I can only wonder if this is some kind of parody article. 

It's all about perspective. One sure way to learn to not miss the running water, a tent, and hot chow: start with one large rucksack; don't hang anything off your ruck that will get lost, make noise, reflect light, or foul a static line/catch on bushes; put all your squad and personal mission-essential gear in; add your basic load of arms, ammunition, and explosives; throw in a box or two of ammo for the crew-served weapons -- maybe a mortar round or three; add enough water and food to last a few days; add some extra food in case you miss a supply drop or two. The remaining room is yours for anything you want to suspend on the canopy release assemblies pressing into your collarbones as you walk up the back ramp of a high-performance aircraft, carry on your back at a run to the assembly area, and carry with you for weeks on end through some lovely mud, sand, swamp, tundra, snowdrifts, or all of the above.