Before coming to Iraq in Nov 2004, I went to Academy Outdoors and prepared as if I was going to live under a sheet hung up between trees during the winter. I was voted most prepared by the group I came over with.
My recommendations.
1.) Buy your stuff, then mail it over. You don't want to carry it through airports unless you will absolutely need it your first ten days in Afghanistan.
2.) Amazon.com shipping can be expensive. Buy two of an item, you'll be charged full shipping on both items as if they were shipping separately. Use Drugstore.com - we get stuff in Baghdad in 5-7 days - VERY fast.
3.) For Baghram going into winter - buy thicker winter socks. Early on, KBR had people sleeping in tents who woke up in the morning and couldn't feel their toes because they kicked the covers off in the night. Some ended up with frostbite and had to go home for medical, messing up the highest paying job they ever had. Maybe
one of these if you'll be outside a lot in cold weather.
4.) If you'll be traveling from base to base either by helo or convoy, you'll be required to have eye protection, long sleeves and flame resistant gloves. Usually the Sawfly brand of eyepro on LA PoliceGear.com or similar sites has authorized styles of eye protection which will change out from dark lens (day use) or clear lens (night use). The flame resistant gloves they sometimes have in the PX for purchase. A cheap pair of half-sleeve fire resistant gloves can run $25 or so. A really good pair with knuckle protectors and extra padding can run $60 or $80. If you'll be deploying through Fort Benning (Army contract or as of 01 Sep Camp Atterbury / Indiana) Central Issue Facility for your vest/helmet/other military issue gear - you might just be getting some of this stuff there.
5.) Buy a 2" memory foam twin mattress topper, and mail it to yourself. You'll be glad you did, especially if you get stuck on an Army cot.
6.) If you're a light sleeper, be sure to bring a number of sets of foam earplugs with you on the flight over. Then buy a full box of them from Lab Safety and have them sent to your mailing address. They're cheap, and you don't want to be without them if you're a light sleeper and you end up in a tent with 20 snoring people. Also, buy the Bose Noise Cancelling headphones & bring on the flight over. If you get stuck near a screaming kid for 18 hrs on the flight, you can plug your Bose Quiet Comfort headphones into your iPod or into the airplane movie player and you won't be able to hear the kid screaming. You'll be glad you did. Also, buy a few
Sleep Masks. Sometimes people don't want to turn off the lights until midnight - while you want to hit the hay at 10pm. This way, you can have your dark time and they can have their light time at night. You'll need some Melatonin - natural sleep aid. It will help you adjust your sleep patterns when you have jetlag (coming this way is worse than going back home). Also when people are up late talking and you want to get to sleep, you can pop a 5mg Melatonin and it's not a problem.
7.) Bring at least two pairs of shoes with you, and mail a few more pair so you have some to change out for when you get them covered in mud - you can just throw on a clean pair. Bring one pair of boots (waterproof is best, but
these Converse side-zip boots are the favorite for contractors here) and tennis shoes (for the gym).
8.) Forget wearing jeans. Buy the
5.11 tactical operator pants with large and small pockets on each leg/normal weight for Winter, lightweight for Summer. You'll be glad you did, and may not go back to jeans even when you return home.
9.) Buy thermal underwear, bottoms & tops. Again - these may be issued to you if you're deploying through an Army base and will be issued items from the CIF. They will keep you warm on cold nights when the blankets just aren't enough.
10.) Get rechargeable batteries AA and AAA for cameras, remote controls, etc and a small compact charger. Like Energizer.
11.) You'll need two cloth laundry bags. Laundry turned into the KBR centers takes 3 days to get back on average. Bring enough socks, underwear to have plenty to tide you over while KBR sits on your dirty clothes for 3 days.
12.) Mail over a 60 day supply of vitamins/supplements/medicines. They may not carry your preferred supplements in the PX where you end up.
13.) If you wear prescription glasses, bring at least two new pairs and bring the prescription / paperwork with you. Also bring prescription sunglasses.
14.) Don't bring over dark colors. Bring beiges and tans - they don't show the dirt. No dark color pants. Neutrals all the way - preferably the color of dirt or mud.
[This message has been edited by b.blauser (edited 9/1/2011 12:43p).]
