Camouflage was an essential battlefield skill taught at Camp Adair. Soldiers spent considerable time learning how to conceal themselves from enemy troops and aircraft by blending into their surroundings. Training covered not only individual camouflage but also the concealment of rifles, machine guns, mortars, artillery pieces, vehicles, and other military equipment. GIs learned how to construct and properly use camouflage netting, as well as how to use natural vegetation and terrain to break up the outlines of men and equipment. Mastering these techniques greatly reduced the chances of detection from both the ground and the air, increasing a unit's ability to survive and successfully carry out its mission.