Gifts for members headed to Afganistan

[Blackhorse7]

For those of you who may have gone to A-stan, what would you recommend for a gift to send to someone that they can use over there?  I'm not cheap, but I'm also not going to buy them laptops.

And before anyone gets uppity and suggests using the search feature, I thought about that.  I want info from the most recent deployments about what guys wish they had with them.  We all know that conditions change from tour to tour, and what may have been sought after then might not be now.  Your collective recommendations are appreciated...

 

[GO!!!]

A good quality headlamp, with a red lens, like this one.

http://www.trailspace.com/gear/petzl/tactikka/

About 40-50$ in Canada.

 

[Blackhorse7]

Nice.... I have one of those myself, but not with the red filter... I would like to get the filter.  Good idea...

 

[COBRA-6]

Some things I have found usefull:

9mm holster - Tactical Tailor
Flashlight - Surefire G2
Knife - CRKT M16-12LE
Sling - Spec-Ops Brand Mamba
Magpull Ranger Plates
Socks - Wigwam Ingenius
T-Shirts - 5.11 Loose Crew
Gloves - Nomex Flight

 

[Franko]

Well lets see....I'm here right now so I'll wade in here....

- Under Armour shirts...a godsend on those days when it hits a balmy 45 C and your wearing all your gear.

- As GO! said...the head lamp is a good thing especially when deployed to FOBs and there is light discipline.

- a good holster....mind you that you can buy them in theater.

- the Surefires are issued for the mostpart to the people who need them...mind you they are handy when broken down on the side of the road in the middle of IED alley.

- NOMEX gloves are also issued...but nice to have if you aren't. Mind you they are not for warmth.

- mini lights that can be clipped to your combats

I'll think up some more when I have a bit more time.

Regards

 

[geo]

Letters from home!
(pref some that smell real nice )

 

[Blackhorse7]

Geo....

I have been told by my mates that are headed over that I can expect an IED in the mail if I send them a letter that smells nice, but I will see if my wife is up to the job!  ;D

Franko... clip on LED's.  Red light, or white?  Inova makes a great one that has a nice big metal clip to change it around...

 

[Britney Spears]

One anecdote I gathered from Mgen Mackenzie's book, the authority on this sort of thing:

If the plt's wives and girlfriends decide to collectively send a package of personally owned lingerie and brassiers in a "care package", ensure that each item is clearly marked with the name and last 3 of the soldier for whom it is destined. It is very embarrasing for the Plt WO to collect the troops in the mess and attempt to issue said items in an equitable manner, whilst having no way to discern which item belongs to whom. 

 

[geo]

Britt....
Will have to investigate
wonder what kind of research the General did

 

[Franko]

Franko... clip on LED's.  Red light, or white?  Inova makes a great one that has a nice big metal clip to change it around...

It doesn't really matter here. As long as it's small and filtered. I've used the white and it's dim enough to not be seen at a great distance.

Mind you if you looked at the FOB I was at it was the black hole in the middle of a lit up town    :

I love the Yank mentality.

Regards

 

[Blackhorse7]

I got to thinking about the red/white question.  I always used a red filter for night vision when I was in, but I find now (and I suppose back then too) that the red light effectively erases red markings on maps.  Would blue light be better?  My understanding is that blue light will not travel very far, and still won't affect night vision.

 

[GO!!!]

I got to thinking about the red/white question.  I always used a red filter for night vision when I was in, but I find now (and I suppose back then too) that the red light effectively erases red markings on maps.  Would blue light be better?  My understanding is that blue light will not travel very far, and still won't affect night vision.

Blue light will effect your night vision, but it depends on the strength of the filter. Blue light erases the blue markings on the map (like grid lines and water) so it might not be a feasible option.

To defeat the red lens' propensity to erase the red markings on a map, poke a pinhole through the center of your red lens. This will give you a small circle of white lite for map reading, but preserve your night vision.

 

[KevinB]

Go 5.11 shirts instead of Under Armour -- the 5.11's are flame retardant while the AU's act like shrink wrap...

Safariland 6004 holster for those with a pistol.

Nomex Flight gloves

and the headlamp.

AND DVD Porn