Plasticab,
Apologies if any of this is teaching you to suck eggs; I don't know how often you deploy, or when you last went OOA.
There will be certain pieces of military kit you will need to take as hand luggage:
- Body armour
- Helmet
I'm not sure if it's contained in the current guide, but you'd be foolish not to take a sleeping bag, thermarest, some toiletries and change of underwear too - you can find yourself in some odd places for a day or two when travelling by AT, without access to your main luggage.
You're supposed to take your S10, but unless we complete the pincer movement by invading/bombing Iran during your time overseas, you probably won't need it (but you may get ordered to bring it; sorry).
Minimise the rest of your military kit - at Kandahar and Bastion you can generally get stuff washed and it'll be ready for you the next day (sometimes 2), so you don't need too much. Be prepared to bin stuff when you come to leave, as the washing isn't the gentlest in the world, so no expensive civvies. War isn't a fashion competition, and you can come and help kill the Talib whatever the label on your clothes...
Kandahar is dusty; Bastion in summer is one of the dustiest places on earth. The Iraqi desert has nothing on this place. The recent rain should have stopped when you get out there. Bring your sleeping bag inner sheet - it will be easily as hot as Iraq when you get there, and in summer it doesn't get much below 25C overnight - your lightweight sleeping bag may be too hot, depending on where you're sleeping. It's also good if you should find yourself trying to sleep off nights in canvas tents, and it's 50C outside and the aircon doesn't work (or worse still, you haven't any).
As for civilian kit, here is a list of things that I have found made my life significantly more comfortable when on ops (the first 3 I consider essential):
- 4/6 way power board adapter
- US/UK power adapter
- Hanging cloth wardrobe (couple of quid on eBay) and a couple of clothes hangers (you generally can't get them over there)
- Thermarest or equivalent (makes cot-beds bearable and C17 comfortable, and it's much smaller than the issued rollmat)
- Insulated mug (you get this on issue now, but you may wish the sort of mug that looks like a mini-thermos, as it doesn't spill/leak when it's in your bergen/pocket - about 5-6 pounds from a camping shop). Considerably less relevant as it gets hotter though.
- You may wish to consider bringing a laptop, as some parts of Kandahar have internet access, and there are plans to install it at Bastion. Eventually. You may not see enough violence and to get your fix you may wish to watch/play dvds/games. Alternatively, write long emails on it, burn to a rewriteable cd and then import onto the shared computers that you only have a limited time on. Just make sure your laptop case can be closed properly so as to try to dust proof it when it's outside your tent/accommodation.
- Fitted cotton sheet (or two) - means you don't sleep in your sweat at night: far more comfortable.
- Enough toiletries for a couple of weeks - the rest you can get out there. Don't bother with anti-perspirant; it's a waste of time, and you'll just have to get used to sweating night and day.
- Cough/cold medicine such as Lemsip - living cheek-by-jowl with so many people means you will come down with something (no jokes please), although you can find some stuff in the PX.
- You'll need one set of gym kit (the US gym at Kandahar is better than most on UK mainland stations), and no more than a set or two of civvies (shorts and t-shirt).
- Black plastic foot locker (available from PX for around $20): it's lockable and mover-proof.
- If you have fair skin, you will need a higher factor suncream than what you get on issue.
- iPod or something similar.
- If you work for the CIA over there, you will also need a silly goatee and a mullet.
You can borrow books from the US welfare area, and they are trying to set up something similar at Bastion. And GQ/Maxim/FHM or gentlemen's literature is ok to be sent out (although the hierarchy may try to persuade you otherwise).
If you find yourself other than in Kandahar or Bastion, you'll just need lots of ammo and lots of water.
Above all, remember to pack light - leave room for a sense of humour!
Sorry for the length of the post and have a safe tour,
SBW