Going downrange in 90 days

[TonyKat]

Wouldn't take the ham radio - your N6/commo whatever the army calls it, will likely have a fit if you operate it from a FOB or a COP, and especially if you operate one after they've called OP Minimize/EMCON etc because of casualties.

Backups for your electronics would be important, especially on your AC/DC inverter, you need to make sure you have the world plug adaptors with spare fuses (and not just a physical adaptor, but the 120 to 220 inverter), especially if you are hopping between mutlinational bases.

More grunt stuff would be like baby wipes for when you're using wag bags, I see you're placing a premium on snivel gear that will keep you preoccupied (e.g. electronics) instead of comfortable (good fleeces, gloves, long underwear, facemasks, lots of cocoa butter etc).

I would suggest taking a lot of your lose gear/bric-a-brac and putting them into a tackle box for organization and transport.

Thank you. I will verify the radios are authorized, this is something i've considered but have not verified yet. i didn't include the baby wipes and things of that nature since they're a given.

[TonyKat]

I would go the other way on world plug adapters. Most electronics are autoswitching between 110 and 220. This can actually help him reduce what he takes. One adapter and multiple USB cables is easier. I'd also consider using the iPad as the book reader or ask what the iPad does that the Macbook and iPhone don't.

Projector and screen? Really? Try a cable that hooks up to the HDMI port of an LCD TV.

Camcorder? Use the iPhone or your camera for videos.

Multimeter?

The iPad has many apps and games which do not exist on my other devices. The projector is very small http://www.optomausa.com/products/detail/Pico-PK120. Camcorder and camera can be consolidated into one. Multimeter is so i can test the available power before risking my electronics and is smaller than a stick of gum.

[TonyKat]

The only reason I'd suggest a seperate step inverter is for limited/possible surge protection from crappy wiring. Instead of having your expensive and hard to replace power cord to a specific appliance burn out the inverter should go first, but I'm not a electrician. However, your point is absolutely valid that most electronics do ship with power adaptors that automatically adjust. During my last deployment, there are huge gaps in construction quality between NATO forces and contractors so I was always happier to pop fuses than lose my laptop.

Tea-Kettle and French Press? Like many of the guys have already mentioned, you're better off getting something high quality that can handle all of those things. Also - I don't know your ultimate location, but usually high amp appliances like that aren't permitted in your hooch and will be in the TOC/COC whatever. If you're planning on using it in the field, you'll need something like an esbit stove, but I think it is safer, faster and more concealable instead to rig some MRE heaters to get you hot coffee instead of setting something on fire.

Electric tea kettle is for boiling water. A french press is for coffee. there is no "high quality" item which does both, that doesn't even make any sense. My electric kettle is not high amp so i don't need to worry about that. All I need is heated water.

[TonyKat]

You probably won't even be allowed to take that much stuff. We were allowed 2 sea bags and one backpack or small carryon. One seabag was filled with issue and the other was 1/2 full of uniforms, PT gear etc.

Take the essentials and figure out what u can have/use when you get settled in. Stuff like xboxes, bicycles etc you can buy used from dudes redeploying.

Good thing everything will fit in a small carryon

[TonyKat]

Dude! This is a joke right? Really? If it won't fit in your duffle bag you don't need it. However, if you really take all that stuff you may want to ship a pick up truck ahead to haul it around. Better make it a 4X4. Take extra fuel, tires and parts. Probably will want a few dangles for the computer and a few farkles for the truck.

No it's not a joke and yes really. Good thing it will fit in my bags. Your post is stupid and not helpful.

[TonyKat]

Seriously, bring what you -need- to begin with, then have family ship the rest if it turns out that you have the time/space to take advantage of it all. That's a whole list of crap you don't need.

You're right I don't need anything other than what the Army issues me. It's not a list of things I need. It's a list of things that would make my downtime more enjoyable.

[TonyKat]

A different angle of perspective for you:

That's a 25 pound backpack on top of your packing list. I don't know what kind of unit you're in, but every time I've deployed we've brought 3 duffels, a rucksack, and an assault pack. All of it filled to the brim except for one duffel which is about halfway full.

It's bad enough when your chain of command loads you down with a bunch of crap you don't need, don't do it to yourself. Bring your packing list, a computer and the cable for it, and an external with movies and such. An iPod or whatever variant you have. That's about all you should have to start with, after that start mailing crap.

Everything i listed would fit in the 1/2 full duffle you described.

