Deployment Personal Gear
 

What non-issue gear are you guys taking on deployment to make your life better?

What are you laying out your money for to take with you?

Looking for both tac gear and creature comfort lists.

I am sure that IPODs, laptops, radios, etc. are popular, as are flashlights, knives, tools, and so forth.

What are the items that you consider to be indispensable or "must have"?

Looking forward to seeing your lists. You may help somebody take something important that they missed, or they may help you.

Thoughts?

TR

Lately for me its been a lot of North Face warmies!!!!!! I've been loving the cold weather so that I can put on my Hot Gear, kinda stupid I guess, but its one of those inevitabilities that comes around every year.

Hammock.

As long as I'm going somewhere warm-ish, that is....

Must have:

X-box with lots of games
Small pillow with bed sheets (every place I've been to had mattresses) except Kuwait
Laptop
Webcam
Digital Camera
IPOD
External hard drive with movies (250gig)
Multiple outlets (UK, Italian, European)
Step down converter at least 300 watts.
Civilian clothes
Cell phone (buy one in country)
Pelican or Otter cases for Laptop, IPOD, Webcam, External hard drive, etc.
Cash or Eagle card to use at the PX, etc.
Multiple sunglasses (in case they break)
Battery Razor

If you're going to be spending time rolling around in trucks, I'd recommend a power converter that can be hooked up to your truck battery.

We used them to charge our radios, razors, and other electronic goods.

Self inflating miniature air mattress that is the size of an Isomat.
Water resistant digital camera. I've had problems with sand getting in to the regular type and breaking it.
LED headlamp that has both red and white light settings.

1.) Baby wipes... a lot of 'em.
2.) North Face Denali.

Other than that, every mom under the sun, sent all sorts of HSLD trash to the FOB. 50% was redundancy, the other 50% was unusable for one reason or another.

Graet answers so far guys, thanks!

Please keep them coming.

TR

Boric Acid powder dissolved in rubbing alcohol and placed in a medium/small squirt top plastic container. Squeeze a little bit into the palm of the hand and then rub it on the feet. Thwarts any potential athlete’s foot and kills the bugs causing foot odor. Good stuff when you are limited on water for bathing.

Great list. Coupled with Pete's air matress, that's about all I can think I took (or wish I had). I'd add a few footballs or soccer balls with a pump and needle.

Also, can't be an American Soldier and go abroad without a baseball mitt. Who knows, maybe Iraq is the next bastion of middle infielders. :D

Edit: I had an Ipaq HP 1940 Pocket PC palm pilot that I could throw maps on and use as the C or E of my PACE plan. Plus it has a record capability, note taking capability, and Microsoft Office capable.

Something I forgot was the rechargeable AA batteries and charger. I had 2 sets of batteries. So one set would be in use while I was out, and one set constantly charging. When I got back I would switch the sets. I also still made sure I had plenty of the non-rechageable type in my pack in case of emergencies.

I'm surprised no one has listed thumb drives yet. Those things are absolutely vital for moving files around (especially big ones with graphics and the like). I recommend three if possible: one for unclassified/personal use, one for SIPR, and one for TS/SCI. Also, its probably stating the obvious, but I find it best to keep them on a lanyard around the neck so that you don't lose them.

Per the advice on another thread, I recently acquired a 4 Gig Ironkey - and it's great! The Firefox browser and password feature are especially nice for use on shared computers. I scanned all of my personal docs and store them on the Ironkey, and have a smaller, less expensive file for swapping files with others.

You don't just put them in your pocket protector? ;)

My question is what do you pack the electronics in? Link the game boxes? When you deploy how much are you allowed to take?