, a tactical base layer clothing, that will protect your body and help ventilate to keep you from overheating. Usually, a breathable synthetic works well.

Next is the middle layer that will serve as your insulator, so a light sweater or something with some weight to it will serve well. And finally, your outer layer should be the shell of the whole system, blocking out any wind or precipitation from getting on your clothing and getting you wet. A light jacket or coat is usually all you need for this final step.

Cover Extremities and Weatherproof Them

It’s equally as important that you don’t forget to cover your extremities, as they help you with your mobility and most of the work that you do throughout the day. You will feel symptoms of frostbite on your extremities before anywhere else if you happen to develop it.

When you cover your hands and feet, make sure that you’re wearing gloves that are insulated but also weatherproofed to keep the heat in. This is equally important for your feet. If you lose too much heat, your feet will go numb, and you could risk losing them. This also goes for all your extremities.

Use Accessories Such as Hats and Chapstick

With the gear that you carry, it’s wise to have things like scarves, chapstick, headbands, and hats available so that you can protect your head. You might not think much of it now, but once the weather hits, you will sure wish you had prepared yourself.

Even something as simple as sunglasses for eye protection will go a long way, as the snow can have a nasty glare that bolts UV light right at your eyes. It will also protect them from the harsh, cold winds so that they don’t dry out and you can keep your vision.

Chapstick will keep your lips from cracking and bleeding, which is something everyone should be aware of during cold, dry spells.

So now that you know what to gear up on, you will be all set for the winter and should not have any problems moving forward. Just make sure to have multiples of certain items, that way you can always be prepared. These three ways to stay warm while deployed during winter only scrape the surface of what you can do once you’re out in the field. Get creative with it, and you will be able to take on any challenge that the weather and seasons bring.