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Technology & Innovation

The complacent soldier’s best friend: The many uses of 550 cord

Joshua Skovlund
16 January 2025
7 min
PME All levels

BLUF

Paracord, also known as 550 cord, was originally developed for parachutes. However, military members have creatively used 550 cord for measuring distances on a map, building shelters, starting a fire, and storing gear.
READ: The complacent soldier’s best friend: The many uses of 550 cord

References

  • Task & Purpose: High factual reporting 
  • Collections | The Runway (airforce.gov.au)
  • RAAF RUNWAY: RATIONALE, GUIDELINES, LEARNING OUTCOMES, ETC. 
 

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