[DocMoe]

If you want to be moto and bring your Ka-Bar that's fine... I did. The only problem is I'm now trying to figure out a good way smuggle it back CONUS. Scuttlebutt over here is that customs has a habit of taking knives away regardless of what nebulous guidelines are in place. If you need it, try to get a letter from legal signed by your CO. As for the rest I would seriously consider pre packing some boxes and labeling them numerically (1,2,3,/A,B,C etc....) so someone back home can ship them as living conditions allow. Carrying ANY excess stuff* through Kuwait and wherever else sucks big time.

[Jason.lee740]

I'm 11b in 2sbct. I believe in carrying as little as possible.

I don't know where you are going or what your job entails
but if you are willing to hump it then screw the naysayers and bring it along.

Just don't complain when it starts to become a little cumbersome.

[45DAVID1]

He obviously has his mind made up and doesnt really care about the opinions of people who heve been wherever and currently are wherever right now. Carry your bag with all that crap and enjoy finding a spot to store it all. You asked opinions now you dont like the responses you are getting. Figures with you being low ranking and all. Enjoy your deployment and dont get pissed when you get robbed. BTW, crime/theft is usually higher on base than off.

[TonyKat]

He obviously has his mind made up and doesnt really care about the opinions of people who heve been wherever and currently are wherever right now. Carry your bag with all that crap and enjoy finding a spot to store it all. You asked opinions now you dont like the responses you are getting. Figures with you being low ranking and all. Enjoy your deployment and dont get pissed when you get robbed. BTW, crime/theft is usually higher on base than off.

I haven't received any valuable opinions. The only thing i've received is simple statements of "oh that's gonna be heavy" or "whoah dude that's a lotta stuff" no real valuable incites on my list.

Please do feel free to discount the usefulness of any individual items if you can.

[45DAVID1]

I haven't received any valuable opinions. The only thing i've received is simple statements of "oh that's gonna be heavy" or "whoah dude that's a lotta stuff" no real valuable incites on my list.

Please do feel free to discount the usefulness of any individual items if you can.

your power inveters/plug adapters. There are a crap load floating around the entire AOR. People have bought them to use and leave them when they depart. My room alone had 2 power inverters and 4 plug adapters. If you haven't bought them already you can either find em or buy some on the cheap from guys you replace.

USB adapters are only good if you use them on your own laptop/pc/etc. The use of them on .mil computers is a reportable offense where I am at... i will look at your list more later on..

[45DAVID1]

plan on taking just 1 electrical item such as the ipad. The ipad can substitude for the iphone and laptop and kindle. Skype is availabe through the ipad if you have wifi where you are going. The ipad can also be your alarm clock. The extra CAC card reader is pointless. Most work stations have hard internet with cac readers (do you really need a CAC reader that bad?) The only worthwhile website is Mypay and you dont need a CAC for that....

more later

[45DAVID1]

I'm assuming you have your reporting instructions already. If so, call the people you will be replacing and get the scoop from them. Ask what they have and is allowed. Find out what the hard to get items are (certain smokes and chews) pack a crapload of those and use them to trade for what you want. You would be surprised what a high value you can get from someone craving that certain brand of smokes they dont sell there. Become friends with the COM and electrical guys. If you need a power cord the electrical guys can hook you up as long as you hook them up. It's all about trading to get what you want. Bring in the hard to find items and you can live like a king! the only way to find out what the people are wanting/needing is to call ahead if you can. Have one of your NCO's call if you dont feel comfortable doing so.

[Solidux]

If you know you will live the fobrat life. That is too much sh*t.

Let me shorten that for you. Everything on the list I have taken off will pretty much be supplied to you. RFI and CIF2 will give you everything you need.

Another thing is to tell us which fob you are going to. Its not an OPSEC violation because it doesnt fall under troop movement. No dates/unit job description. In fact, saying youre making a stop in kuwait is a violation by itself. Troop movement is really easy to guess by that alone. If I were to make a guess youre part of a transportation unit in the 311th just from that pitstop guess.

MacBook Air <-- get rid of this and get a cheap throwaway laptop with a dvd player
KA-BAR <-- dont need this. Your multitool will suffice.
Camera
Flash drive
Portable hard drive <-- make sure it doesnt need an AC adapter
Mouse
Headphones
iPod nano <-- upgrade this to an ipod classic. trust me on this one.... unless you have internet on your fob/cob. I didnt and it was MISERABLE
Multi-tool
Alarm clock
Watch
Pictures
Backpack