The uses a military operative may need a torch for are varied and very dependant on the role being carried out, similar to the situation exerienced by Police Officers, however, they can be broken down into three broad categories.
Torches used for close range duties such as map reading and navigation or vehicle inspection for evidence of tampering and sabotage, torches intended to be mounted on a firearm and finally torches intended to be used in conjuction with heavy or vehicle mounted weapons.
In all cases the flashlights must be capable of surviving the harsh and explosive environment that military applications will often entail, however there are some specific features that must be present when mounting a device to a recoiling firearm.
For close range inspection work, the torch should be compact and lightweight with a medium to high output beam. Models such as the G2 Nitrolon and 6P original (either incandescant or LED versions) are ideal for this application, providing enough light to inspect a vehicle while not being so bright as to be unsuitable for navigational uses such as map reading.
Weapon mounted lights must be shock-isolated to protect the lamp assembly from failing due to the recoil. All Surefire Millenium Series torches have this feature. An intensely strong beam is also advantageous for this application as the piercing brightness of the high to very high output devices from Surefire can often enable the user to render a potential foe blinded and diffuse a situation before a shot is fired.
The torches recommended for Military use are listed after this Buyers Guide article or you can click the following links for in-depth information about each of the torch models -
