Gift suggestions for those deployed/deploying?

[kpw001]

So my brother will be deploying to Iraq in January and I was thinking it would be nice if we got him something that might be useful while in country. I was wondering if there was any gadgets or goodies that might come in handy when he deploys?

And while we're at it, if any of you CalGunners already on deployment have a wish list, let us know and I'm sure we'll do out best to get you guys what we can.

[docsmileyface]

If he doesn't have an iPod or PSP those are pretty neat things to have over here. When he gets settled in country though the majority of comfort stuff he wants can be got from the PX, amazon.com, or from the Turkish malls; its actually really well built up here now in 2008 so pretty much just ask him if theres anything he WANTS because its really easy to get the things you NEED over here nowadays.

[kpw001]

Appreciate the tip. I wasn't sure if there was anything you guys were still finding to be hard to get over.

[JimAmentler]

Good suggestions from docsmileyface. Some of the items that we always wanted on hand were an ipod, psp, laptop, external hard drive to get all the movies and music on the share drive, coffee (we had a coffee maker and I had my wife send a grinder), books, magazines, whatever candy items we liked, new movies and music. I had 2 ipods. One of the 80 gig models that I could load up and play movies and music on and one of the small 2 gig models that I could use while at the gym or doing crossfit.

[wcnones]

Get him a netbook. I've owned an Asus EEEpc as well as an Aspire One. Both were useful, but the Acer was an over-all better unit. Cheap, ultra-portable, and multi-purpose.

[Austinla]

Judging by the other posts in response to your questions things have changed quite a bit from when I was over there. There was no XP or bases set up, so all we wanted was some baby wipes to take a shower with, and a better holster for our sidearm!

[Austinla]

suggestion number 2: Porn, and lots of it haha

[JimAmentler]

Judging by the other posts in response to your questions things have changed quite a bit from when I was over there. There was no XP or bases set up, so all we wanted was some baby wipes to take a shower with, and a better holster for our sidearm!

Things have changed dramatically. The COP'S all have internet now. When I was in Walid we had wireless. I heard they took it down after we left though. There are shower trailers. I still brought my Safariland 6004 over with me though. I didn't like the holster that were issued.

[freshdriver]

A good fixed blade or folding knife. Strider or Zero Tolerance knives would be my preference.

[kpw001]

Things sure have changed, my brother's first deployment was the initial strikes into the country so it's probably going to be a lot easier on him this time.

A holster seems to be a good idea, my brother was a reservist during his first tour and has since been through OCS so he'll probably have a sidearm this time around instead of just a SAW.