Every year, thousands of soliders travel overseas to engage in their first deployment. For many, they are unsure what travel items they will need for this new and different terrain. Here are a few key items any soldier needs when traveling overseas:
Things to carry with you
A Leatherman or equivalent can sometimes come in handy at the strangest times so always keep one on your belt. You’ll find if you keep it with your gear that you never use it, but you’ll reach for it a few times a week if you have it on your belt.
Make sure you have a set of goggles with you. They should issue you some if you will be traveling by helicopter at some point but they’ll come in very handy if you’re ever caught in a sandstorm.
Speaking of dust storms, a neck gator is a great thing for when that sand-wall scene from The Mummy creeps up on you. You can also shield the back of your neck from the sun if your sunscreen keeps wiping off or runs out. For colder temperatures, a thicker neck gator, about the thickness of a pair of sweatpants is awesome.
Chap Stick, sunscreen and eye drops are important to always carry. You can keep sunscreen clipped onto your belt with a small carabiner if you find one with a loop hole. The eye drops are important for dry climates and for when you get sweat dripping into your eyes.
As any good NCO knows, you should always carry a pen and some paper. Space pens are your best bet because they can write anywhere-even in harsh climates and conditions. They’re a little more than a regular pen but they don’t get lost as easily and they fit in whatever you’re wearing. A waterproof note pad is great too because the paper will hold together better than others in addition to its waterproof properties.
If you’re going to be anywhere near a base, you’ll need to carry your ID somewhere that can be seen. A good solution is an ID Holder that hangs from your neck. It’s large enough to hold several ID’s and keeps your passports and cash/credit cards with you at all times. You can also keep a spare key to your padlocks in there. Don’t forget to make copies of your passport and IDs but keep them in a separate location.
Great post. Hope to read even more good posts in the near future.