Going to the 'Stan - Kit advice required
 

Off to the the sunshine. Without wishing to give too much away, what kit would you advise to take. Have just picked up two enormous bags from stores, a miriad of sandy stuff. What's worth taking, what's not provided, what's worth leaving behind? Planning a PX trip soon to buy a video Ipod and some other goodies. How much kit can I take on the 'frame with me? How bad are the sand flies? Keen to know having just had the Leishamaniasis brief!!
Help much appreciated
Plasticab

If you are going to Kandahar, take a (dual voltage) lap top pc with headphones and a camera for Messenger web cam access in your accn. Good for DVDs too.
Cutaneous leishmaniasis is indeed unpleasant, so make sure you get your uniform dipped in Deet. Insect repellant is a good idea; sun protection would be good as well. It will be hot and there will be flies. Lots of them.
Sense of humour always a must at the front-line.

"If you're going to Kandahar...at the Front line."?!?!?!

Are you taking the p*ss?

2.................--T
 

Grabbers! you precocious 2wat he's not going down Elgin High Street so for 99% of the readers of this forum Kandahar qualifies as the front line...it's not a "my front line is closer to the enemy than your front line....." scenario and how dare you since from anywhere via Kabul/Kandahar/Bagram and all stations east or west depending on what one does for a living (oh and fpoint of note it doesn't make you font of all knowledge in where a front line starts or ends) you can be at or crossing over your so called "front line"
"Now go and have a chat with yourself"
"Rant over.....Rant Out!"

Oooooh,
Is someone menstruating? Aah bless. Why don't you go and have a nice lie-down with a hot-water bottle?

Fair One Plasticab

In my experience, take only old clothes you are happy to bin at tourex. Very little 'civvies' save for emergency polo shirt stuff and trews. The laundry probably only has one temp. boil. Plenty of toiletries as the prices the EFI charge can be ridiculous.

Oh and all major e-retailers play the no VAT for BFPO so if you are going for the ipod, it may be better to get it sent to you so it's waiting for you when you arrive. Laptop permitting of course.

Plenty of suncream/aftersun and lip salve stuff (ski/sports factor 50 works well if you can stand the peurile "What's that on your lips" 'Gags').

I thought the whole thing about this post-cold war way of doing things is that there is no definable front-line, anyway. Plasticab might hope he's a couple of steps back from the action, but it only takes a few Taliban to get a bit ambitious, and suddenly he is as close to the front line as any other guy.

Kandahar not front line, eh? What about the mortars that come in to disturb your sleep, or the GR7 that was destroyed there by the enemy...

The Jingly Market on a Saturday is good though!

Now, Al Udied- that's not front line....

SMT

Don't worry about shopping for toiletries or lack thereof. The EFI maybe expensive (don't recall it that way myself TBH) but then there's the PX, Canada House or even the Jinglie Market. American toiletries also offer some light relief in their instructions/warnings. For instance, on an aerosol of shaving foam: "Not suitable for infants under 36 months":uhoh:
As well as a UK-US electrical adaptor take a small extention lead with a four-gang (or even six?) block of sockets on the end. Far more convenient than balancing everything in a block adaptor (and safer should the "Far D'parment Surrrr!" come checking).
Civvies....don't bother. One set for unseen divs on the way there/back and that's it. Oh and some plimsolls and a vest if you like all that running and jumping stuff. That said, (and this isn't a cheap shot but a genuine observation) there are units out there who seem to pro-actively encourage the wearing of civvies when not immediately "at work". But why get your own stuff dusty, faded and laundered to within an inch of it's life?:confused: For my money I also think civvies round camp looks unprofessional. If it is the front line, there's never an "off duty" time.
Kit wise I try never to take more than I can carry in one sitting ie a day sack, and two holdalls (even if they are pretty big, AR5 bag variety), or a bergen (you did say Front line after all;) )
Better still, if you don't want stuff crushing try and get one of those big black foot locker trunks. Ironically you can get them in the PX :ugh: As good as any Samsonite and less pretentious. Even guys in Sangin have them!
Do not take/buy crap Fakeley sunglasses. It is hot, damn hot, and thus very bright and your retinae will be damaged if not protected adequately.
Bite the bullet and take your own sun block. The issue stuff is utterly rancid, and it destroys plastic (arms on sunglasses etc) in a matter of minutes. God knows what it does to one's skin.
If forwarding by wokka/Albert, label all your baggage with a paint pen. Lables/tags get torn off too easily.
And what not to take? Don't tell the Regt but my S10 hasn't been overseas since Telic 1.:oh:
Enjoy.
PS Please, please, please, please, please do not buy a single-size magazine pouch and attach it to the stock of your SA80. It is SO gash.:(

Don't go overboard - no need to take 4 months of toiletries. There is a PX with variable stock for the basics and it occasionally gets iPods etc.

Some of the accommodation (mainly the US stuff) has wireless internet access, so worthwhile taking a laptop if you know where you are going to be. Brit accommodation did not, but was planning to get it - again worth checking before you drag expensive kit out that will get manky in the dust (gets everywhere).

As for issued kit, depends on what you are going to be doing and where you might be going. If you are staying inside the wire most of the time, you can make do with the issued kit and some sports kit for the gym. Laundry is fairly good, but did get a couple of items trashed, so don't put in anything you care about - there are always self-service machines if you must.

The place is dirty all year round, either dusty when dry or very muddy when wet, but is approaching end of rainy period I think. To be honest, I would take as much issue kit as you can (difficult to exchange) and as little personal kit. Comfy boots a must, as everywhere is a decent walk. Screw top mug and microfibre sports towels (ebay) my best purchases.

There is a minimum kitting list (that includes S10 etc) on the HERRICK warning instruction, but ny specific questions, please ask.

Wireless I'net is due any day (or might even already be) at Bastion.

And if venturing outside said wire?:uhoh:

If venturing outside, that is where the personal preference thing comes in. I have always been a fan of not spending my money, but then again I have never expected to get face to face with anyone that wants to do bad things to me. If I were going out, I would probably want the lightest best kit available, but am poorly qualified to make recommendations.

Plasticab, Check PMs

1 x 400GB harddrive topped up to the brim with Gentlemens multi-media!!

Don't take anything too Gucci - unless you are prepared to loose it to anything from movers to mortars!! (NO NO NO THIS IS NOT MOVER BASHING, OK?)

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

I'm not of the generation that is currently doing the sandyboxes but I can see the logic in a lot of the stuff mentioned above by various.

One thing though, don't see any mention of talcum powder. This stuff was god's own gift in my day in the hot'n'sandy. Used in the right areas of the body talc can really prevent (and relieve) 'awkward afflictions'.


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Whereabouts in Kandahar can you get wireless i'net access?