Posted on Jun 9, 2017
What piece of gear would you tell a first time deployer to make sure to have?
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Besides tithe issued equipment that are going to be brought downrange regardless of if you like it or not, what item(s) would you tell one of your first timers to make sure to bring to either make their life easier or perhaps just more bearable?
Deployment
Leadership
Military Life
Gear
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 172
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A good, practical knife...not the one Rambo carried, and not some "Mil-Tek" piece of tripe. Something that has a high hardness, will stand up to lots of use, and whether a fixed blade or folder...you can get to easily while in a vehicle. CRKT's a good brand...or Ontario's RAT-3
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LCDR (Join to see)
I still have my two deployment blades; both given to me by older guys I really respected. One's a great fixed blade, purpose designed "fighting knife"...the other, a Leatherman "Wave"-Everyone knows which one I proudly display in my office-and which one is always on me when out on the boat :)
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PO2 Hauke Powers
I had my Kershaw with me for years...was the "sailor" type, but did a fantastic job in the field...small enough to fit in bdu pocket...and very sturdy blade..
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SGT (Join to see)
Benchmade adamas fixed blade knife is a great work knife and comes with 550 cord to wrap the handle yourself. If my civilian job would let me carry it on duty I would.
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Crocs... So when you are heading to the pisser in the middle of the night, you don't bust up your feet... Like you would with regular shower shoes... And, a headlight, and good flashlight...
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PO2 Hauke Powers
I wore mocs I made in Scout Camp before I deployed...Chucka-style, with a firm sole...super light..you can still get them in Scout Store !!!!
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An extra large bottle of Tabasco... Chow is Morale!
Maybe a couple of rolls of toilet paper (from home)?
Maybe a couple of rolls of toilet paper (from home)?
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Cpl (Join to see)
I didn’t even like hot sauce and by the end of deployment, every mre besides chicken chunk and tuna was soaked in Tabasco lol
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SGT Randall Smith
Cpl (Join to see) - I was not a fan of Tabasco but it really did make the C-rations go down. I went no where in Nam without a bottle.
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It depends on the destination but definitely a good multi-tool and good pillow!!
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PO2 Hauke Powers
Look up my post !!!! I harped on a good pillow !!!!! Glad I was not the only one !!!!
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Any action camera with plenty of back up batteries. You will want to see some of that craziness later on when someone thinks to 'call you out' on something you told them. I would love to have running footage of the chain of explosions at an elementary school site the bad guys were using as an ammo dump. That might help some understand why when we go after military targets like an ammo dump, there are civilian casualties.
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Sgt Ronald Harris
The authorities, when I was in 'Nam, frowned on us having cameras, although a lot of guys did. I wish I had a camera then!
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PO1 Aaron Baltosser
I would have had a blast if small action cameras had been available when I was Active Duty. There is so much stuff I would have gotten great footage from. 80 pounds of super tightly packed C4 in a barrel in Korea for example, or the end of training improv air show they put on for us at CAX at 29 Palms where an AV8B Harrier showed how tight a turn they can make using thrust vectoring while firing flares. The Dolphins playing in the bow wake off the USS Saipan would have been nice too.
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CPL Cord Nipper
Anyone who spent four months at GTMO in the summer of 94 during the Haitian boat lift can attest that Cherry Skoal will almost make you want to quit dipping.
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I cannot emphasize enough to have baby wipes. It's even more essential than a multitool!
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