In Combat
Imagine this, you're in a forest and mortar shells are landing several feet away from you, sending shrapnel in every direction upon impact. What is the one thing you want? A shovel so that you can dig a foxhole or trench which will keep you safe from the shrapnel flying around. You can make a foxhole to shoot from and not be a sitting duck for the enemy.
Shovels are a very versatile tool; they can be used for many other things in the field of combat such as cutting down trees.
Here is an amazing shovel that can do almost everything.