Posted on Feb 21, 2017
LTJG Ansi Officer
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Going on your first ship can be scary. Going on your first deployment can be just as nerve racking. What are some items that you'd recommend Sailors bring with them not only to their first ship, but on their first deployment? (Please include small boys as well. RallyPoint doesn't have DDGs and CGs as tags).
Edited 8 y ago
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Responses: 55
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Sgt Charles Welling
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You squids need to belay that small boy term, it sounds rather perverted......................
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SSgt Boyd Herrst
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I had reasons to not go Navy.. and read’g these comments I remember why I didn’t..
I went AF and deployed to some bard bones places .. I brought along a few books, Paperback of some novella that wound up being wipe paper.. at least pages were big enough and not waxed.. toilet was in a outhouse so no prob there..
no need for I pad(wtf was that? .. it’s ‘83)
Had a Walkman and plenty of batteries they almost didn’t let me bring from Germany.. I think I had 2 left(in the Walkman.. they made it all the way back to U.S. soil.. in the U.S. base in Germany was still German soil. Was in Sudan in K-Town there.. some Sudanese tried to sell me a empty shell of a 6 band radio.. nice try.. i’d Like to hear before buying.. oh.. very good radio, cannot let you listen..
Might wake child... only $10 American!
I passed on it... just glad that wasn’t a long deploy... glad to get home ! Did get to the coast... beach wasn’t clean.. lotta dead fish... so no swimming... musta been a red tide.. water oily.. took along kippers n crackers and decent dry stick salami.. that wasn’t greezy... got that in Germany.. had some good Lowenbrau
Wrapped and stored in a ammo can with a top secret tag ... had a bud at base command Post get the tag.. Customs guy wanted to look anyway.. the other Customs guy got me through.. so we enjoyed the Lowenbrau that first night .
It was Lowenbrau export.. I brought one empty bottle with cap back .. wrapped good.. so it didn’t break..
my brother not understand’g the meaning of the memory of it took it with some other bottles and took to work and had a place that took them... what a jerk! So much for them memories..
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SGT Jeremy Boyd
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KY
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SGT Walter Lester
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I had to walk to work, I didn't have a ship to ride. I would tell a sailor he needs to know how to swim and tread water.
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PO1 Barbara Matthews
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Bring the basics, toiletries, toilet paper, spare pair of glasses if you wear them, iPod/MP3 player, tablet or laptop, book,

Rx medications make sure that they are filled before you leave as sometimes the Medical Dept. Don't have them. Also get some motion sickness pills you can get them from Medical. A lot of people get sea sick I know I was a Corpsman.

Also do not bring a lot of food of any kind. You are not supposed to have any in berthing. It's yuck and attracts bugs. You will have the ships sore and geedunk machines aboard. Bring some cash and change, your debit card and a few checks. Sometimes you can cash a check if you need money. At least you could back in 2003 when I was on a ship.
Get a good note pad and some flash cards so you can study to get your qualifications done. Most of your free time will be spent studying until you get them done.
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PO1 Hmfic
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If your shop has room for a small Rubbermaid container and the people in your shop are cool with the arrangement, I recommend Tuna fish in the tearable packets. Peanut butter, and my personal favorite, Fluff. I always had a few dozen Ramen noodle packets as well. and a few small Tupperware bowls to make the ramen in on the mess decks.
I had CSER1 as my shop on both my DDG's so that was my setup. The Toilet paper, extra undies, and the other comments are spot on as well. I also remember watching movies on my iPod 160GB classic. At least now there are iPad pros and the like. I would definitely recommend digital media. Movies, anime, videos of loved ones. Music for working out, relaxing.
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LTC John King
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pack some extra shore line for sea anchors and some extra prop wash for keeping things clean and tidy
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PO2 Robert Comegys
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Edited >1 y ago
Take along a thick paperback or two that you thought you'd never find the time for ashore. Time between watches can become boring and having something to keep your mind on will add some value/enjoyment/escape to your waking hours.
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SR Walter Faherty
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Back when i served both in subs and carriers I always had 2 weeks of underwear,5-6 sets of working clothes (pooper suits in subs and dungarees in carriers) and at least 2 towels in my locker.
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CPO Michael McAllister
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A camera. Don't let those memories escape. I was in 23 years. I've been retired 26 now. Still miss every it every day.
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LT Richard Mondak
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Edited >1 y ago
"B.S Detector" - for defense against the berthing compartment UCMJ / Legal experts.
A sense of self dignity and humility.
A willingness to learn from EVERYONE - whether they are junior or senior to you in rank, time in service or aboard your ship.
And from a practical standpoint - easily identifiable LARGE bath towels and enough socks to last a month.
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PO2 Tom Aarstad
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Until you get your sea legs know where the heads are.
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PO3 Joseph Ford
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Patience
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SCPO William Akin
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My first ship was a Gearing class DD, and Camels were a dollar CARTON...
So I'm just reading these remarks (for the most part) for shits and giggles...
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MCPO Roger Collins
MCPO Roger Collins
8 y
Remember the $1 a carton cigs, didn't do much for me, I didn't smoke then.
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SFC A.M. Drake
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Should have joined the Army!
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PO1 Rick Serviss
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Iron, shoe polish, maybe thread, pen, paper, envelopes, hygiene things and a full sea bag is about it.
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MCPO Roger Collins
MCPO Roger Collins
8 y
My extra large Lazyboy rocker recliner, my flat screen TV 40" or larger, my well stocked refrigerator and my extra comfortable bed. And all the rest of those things mentioned. Now, where is that USS Gerald R. ford and my Command Master Chief stateroom to put these things in?
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SSG Healthcare Specialist (Combat Medic)
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Edited 8 y ago
The one thing I have seen over my years that is often forgotten but essential are fingernail and toenail clippers. Troops forget their nails grow and when they get that aggravating hang nail they often try to bite it off and cant seem to do it. I also always traveled with a couple of rolls of toilet paper, zip lock bags and Shaving and Shower Kit, with at least two bars of soap. Also considering the environment the fewer the cans the better shaving soap over shaving cream in a can, stick deodorant over spray can. and of course a good quality razor. seen to many guys think disposable razors would last in harsh environment. Females should also consider their special needs as well.
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PO1 Mike Dean
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Sailors need enough civvies to have a change of clothes each day of liberty in port and enough cash on hand to take care of those primal "needs" that you don't get at sea. Need I go farther? BTW.... condoms are available from the corpsman free of charge so you take home any souveniers that are not intended.
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PO1 Robert Kay
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One essential I had to have was two decks of cards (for pinochle) and a cribbage boad with at least three lanes on it. Other than that the rest has been covered I believe. A lot of good advice here. I have been on three ships and 5 deployments... one to Gitmo, one to the Med, and two WestPacs.
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PO2 Steven Hardy
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Cigars! There's nothing like a stogie early in the evening, after the work day is over (if you're not on watch).
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MCPO Roger Collins
MCPO Roger Collins
8 y
Especially if a willing intern is in the immediate area. Ask Bill Clinton.
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