WATCHMAN : CACHE POINT

MODULE 01 · CACHE POINT

■Cache Registry

All hidden and remote supply caches. Codename, type, priority, status, and compartmentalization roster. Per TC 31-29/A and ST 31-205 caching doctrine, this registry carries points 1, 2, and 10 of the Twelve-Point Cache Report.

Each cache is registered by codename only. Never record real place names in this registry. Location is documented separately in the Access Sheet (Module 03) using bearing and distance from a named reference point. Per TC 31-29/A: if this document were ever compromised, it reveals only that caches exist, not where they are.

Add New Cache

Identity & Method

Codename *

Use a memorable but meaningless word. Never a place name.

Type of Cache *

TC 31-29/A Point 1 — the functional purpose of the cached material.

Method of Caching *

TC 31-29/A Point 2. Drives packaging and inspection doctrine.

Category (FM 31-21) *

Preemergency = emplaced now, for future contingency. Reserve = emergency-only, not routinely accessed.

Priority & Status

Priority

Status

AO Tag

Operational area identifier.

Emplacement & Duration (Point 10)

Emplacement Date

Expected Duration (days)

Design packaging to withstand at least the shelf life of contents (TC 31-29/A 2-2d).

Compartmentalization Roster

Per FM 31-21 para 91c(3): "Only the unit commander and key personnel know the location of caches." Tag each witting member with their role. Members come from the ROSTER module.

Notes

MODULE 02 · CACHE POINT

■Contents Inventory

Detailed contents of each cache by category, quantity, shelf life, rotation date, weight, and preservation method. Per TC 31-29/A Point 3 and MIL-STD-2073-1E preservation methods.

CACHE:

Add Item

Item Identity

Category *

Description *

Quantity & Weight

Quantity *

Unit

Unit Weight (lb)

Weight per unit. Total auto-computes.

Shelf Life & Rotation

Shelf Life (years)

Design cache to withstand shelf life (TC 31-29/A 2-2d).

Rotation Date

When this item must be replaced.

Preservation (MIL-STD-2073-1E)

Method of Preservation

Wrapping Material

Flags

ESDS (electrostatic-sensitive) VCI protected

Notes

MODULE 03 · CACHE POINT

■Access Sheets

Retrieval instructions using the three-tier reference system (General Area / IRP / FRP) and four pinpointing techniques. Per TC 31-29/A Points 4-9, 11, 12.

HIGHLY SENSITIVE. Access Sheets carry the only records that reveal cache locations. Do not bulk-export Access Sheets to insecure storage. Printed Access Cards should be distributed to recovery-authorized personnel only (per Module 01 compartmentalization roster). Never email, share, or photograph these records.

CACHE:

Point 4 — Description of Containers

ST 31-205 Appendix A Point 4. If multiple, each container numbered.

Container Count

Container Description

Point 5 — General Area

Identify recognizable place names, country / region / county / down to nearest village.

Point 6 — Immediate Reference Point (IRP)

Any durable landmark definitely identifiable by title or simple description. Must remain fixed.

IRP Identity

Route from IRP to FRP

Describe landmarks en route. Should be navigable by someone who has never been to the site.

Point 7 — Final Reference Point (FRP) & Cache Location

The FRP and the exact sightings, linear measurements to pinpoint the cache.

FRP Identity

Object that will remain fixed as long as cache may be used.

Pinpointing Technique (TC 31-29/A 1-5d)

Direction from FRP

Pinpointing Details

Keep numbers simple and whole. Use a non-stretching measuring line.

Point 8 — Emplacement Details

Physical features and conditions affecting recovery. Method-dependent (Burial / Concealment / Submersion).

Burial Depth (cm)

Normal 45 cm to top of container (TC 31-29/A 3-1b).

Shoring Used

Soil Type

Seasonal Variations

Point 9 — Operational Data & Remarks

Routes, security hazards, cover, equipment for recovery.

Recovery Equipment Required

Primary Route

Alternate Route

Security Hazards

Action Cover Suggestions

Point 11 — Sketches & Diagrams

Area sketch (IRP to FRP) and site diagram (pinpointing). Physical sketches stored separately.

Site Sketch Description

Route Sketch Description

Sketch Transport Rule

TC 31-29/A 4-1c: recovery agent should not carry sketch if apprehension is a risk.

Point 12 — Radio Message for Recovery

Transmission-minimum version of recovery instructions. Drafted when details are fresh.

Use uppercase, military punctuation-free style. Include type of cache, method, IRP, route, FRP, pinpointing, container count.

MODULE 04 · CACHE POINT

■Condition Log

Inspection records and cache status updates. Inspection frequency varies by method: concealment frequent, burial rare, submersion on recovery only.

CACHE:

Log Inspection

Inspection

Inspection Date *

Inspector *

Should be a member on this cache's compartmentalization roster.

