Whether it's basic training, a field exercise, a range day, or a deployment in the desert, military life means long hours outside. Sunburn is more than uncomfortable: the Army classifies it as an environmental injury, and the Defense Health Agency logged more than 12,000 clinically diagnosed sunburns across the force between 2014 and 2022. Here's how to stay protected when you're in the field.
Know when the sun is strongest
The UV index measures the strength of the sun's burning rays. Anything 11 or higher is rated extreme, and many places service members train and deploy hit that level regularly, including desert installations like Fort Irwin and Fort Bliss, Hawaii's Pohakuloa Training Area, and bases across the Middle East and Africa. Altitude, sand, water, and even vehicle metal reflect and intensify UV, so you can burn faster than you expect.
Sunscreen basics that actually work
- Use broad spectrum SPF 30 or higher. Broad spectrum protects against both UVA and UVB rays. For long days outside, SPF 50 adds a margin.
- Apply before you step out. Put it on about 15 minutes before sun exposure.
- Reapply at least every 2 hours, and right after heavy sweating or getting wet. Water-resistant sunscreen lasts 40 or 80 minutes in water or sweat, depending on the label.
- Don't skip the easy-to-miss spots: ears, back of the neck, nose, and the backs of your hands.
The real problem: reapplying in the field
Most people don't skip sunscreen because they don't know better. They skip it because the bottle is in a bag back at the truck, it leaked, or there's no room for it. That's why military dermatologists have recommended issuing small portable sunscreen packets that service members can carry on their person.
A single-use packet takes up almost no space in a cargo pocket, sleeve, or aid bag. Each SunSingles packet is one pre-measured SPF 50 application, water resistant for 80 minutes, so carrying three or four covers a long day of reapplying.
Other ways to protect your skin
- Wear your patrol cap or boonie when you can, and use shade during breaks.
- Use SPF lip balm; lips burn easily and heal slowly.
- Stay hydrated. Heat and sun exposure go together, and dehydration makes everything harder.
- Get your skin checked. Melanoma rates are higher among service members and veterans, and early detection matters.
Heading to basic training?
Personal items are restricted during basic training, and many recruits can't receive packages for part of it. Follow the official packing list from your recruiter or branch, and ask whether sunscreen is permitted or provided where you're going.
For units and procurement officers, see our military sunscreen page for bulk orders, MRE and kit integration, and SAM.gov registration details.
Sun safety guidance in this article follows general recommendations from the FDA and dermatology organizations. Talk to your unit medical staff about specific needs.