Besides what's on my packing list, what additional stuff should I bring on a deployment to the Middle East?

I wish I had known about tuition assistance during my deployment. I would have used my laptop to complete my degree rather than just playing games and movies the whole year!

Call your phone service provider and make sure your phone is unlocked. If you’re able to, swap your SIM card.

Baby wipes, external drive with movies, extra cords and plugs for phone, notebook (take notes of what you see for the future when your out.)

Keep at least one fleece in your carry on, it is cold at night at several places, your FREE Longjohns are a solid option too.
Lol, a hard drive with movies, or an audible account-don’t go crazy with nothing to do.

SPC Spriggs, I would like to start off by saying be safe wherever you are going. I am sure a lot of people have already given you some good advice. Some things that I found helpful on deployment:

- Crocs (buy cheap knock off brands; Wal-Mart sells them for like $12
- Laptop and an external hard drive; have movies already loaded; you will come across plenty of people to trade/get movies from
- Portable gaming system; I highly recommend the Nintendo Switch if you don't already have one
- Tuition Assistance; apply for it beforehand; you never know where you will end up at and may have a lot of time to take online courses
- Plug converter; you'll be able to buy that in Kuwait before you head out to your official location
- Extra earphones; let's face it, they break easily
- Books, books, books; I highly recommend a Kindle to save you the pain of packing up hard copy books
- Extra patches (name tapes, Army tapes, ranks, flags, unit patches); you will find yourself trading unit patches with people you will meet during deployment such as coalition forces
- T-Mobile; (optional) they are the best company for deployment and offer a great military discount
- Playing cards are essential; Spades, "Shit Heads" (UK card game), Poker, etc.
- Baby wipes!!!
- Warm clothes; believe it or not, it gets cold

These were just a few essentials that I've found to help me or other people I know. Good luck and be safe.

Chap stick, baby wipes, mini chocolate microwave cakes, blister Band-Aids, dry shampoo, extra socks, cheap laptop and silicone ring if married.

just remember the more crap you bring, the more crap you have to carry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QM-ywTWqAVg

You literally don’t need anything if you’re going to Taji they have plenty of stores

Books to read.

It's rainy and muddy right now--totally agree with the crocs. Temps at night drop into low 30's in January--frost on the windshields last week. Laundry (at Taji) is good--1-2 day turnaround. Mail has been averaging 3-4 weeks from St. Louis. Get used to sleeping with ear plugs if you're a light sleeper--aircraft arriving late at night and early in the morning and roommate in a 12X12 room (luxurious by ship-board standards, sub-standard for Air Force). Dependent on the BOS-I and your unit command, civilian PT gear may be authorized. I played it safe and brought two complete sets of Army gear (jacket and trousers X 2 and sock cap). It looks like you are crewing--the vest is the best! Bring your neck gaiter, too. It'll be 120 in August and then 40s by the time you leave. Look up the Camp Taji Buy and Sell on FB. Safe Travels.

That depends on if you are riding the FOB life or in a FOB'lit in the middle of nowhere. That is the difference in more socks and baby wipes vs movies and collage classes.

I packed a small hardware kit( hand drill wood screws metal screws bolts lock hasps and extra locks as well as screw drivers with multiple heads even a smaller set for eyeglasses or small items like watches etc. I also packed plenty of repalecement batteries for my flashlights and other electronics