Deploy with Success: Navigating the Essentials and Avoiding the Excess
**Things to Bring:**
1. **Sense of Humor:** Because nothing beats deployment blues like a good laugh. Bonus points if it's dad jokes – they're universally appreciated, even in the most remote locations.
2. **Comfortable Socks:** Because you never realize the importance of good socks until you've been on your feet for hours. Plus, you can always trade them for favors or snacks.
3. **Power Bank:** Your gadgets might not have access to a charging station for days. A power bank can be a true lifesaver, ensuring your phone survives the endless game of Candy Crush during downtime.
4. **Photos of Loved Ones:** For those moments when you need a morale boost, or you want to remind yourself why you're enduring the hardships of deployment. Plus, it's a great conversation starter with locals.
5. **Travel-Size Hot Sauce:** Because even MREs can use a little extra flavor. It's the secret weapon to turn any bland meal into a gourmet experience. Just don't overdo it – you don't want to start a hot sauce black market.
6. **Multi-tool:** A Swiss Army knife or a Leatherman – your pocket-sized problem solver. Need to open a can of beans, fix something, or perform minor surgery? Your multi-tool has got you covered.
7. **Portable Speaker:** Music can be a great escape. Just be mindful of your musical choices – not everyone appreciates death metal at 6 a.m. during PT.
8. **Deck of Cards:** Classic entertainment for downtime. A simple deck of cards can foster camaraderie and lead to epic poker tournaments.
9. **Ziploc Bags:** Essential for keeping your gear dry during unexpected rain showers or impromptu river crossings. Also doubles as a makeshift ice pack for those inevitable bumps and bruises.
10. **Personal Hygiene Items:** A small luxury in a less-than-luxurious environment. Your fellow soldiers will thank you for not smelling like a gym locker.
**Things NOT to Bring:**
1. **Pet Rock:** As much as your rock has been a great listener at home, deploying it might be pushing the boundaries of practicality.
2. **High Maintenance Pets:** Bringing your goldfish might seem like a good idea, but it's not practical to set up a tank in a desert. Leave the exotic pets to the local wildlife.
3. **Full Wardrobe:** Remember, you're deploying, not walking the runway. Practicality beats fashion; leave the stiletto heels and tuxedo at home.
4. **Entire DVD Collection:** We get it, you love movies, but Netflix and chill might be a bit challenging in a remote location. Opt for a few favorites or a streaming device instead.
5. **Anything Illegal:** Yes, even if it's for "stress relief." There's no humor in a military tribunal.
6. **Personalized Camouflage:** Your artistic touch doesn't extend to the battlefield. Stick to the standard issue; the enemy won't be impressed by your tie-dye skills.
7. **Inflatable Furniture:** As much as you'd like to recreate the comfort of home, a blow-up couch might not withstand the harsh conditions.
8. **Fancy Cooking Equipment:** Leave the gourmet cooking experiments for home. MREs can be surprisingly delicious when you're hungry enough.
9. **Selfie Stick:** While documenting your deployment is great, a selfie stick might make you look more like a tourist than a soldier. Plus, it's a potential weapon in close-quarters combat.
10. **Drama:** Save the soap opera for TV. Deployment is stressful enough without adding personal drama into the mix. Keep it light, keep it funny, and keep it focused on the mission.
1. **Sense of Humor:** Because nothing beats deployment blues like a good laugh. Bonus points if it's dad jokes – they're universally appreciated, even in the most remote locations.
2. **Comfortable Socks:** Because you never realize the importance of good socks until you've been on your feet for hours. Plus, you can always trade them for favors or snacks.
3. **Power Bank:** Your gadgets might not have access to a charging station for days. A power bank can be a true lifesaver, ensuring your phone survives the endless game of Candy Crush during downtime.
4. **Photos of Loved Ones:** For those moments when you need a morale boost, or you want to remind yourself why you're enduring the hardships of deployment. Plus, it's a great conversation starter with locals.
5. **Travel-Size Hot Sauce:** Because even MREs can use a little extra flavor. It's the secret weapon to turn any bland meal into a gourmet experience. Just don't overdo it – you don't want to start a hot sauce black market.
6. **Multi-tool:** A Swiss Army knife or a Leatherman – your pocket-sized problem solver. Need to open a can of beans, fix something, or perform minor surgery? Your multi-tool has got you covered.
7. **Portable Speaker:** Music can be a great escape. Just be mindful of your musical choices – not everyone appreciates death metal at 6 a.m. during PT.
8. **Deck of Cards:** Classic entertainment for downtime. A simple deck of cards can foster camaraderie and lead to epic poker tournaments.
9. **Ziploc Bags:** Essential for keeping your gear dry during unexpected rain showers or impromptu river crossings. Also doubles as a makeshift ice pack for those inevitable bumps and bruises.
10. **Personal Hygiene Items:** A small luxury in a less-than-luxurious environment. Your fellow soldiers will thank you for not smelling like a gym locker.
**Things NOT to Bring:**
1. **Pet Rock:** As much as your rock has been a great listener at home, deploying it might be pushing the boundaries of practicality.
2. **High Maintenance Pets:** Bringing your goldfish might seem like a good idea, but it's not practical to set up a tank in a desert. Leave the exotic pets to the local wildlife.
3. **Full Wardrobe:** Remember, you're deploying, not walking the runway. Practicality beats fashion; leave the stiletto heels and tuxedo at home.
4. **Entire DVD Collection:** We get it, you love movies, but Netflix and chill might be a bit challenging in a remote location. Opt for a few favorites or a streaming device instead.
5. **Anything Illegal:** Yes, even if it's for "stress relief." There's no humor in a military tribunal.
6. **Personalized Camouflage:** Your artistic touch doesn't extend to the battlefield. Stick to the standard issue; the enemy won't be impressed by your tie-dye skills.
7. **Inflatable Furniture:** As much as you'd like to recreate the comfort of home, a blow-up couch might not withstand the harsh conditions.
8. **Fancy Cooking Equipment:** Leave the gourmet cooking experiments for home. MREs can be surprisingly delicious when you're hungry enough.
9. **Selfie Stick:** While documenting your deployment is great, a selfie stick might make you look more like a tourist than a soldier. Plus, it's a potential weapon in close-quarters combat.
10. **Drama:** Save the soap opera for TV. Deployment is stressful enough without adding personal drama into the mix. Keep it light, keep it funny, and keep it focused on the mission.
