Using military equipment and supplies can boost your business. Your firm can find items designed by military suppliers to stand up to rugged usage conditions. Some military supplies are used, retired from service after replacement by newer models. Some military equipment is surplus, ordered but never used. Both categories contain military-grade items made to precise specifications.

If your business operates in construction or a similarly rugged sector, your staff can find useful military surplus vehicles, such as heavy duty trucks and off-road machines. Items such as shoes, boots and clothing also are made to stand up to heavy wear and tear. Already operate used military equipment? Check out the huge inventory of military surplus parts and components. As you develop a business guide for using military equipment and supplies, consider the following points:

1. Your business might use military surplus vehicles for a variety of purposes.

2. You can find a range of military supplies on the Internet.

3. You can use parts from military equipment suppliers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose heavy-duty military surplus vehicles for rugged work

Military equipment providers offer a wide array of heavy-duty vehicles for public sale. If your business requires off-road driving and/or driving in extreme weather conditions, military surplus vehicle suppliers will have what you need. As you shop, you'll note that some military equipment is new or gently used, other pieces not so much.

I recommend: Check out the selection of heavy-duty military vehicles at White Owl Parts. Its array spans from armored trucks to ambulances to military equipment for construction. Peruse the catalog of vehicles at Coleman's Military Surplus.

Protect your team from the elements with military surplus clothing and accessories

Your team can find a wide array of useful military surplus online. Use surplus or used military clothing and equipment to protect employees in rough work environments. You also can find gear for weather extremes, wilderness settings and even underwater uses. Online surplus stores and auction sites offer a wide range of items at reasonable prices.

I recommend: Search the amazing inventory of surplus military items at Militaryclothing.com. You firm can even find surplus cold- and wet-weather gear. A cost-effective option is bidding in an online auction, such as the one at Government Liquidation. Once you locate the boots or other items you want, check the bidding rules and time line and enter a bid.

Use military grade replacement parts to keep things running smoothly

Not all replacement parts are used during the life time of military equipment. So military equipment suppliers have lots of surplus parts in stock. The parts will usually fit a piece of civilian equipment that matches its military counterpart. And most often, your team won't need special tools.

I recommend: Send your staff to Surplus Stuff to locate a wide selection of surplus military grade replacement parts. There are more than 13 million parts in its database. At Army Surplus Warehouse, you'll find a huge selection of surplus military vehicle parts.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Be sure to check (or negotiate) warranty terms or other guarantees for used military equipment. In some cases, it has survived a very rough life.

Military equipment and supplies are big business. Military suppliers design military items for specific purposes with precise specifications. If your business want to join the list of military equipment suppliers, you'll have to go though a formal application process and provide sample military grade materials.

There are markets outside the armed services for military equipment as well. Military surplus vehicles and obsolete military supplies such as safety and survival gear and clothing are valued by security companies, foreign countries and a variety of other businesses. Whether you want to become a military supplier or a seller of military surplus, keep these things in mind.

1. Think beyond weapons, uniforms, and vehicles to include other military supplies, such as food, paint and paper supplies.

2. It's easiest to find large scale military equipment at live and online auctions. Many auction websites have calendars of upcoming sales.

3. Military surplus vehicles are one of the hottest items available. Inventory at auction often goes quickly.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Join the team of military contract suppliers

All companies that are military suppliers or military equipment providers must apply for the privilege. Once your application is accepted, the armed services can purchase your product. Remember that there are strict product and pricing guidelines for suppliers.

I recommend: JGB Enterprises represents a consortium of military suppliers. You can submit an application to join its database. Another partnership that provides military supplies is Hybricon. Its website also has an application form.

Find a wide array of used military equipment at online auction websites

If you want to stock your business with surplus or used military items, you can find remarkable prices at military auctions. These auctions can be live or online, although most are now conducted over the Internet.

I recommend: At Government Liquidation you can find a huge array of used and surplus items, including fired brass casings. Olive-Drab offers information and tips about auctions of military vehicles, equipment and weapons.

Find heavy-duty military surplus vehicles and supplies

If you want to resell military surplus vehicles, you can find great buys on a wide array of heavy-duty vehicles. There is a growing market in off-road adventure tours and similar businesses looking for specialized vehicles. Or you might stock replacement parts for trucks and other vehicles. They are readily available from suppliers.

I recommend: The Military Vehicles Magazine online catalog has a huge inventory of vehicles. You can search by vehicle classification. A good source for key replacement parts is Military Truck Parts, which specializes in engines and transmissions.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  In most cases you won't need specialized tools to work on a military surplus vehicle. Because they are built by standard vehicle makers, you can use the same ones you would use on the same model of private vehicle.
• •  Look for spare military equipment parts labeled NOS (for 'New Old Stock'). These parts are new surplus items not pieces salvaged from an old or damaged vehicle.

It is essential for anyone working with the military to have military equipment and supplies education and training. Proper military supplies can be a determining factor in a life-or-death situation. Those enrolled in the armed forces as well as manufacturers and military equipment suppliers all need detailed knowledge of the equipment used in the military and its purposes.

Military equipment providers offer equipment and supplies ranging from clothing to navy ships to grenades. The military uses equipment for survival, for comfort, and for security. When thinking about how a business or an organization can learn more about military equipment and supplies prior to bidding on a contract, consider the following:

1. Educational courses teach about procurement of military equipment and supplies.

2. Trade shows and exhibits feature visuals and information about military equipment.

3. Manuals are printed resources that offer information about military supplies.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Take a course from an institute to learn about various military equipment and supplies

Military classes exist on a variety of military topics and subjects; some courses teach about equipment and supplies details. Experienced military instructors often teach such courses. They provide hands-on learning for a wide range of military equipment. While such courses can be time-consuming, they offer insight that might help military contract suppliers land a lucrative deal.

I recommend: ACQ offers training for the proper financial treatment of military equipment. The training is great for program managers, business/financial management analysts, and procurement contracting officers. The training is offered online. Equipment Reliability Institute offers courses for engineers and designers who wish to learn more about military equipment creation.

Attend military equipment trade shows

Military equipment trade shows offer visuals and information about present military equipment and supplies. Throughout the history of armed forces, equipment and supplies have changed greatly. Trade shows and exhibits allow the military supplier to view present-day products from several manufacturers at one time.

I recommend: Trade Key offers information about an army and navy military expo in Las Vegas. View hard and soft products for the military. These shows are great for military suppliers. Check out the upcoming events calendar from the Institute for Defense and Government Advancement for equipment related events.

Study military equipment and supplies manuals

Manuals offer information about military grade equipment. Military equipment and supply manuals typically feature one area of military. For example, some manuals describe army supplies while some explain navy supplies. Because each branch of the military operates differently, each branch uses different supplies and equipment. Manuals help readers concentrate on one particular area at a time.

I recommend: Military Manuals offers a selection of various military equipment manuals. The manuals feature different pieces of military equipment. America's Army gives an online army equipment manual. The manual offers descriptions of equipment from army suppliers as well as visual aids.