Speaking of Navy SEAL, I just learned that part of their required gear is a pencil and paper.

How on earth would they have got their man without pen and paper!!

No batteries or signal required. Silent communication, the paper burns and I suppose a pencil could pith.

I have moleskines in every bag (including purses and dog walking pouch) and vehicle.

I am curious what are all the uses the SEALs anticipate.

From the unofficial and totally imaginary Official Seal Book:
Paper:
1. Papercut neck. Victim may eventually bleed out. If not, it really stings!
2. Parachute. Rip out all pages, glue together.
3. Toilet paper. Be careful of papercuts!
4. Picture of Bin Laden (thanks for above demonstration)
5. Deck of cards. Pull out pages on long helo ride to target, make into deck.
6. Firestarter. For those times when the helo won't lift off.
7. Paper airplanes. For when both helo's won't work.

Pen:
1. Pithing victim.
2. Poking eyes out.
3. Writing instrument. Preferably after cleaning if used for activity 1 or 2
4. Double as pen-gun.
5. If fountain pen, may be squirt into target's eyes to temporarily blind.
6. If quill pen, may temporaily incapacitate by tickling target.
7. Fire starting. Can be used with "bow" method
8. Drum stick. Useful for signaling to others.

Be careful not to tell others about official SEAL usage of said instruments!!

Too funny, love the photo. I still carry the 'stubby pencil & notepad'. Moleskines are awesome both the small paperback and the hardcover. Thats for me to write my notes on, but if I am thinking I need to mark a trail or leave a sign of my passing I sometimes carry a 35mm film case stuffed with neon orange plastic tape and carry a small sharpie to write on it.

SEALs aren't the only ones who carry pencils and paper. Most troops do, if they have a lick of sense.

Pencils don't run out of ink. You sharpen them with a knife as needed. Eraser runs out, no problem, sharpen that end too.

Paper. Personally, I carry 3x5 cards, as well as 5x8.
Range cards for fixed postions
Sketches of recon objectives
Writing out orders in standard 5 paragraph format
many more uses

Didn't carry a wallet in the field. Carried my notebook with the 3x5 and 5x8 cards in a plastic bag. In smaller bag in notebook was id card, military license, some cash and change. I lost a wallet in Florida one time, was a pain to replace all the stuff, so I carried minimal to weeds after that.

Pencil and paper come in handy very often. In first aid situations, write down vitals, locations, directions, times, etc.

I really like Rite-in-the Rain paper, available in many formats. I can guarantee that it can take a dunking in the surf just fine....

This?
http://www.riteintherain.com

Yup. Great stuff. I have used it for field notes for years.

If you want just a few pieces of paper that will accept ballpoint ink and pencil (not so good with felt tip like a Sharpie) and still stay dry, ask your wife/SO if she's got some baking parchment paper lying around. Cut to size.

Reynolds (the aluminum foil people) is one brand. A box of it contains 30 sf (15" x 24') for approx. $4. If your grocery store doesn't have it in the plastic wrap/alum foil section, check a place that carries baking and wedding cake supplies.

Sue