Inspection Method

Marker / Site Status

Findings & Action

Findings / Observations

Action Taken

Recommend Status Change

Recommendation only. Change Module 01 status manually to confirm.

Next Inspection Due

Concealment: 1-3 months. Burial: 6-12 months. Submersion: recovery only.

Notes

MODULE 05 · CACHE POINT

■Container & Concealment

Container types, preservation methods, concealment sites, and desiccant calculations. Per TC 31-29/A Sections 2 and 3, ST 31-205, and MIL-STD-2073-1E.

This module carries three layers: group operational notes (your standing procedures, preserved below), per-cache container assignment (what container was used for each cache), and doctrinal reference library (the source-material facts your procedures are built on).

Group Operational Notes

Free-text notes on your group's standing practices. Separate from per-cache records. Preserved from preliminary shell data.

Container Types in Use

Desiccant & Moisture Control

Burial Procedure

Above-Ground Concealment Procedure

OPSEC Notes — Emplacement Procedure

Desiccant Calculator (MIL-STD-2073-1E)

Container Type

Units

Container Volume (cu ft)

Cellulosic (lb)

Bound Fibers (lb)

Glass Fiber (lb)

Foam / Rubber (lb)

Enter values above to compute desiccant units required.

Formula I: U = CA + X1D + X2D + X3D + X4D (C = 1.6 for sq ft, barrier)
Formula II: U = KV + X1D + X2D + X3D + X4D (K = 1.2 for cu ft, rigid metal)
Dunnage factors: X1=8.0 (cellulosic), X2=3.6 (bound fibers), X3=2.0 (glass), X4=0.5 (foam/rubber)

Doctrinal Reference Library

Source-material facts from TC 31-29/A, ST 31-205, FM 31-21, FM 3-05.130, and MIL-STD-2073-1E. Click a section to expand.

Eight Container Criteria TC 31-29/A 2-5a

The ideal caching container should meet all of the following:

Completely watertight and airtight after sealing
Noiseless when handled (handles should not rattle against body)
Resistant to shock and abrasion
Able to withstand crushing pressures from soil, water, or weight above
Lightweight construction (stealth recovery ceiling: 30 lb per TC 31-29/A; sustained-carry: 50 lb per FM 31-21)
Able to withstand rodents, insects, and bacteria
Equipped with a sealing device that can be closed and reopened easily and repeatedly
Capable of withstanding highly acid or alkaline soil or water

Container Types TC 31-29/A 2-5b/c · ST 31-205

Standard Stainless Steel (ST 31-205 preferred)

Stainless steel containers designed for burial caching. Sizes:

8.5″ × 7″ × 9″ (small)
16.5″ × 7″ × 9″
40″ × 7″ × 9″ (long guns)
45″ × 7″ × 9″
50″ × 7″ × 9″

Field Expedient Containers

Instrument containers (precision-shipping steel, rubber-gasketed) — near-ideal with stainless nut/bolt replacement
Ammunition boxes (steel, rubber-gasketed) — standard sizes at depots
Steel drums (full removable head with lock-ring closures) — satisfactory
Glass jars (canning jars with spring clamps) — short-term only, under 1 year
Paint cans (with waterproof adhesive) — under a few months only
PVC pipe (civilian equivalent; endcap cement + test plug with wing nut + grease on threads) — submersion-test before use

Five Wrapping Materials TC 31-29/A 2-4

Aluminum foil — best inner wrap. Heavy-duty grade or scrim-backed heat-sealable foil.
Moisture-resistant papers — inner wrap to prevent rubber/wax from sticking to items. Not adequate alone.
Rubber repair gum — excellent outer wrap. 2mm thickness optimal. Self-sealing under pressure. Leave backing on.
Grade C barrier material — microcrystalline-wax-impregnated cloth. Self-sealing. 3 layers protects up to 3 months.
Wax coating — microcrystalline wax, paraffin. Hot-dipped or brushed. Moisture only; no insect/rodent protection.

Modern equivalent: MIL-DTL-117 barrier bag (MIL-STD-2073-1E) — commercial approximation is mylar/foil laminate bags marketed for long-term food storage.

