Military Way to Make a Ghillie Suit

Ghillie suits are the traditional and most effective camouflage system used by military and law enforcement snipers. Paintball players occasionally make use of the ghillie suit in their sport. Construct the suit to fit the situation and the terrain it will be used in. The military method of making a ghillie suit differs from civilian methods in that the camouflage material is attached directly to the battle dress uniform (BDU) rather than removable netting or aprons.

Things You'll Need

  • Battle dress uniform
  • Camouflage cloth
  • Burlap
  • Thread
  • Canvas
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Instructions

    • 1

      Study the terrain and plant life of the area where the ghillie suit will be used. The colors and plants of an area change as the seasons progress. Know what the natural area looks like in order to create a suit that will meld into the landscape.

    • 2

      Sew strips of camouflage material to the BDU. Attaching the camouflage directly to the uniform is what makes the military ghillie suit different than others. The strips of material can be burlap or other types of cloth and should be colored to match the existing terrain.

    • 3

      Create an apron out of canvas. Attach strips of camouflage material in a similar manner as used to create the ghillie suit. The apron serves as protection between the ground and the sniper when in the prone position, although it can be used in other ways such as a cover for cached supplies or equipment.

    • 4

      Position the strips carefully. Strips should be of random shapes and lengths. The intent of the ghillie suit is to break up the snipers outline and blend it into the background. Cover all exposed portions of the uniform with the camouflage strips. The strips extend to hide portions of sniper not covered by the uniform such as the boots.