During Desert Storm we had an embarked SEAL Platoon that we invited to share our Ready Room. In return we asked for a brief on the desert and everything they could tell us. Hydration was top of list. Their advice was to be fully hydrated (best way to tell is to "pass" clear fluids at least twice) and take all you can carry. We went from carrying the pitiful 8oz bottles to packing water in every G suit pocket we could and some aircrews took their CBR canteens as well. We had an informal competition and winner was carrying 64oz. Of coure, if you are fully hydrated, your body needs to get rid of it so folks who had NEVER had to go in an aircraft (or held it) suddenly became experts in relieving themselves (not always easy) and there was a run on "piddle packs". One gent took a commerical water bottle with him and after draining it, he would proceed to fill it with his "fluid". Always wondered if it had an aftertaste. He would park it on his glare shield so I could always tell when he was hydrated by the color of the fluid after he started filling it. When the missions starting goiing from normal 2 hour cycles to 5-8, everyone adjusted their habit patterns. But we were all hydrated, thanks to horror stories from SEALs on bood in your urine and kidney stones from not hydrating as well as drop in performance when you don't hydrate poperly.
