What personal unwind items have you brought on deployments?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 11:00:53 -0500

What type of things have you brought with you on deployments to help you unwind and relax. I have a lot of young soldiers that have not deployed and they are looking for ideas of how to relax or what to bring. What things have helped you? What things did you find did not help at all?

Note: Photo added by staff

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2014 7:42 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 19:42:52 -0500

Harmonica and reading material.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2014 8:26 AM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 08:26:41 -0500

I brought the classic laptop and external hard drive combo. I also recommend troops look into Operation Paperback, a charity they can sign up for online and get gently used books mailed to them. I always kept the books I wanted and passed around the books I didn't like to friends, or put them in the MWR.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2014 9:05 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 09:05:47 -0500

I think this time i am going to bring a fly tying kit. Seems to be relaxing here at Ft Living-Room maybe i a can use it to help my soldiers lessen the onset of ptsd. Mite try find a way to get my hands on a couple tying kits.

Response by TSgt Kristin Parsons made Dec 31 at 2014 9:17 AM

TSgt Kristin Parsons — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 09:17:57 -0500

I brought a journal and wrote whenever I could: what was happening, what was going through my head, anything. It's interesting to go back and read those journals years later.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2014 9:43 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 09:43:41 -0500

Dart Board. Eventually it was hung up in the CP (where I worked 80% of the time) and on slow days we used it to unwind. After a few weeks I saw people bringing in their own darts asking to play a few rounds. Of course we had to post signs on the doors "Caution: Flying Sharp Objects Ahead" because where the board was hung up, we had to throw across the walkway. Good times playing a few rounds with various ranking soldiers from PFCs to MAJs. It got used so much it eventually started to bow out at the bullseye lol.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2014 11:06 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 11:06:34 -0500

First and foremost, my personal Bible. I also brought my Kindle to read when out and about. Of course my laptop for internet surfing and games. And a notebook to use as a journal.

Response by SFC Michael Jackson, MBA made Dec 31 at 2014 11:22 AM

SFC Michael Jackson, MBA — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 11:22:21 -0500

I worked in IT. I've never travel ANYWHERE without my laptop, not even on a deployment

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2014 12:40 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 12:40:30 -0500

Dart board, I brought a projector and we would watch movies on the side of our chu

Response by SFC(P) Tobias M. made Dec 31 at 2014 6:49 PM

SFC(P) Tobias M. — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 18:49:17 -0500

I took my PS2, movies (a lot) computer. If they have something they like to do at home tell them to take it with them.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2014 6:58 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 18:58:54 -0500

I always make sure to bring my winning attitude. I also brought some books. I haven't had much time to get into them but I am sure that I will have time some time.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Dec 31 at 2014 9:20 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 21:20:45 -0500

Good sized Telescope and Tripod. Best way to see the stars is after you free the hell out of a country and there is no power in the country. Best views from the planet. It was confiscated by people who had no name and who were not there. I got a "chit" for a telescope when I returned to the US. Something about reading a newspaper from 20 miles was appealing to them. My friend also had his digital camera confiscated, classified, and he got a "chit" as well. When those people need something........

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2014 9:56 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 21:56:06 -0500

I took my laptop, external HDD and my iphone to use as an iPod. I did receive a little friend in the mail for Christmas that I took with me almost on every mission and took pictures of it everywhere I went in Afghanistan. It was a small stuffed squirrel (teddy bear type) in a santa suit that my daughter sent me. Brought it back safe and sound and will never get rid of that little squirrel.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2014 10:12 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 22:12:11 -0500

SSG Private RallyPoint Member. Twelve string acoustic guitar. Warmest Regards, Sandy

Response by MSgt Michael Durkee made Jan 2 at 2015 2:08 PM

MSgt Michael Durkee — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 14:08:09 -0500

I usually would bring paperbacks, and once I was finished with them I would exchange them with other people or the MWR paperback exchange. On my last deployment to Kabul in 2010, my FB friends sent me a care package for Christmas that had an Ipod :)

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2015 2:34 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 14:34:19 -0500

I brought my iPad which I used to read books, run a yoga app
so I could relax to go to sleep, and look at photos I had saved onto it.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2015 2:54 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 14:54:24 -0500

Response by TSgt Kevin Buccola made Jan 2 at 2015 3:35 PM

TSgt Kevin Buccola — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 15:35:31 -0500

These comments are awesome and totally amazing on the differences in years. We could only brings authorized items and the pocket bible you received when going through the processing line. I wish we had ipads and all this new cool stuff. But then again when we would get to our location, our entertainment was us and the occasional football and volleyball stuffed in a supply pallet. Always had a deck of cards.