It's Official, I'm Leaving....

[TheGreatSatan]

I've signed up to deploy for Iraq and I'm scheduled to leave in February. It's a 6 month deployment (for now). Anyone who is in or was in the miltary, help me think of all the stuff I should bring. I can't bring nudie mags or alcohol though.

[OvRiDe]

Psp? Good luck and safe travels...

[Rankenphile]

What branch are you signed in? Marines? Navy?

[Crimson Sky]

Just make sure you bring all of the good thoughts and positive energy from me and all your friends here on the forums

[TheGreatSatan]

What branch are you signed in? Marines? Navy?

Air Force. I'll be watching the planes

[crazybillybob]

Good Luck, and keep your head down! We'll keep a nice warm seat here for you when you get back (and a nice cold beer too!)

Thanks for all the hard work!!


Crazybillybob

[wingman358]

Watching the planes? Bring a camera and document the whole thing!

[Rankenphile]

Sounds like good modding inspiration to me! :p

A couple friends of mine have served tours of duty in the big sandbox. Couple things you will want: Sunglasses, especially wrap-around. Skin lotions - it's damn dry over there. "Wet Wipes". Comfortable socks. Ziplock baggies of various sizes to keep sand and dust out of things. Chap stick. Extra razors and shaving cream. A good sized stash of energy bars/snack bars. Warm gloves (it gets cold at night). A pre-paid phone card if you have family back home. An ipod/MP3 player. If you smoke, get a couple cartons on the cheap before you go over.

Things like that are very useful. There are commisaries over there, but don't expect to find much that is any good after a whole platoon comes in from an extended duty - it's times like that that you will appreciate having a good supply of personal items stashed.

Keep in touch - I don't know if you will have net access, especially if you're stationed on a carrier, so entertainment systems are very useful - like my modded xbox - you could back up a couple dozen games on it when you bring it over, along with hundreds of old school nintendo/Snes/genesis/mame games to keep you busy during downtimes, and wouldn't have to worry about keeping track of your game discs and stuff.

You're in our thoughts. We'll be waiting for ya when ya get back.

[adreamtraveler]

I would definitely say not to forget pictures of your family and friends and pets (if you have any) and a picture of the forums, so you always have a friendly face nearby good luck to you and god bless. it's too bad we are all scattered around the country, cause i'm sure i'm not the only one that wants to buy you a tall frosty beer right now.

[TheGreatSatan]

All I know is that I will be living in a tent and I will have occasional internet access. Hopefully the forums won't be blocked.