Having had to function outside regardless of weather - because the First Sergeant said so - I learned these tips.

1. Garbage bags, plural, work. Run one north south, the other east west w/ whatever it is you want to keep dry in the first. Lightweight and the double bagging worked well.

2. Coffe/tea/hot chocolate/soup are invalubale.

3. Dry socks come in a very close second. And rubbing feet with vasoline helps keep them from pruning up.

4. Have two sets of clothing if you must be outside. One for outside (wet), one for inside (dryish).

5. Waterproof packs aren't. Water resistant means it sheds water until it becomes saturated in about 10 minutes. If the items inside a pack are not in waterproof bags, they will be wet.

6. Ponchos are best slept under or in. They semi sorta suck at keeping you dry when moving. Have a rain suit.

7. To #6, if you have a rain suit, make sure it can breath or be ventilated. Sweat smells, rain doesn't.

8. Finally - carry a small square of closed cell foam, about 12 inches by 12 inches. This is your new seat. It won't suck up water, it insulates, and it doesn't weight much. Beats sitting in the mud.

Worst rain I ever saw, monsoon in Korea. Over 14 inches in 7 hours. We wuz wet.