Nine Packaging Steps TC 31-29/A 2-3

Inspection — confirm complete, serviceable, free of corrosive or contaminative substances
Cleaning — remove all foreign matter including prior preservative. Handle with gloves throughout (sweat corrodes, prints identify)
Drying — oven 110°F for 3 hours, or desiccant, or absorbent cloth. Remove every trace of moisture
Coating with preservative — light oil on unpainted metal, or paint, or modern VCI (MIL-I-8574)
Wrapping — each item separately. Tight fit, no air pockets, sealed folds
Packing — remove container moisture, add desiccant (calculate per MIL-STD-2073-1E), eliminate air pockets with dry padding, never allow dissimilar metals to touch
Instructions for use — written + diagrams, simple language, self-explanatory
Sealing — lid watertight. Sealing joint is the most vulnerable point. Verify seal integrity
Submersion test — fully submerge sealed container in water (hot preferred). Watch for escaping bubbles. Fix any leak

MIL-STD-2073-1E Methods of Preservation MIL-STD-2073-1E 5.2.3

MOP	Name	Use Case
10	Physical protection only	Dry interior storage, non-corrodible items
20	Preservative coating	Corrodible items in dry environments (oil / grease / VCI)
30	Waterproof with preservative	Wet environments, short-to-medium term
40	Watervaporproof with preservative	Humid environments, medium-to-long term
50	Watervaporproof + desiccant + humidity indicator	Long-term storage, the cache gold standard

Method 50 sub-methods:

51 watervaporproof bag with desiccant, heat sealed
52 rigid container + watervaporproof bag with desiccant inside
53 floating watervaporproof bag with desiccant (submersion)
54 rigid non-metal container with desiccant, sealed
55 rigid metal container with desiccant, sealed — the classic ammo-can cache

For long-term buried caches, Method 55 is the doctrinal baseline.

Six Burial Site Factors TC 31-29/A 1-4d

Drainage — high ground preferred. Above all-year high-water mark. Avoid swamp muck.
Ground cover — deciduous roots make digging hard, coniferous easier. Overlay of leaves/humus easier to restore than tall grass.
Natural concealment — vegetation or terrain screens working party. Consider seasonal foliage changes.
Type of soil — sandy loam ideal. Avoid clay (sticky wet, hard dry).
Snowfall and freezing — frozen ground impedes digging. Snow on ground reveals tracks, cannot be restored.
Rocks and subsurface obstructions — probe with rod before committing. Obstacle discovered mid-dig disrupts operational schedule.

Nine Concealment Site Types ST 31-205 1-4c

Natural caves and caverns, abandoned mines and quarries
Walls (behind loose bricks or stones, hidden behind plastered surface)
Abandoned buildings
Infrequently used structures (stadiums, recreational facilities, railroad spur lines)
Memorial edifices (mausoleums, crypts, monuments)
Public buildings (museums, churches, libraries)
Ruins of historical interest
Culverts
Sewers and cable conduits

Criteria: equally accessible to emplacer and recovery personnel, remains accessible long-term, does not compromise involved persons if discovered, not frequented by hostile persons, physically secure against fire or damage.

Submersion Mooring Types ST 31-205 3-2

Spider web moorings — container attached to several cables radiating to anchors. Container buoyant, cables lift off bottom for grappling. Requires smooth firm bottom.
Line-to-shore mooring — weighted container on bottom, line runs to immovable shore object. Shore section of line buried/concealed.
Buoy mooring — anchored container, line to buoy fastened below waterline. Secure only while buoy remains in place.
Structural mooring — anchored container, line to bridge pier or solid water structure. Line fastened well below low-water mark.

Maximum advisable depth: 2.2m. Stainless steel burial container buckles at 4.3m water pressure. Additional weight for zero buoyancy: 15-97 lb depending on container size (ST 31-205 3-2b).

Cache Category Doctrine FM 31-21 91c

Preemergency

Caches emplaced before the contingency, for projected future operations. Examples: retreat-era caches emplaced now for grid-down conditions. Selected and placed while normal freedom of movement is available.

Operational (Day-to-Day)

Active caches drawn down and replenished during ongoing operations. Represent routine supply dispersion across the operational area.

Reserve (Future Use)

Emergency reserve stockpiles. Not routinely accessed. Represent last-ditch supply for worst-case conditions. Often compartmentalized to leadership only.

Compartmentalization rule (FM 31-21 91c(3)): "Only the unit commander and key personnel know the location of caches." Implemented in Module 01 compartmentalization roster with Emplacement / Leadership-witting / Recovery-authorized role tags.

OUTPUTS · CACHE POINT

■Print Outputs

Formatted outputs for printing. Sensitivity levels indicate safe distribution scope.

Sensitivity guidance: Registry Summary is safe for group-wide distribution (codenames only). Inspection Schedule is safe for compartmentalization roster members. Contents Manifest is per-cache sensitive. Access Cards are HIGHLY SENSITIVE — print only on demand, distribute by hand to recovery-authorized personnel, never retain digital copies on insecure storage.

ROUTINE — Codenames Only

SENSITIVE — Compartmentalization Roster Only

SENSITIVE — Per-Cache Distribution CACHE:

HIGHLY SENSITIVE — Recovery-Authorized Only CACHE:

Access Cards reveal cache locations. Select a specific cache above to render its Access Card. Bulk rendering is disabled by design.

Data Management

Storage key: ao_cache_point_v1 · Export before clearing.