hallwe Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 I am going to be going to Afghanistan in Jul 2011. Does anyone have any advice. I have been a PA for less than a year. What should I not bring?Bring? How is the time spent there for those that have been? Thanks!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3GeronimoPA Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 99% of the stuff you need is on the ground there. Take some books to read both for entertainment and to refresh on stuff you don't see often. New pair of running shoes, a garmin forerunner 305 if you're into that kind of stuff, calling cards for en-route calls, a pair of sandals to use as shower shoes- I don't do flip flops because my heel slips off and you have to walk awkward to keep them on. You can pack some decent coffee to carry you until you get resupply-also get a hardy coffee cup. Outside of that, it's your world. Be safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMC"DOC" Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 I can help you with any information you need (been here since August '10) about Kandahar. I can give some insight on a few FOBs that are in the South and some in the Helmand Province. Are you in the military? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devildoc0311 Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 A good quality knife, multi-tool, flashlight/headlamp, camera and an electric hotplate (my doc and I used to cook rice and spam every once in a while lol). If you have someone back home it'll be easy to ship out what you don't want to carry, can't store in your unit's supply or can't buy there. Also, a lot of online stores ship to FPO addresses so you'll be able to order things from online. I was a Corpsman with the Marines and deployed to Iraq during the initial invasion where we had nothing except what we brought with us. My 2nd deployment in 2004 to Ramadi, Iraq was a bit better. We had a PX come through about once a month and mail about every other week. You should be able to get whatever you don't bring/forget over there now. Random things I would bring if I were deploying as a PA: -comfy pair of slippers -a snuggie -an ipod -a good set of headphones -ballistic sunglasses (they make some that make a seal around your eyes like swim goggles, this will be a life saver during sand storms/convoys) - don't remember the brand name, but these may be part of your issued gear. -Also, if you are deploying as part of the military (vs contract) you'll probably get issued an m9. I'd recommend once there purchasing a drop down holster (www.blackhawk.com) Keep your head down, don't get complacent and be safe! And if sh** hits the fan - remember to check your own pulse before you run in! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hallwe Posted March 28, 2011 Author Share Posted March 28, 2011 I can help you with any information you need (been here since August '10) about Kandahar. I can give some insight on a few FOBs that are in the South and some in the Helmand Province. Are you in the military? Thanks, yes I am NAVY. One of the PAs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidfromboston Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 My best friend just came back from there. The best thing he said to bring was baby wipes and magazines. Also bring sunglasses and a blanket that you actually like. He was also a solider but it doesn't sound like bad advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3GeronimoPA Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 devildoc- A snuggie!?! What's a man with the name "Devildoc" doing with a snuggie? Excluding the female bed clothes, the rest of the list is pretty good stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metallicat Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 WHAT!? Dude, that's crazy that you got tagged already. I guess the only promise they gave us was no sooner than 6 mo. My OIC thinks I'm safe for another six months but who knows? Are you filling in an Army spot or are you going with the Marines? Keep me posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMC"DOC" Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 Responses to your question are really situation specific. I work at NATO Role 3 Multinational Medical Unit which is the flagship medical center for the South Region. It is a new bomb shelter building (opened early 2010) that's located adjacent to the Kandahar Air Field (KAF). It has the ability to treat traumas (19 bays), ICU, Ward, Urgent (Primary) Care pts. along with Mental Health, PT, Opt, Dental, etc. If your tagged for this place prepare to stay busy. We are very fortunate that we live in bomb shelter barracks where most others live in tents. With that, a lot of things people have suggested you will not need. It sounds like yourgroup is ripping in as I rip out. I am a reservist and have been here for a year. I can give you more details about Role 3 (worked in Urgent (Primary) Care) if you like just PM me. Oh yeah, almost forgot about the work up @ Ft. Dix. It is ARMY training so prepare yourself for a different way of thinking. I can elaborate more... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devildoc0311 Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 devildoc- A snuggie!?! What's a man with the name "Devildoc" doing with a snuggie? Excluding the female bed clothes, the rest of the list is pretty good stuff. My first deployment we lived in a hole that took 5 days to dig bc it was solid rock. We went to the bathroom in trenches about 50 yards away from those holes. We didn't take showers for almost 4 months (nor do any laundry). I waited 6 hours in line to make a 45 second phone call to my pregnant wife back home. At one point when we reached Baghdad after the initial invasion, where logistics & supply couldn't catch up, we ate moldy bread and dates out of houses bc we hadn't eaten in about 3 days. I caught malaria (even w/ chemoprophylaxis) and strep. Our water tasted like bleach (treated) bc it was straight from the Euphrates. We never lived on an Army base out there or a support base, that served crab legs, shrimp and beer (or at least a hot meal TID). That's not even delving into getting blown up, ambushed, shot at, mortared QD during 2 deployments. So... yes. Even a guy with a name like DevilDoc likes to come back from long, dangerous, and hard days to his 7'x3' space, sit back and wrap a snuggie around himself. There is no shame in my game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Steve Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 My first deployment we lived in a hole that took 5 days to dig bc it was solid rock. We went to the bathroom in trenches about 50 yards away from those holes. We didn't take showers for almost 4 months (nor do any laundry). I waited 6 hours in line to make a 45 second phone call to my pregnant wife back home. At one point when we reached Baghdad after the initial invasion, where logistics & supply couldn't catch up, we ate moldy bread and dates out of houses bc we hadn't eaten in about 3 days. I caught malaria (even w/ chemoprophylaxis) and strep. Our water tasted like bleach (treated) bc it was straight from the Euphrates. We never lived on an Army base out there or a support base, that served crab legs, shrimp and beer (or at least a hot meal TID). That's not even delving into getting blown up, ambushed, shot at, mortared QD during 2 deployments. So... yes. Even a guy with a name like DevilDoc likes to come back from long, dangerous, and hard days to his 7'x3' space, sit back and wrap a snuggie around himself. There is no shame in my game. Semper Fi and thank you. Steve USN HM2 1990-2000 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrthoSurgeryPA Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 Not surprised to see that more "new" PAs are getting tagged for IA tours with the Marines. I literally just returned from a 9 month tour with the Marines leading a trauma team in one of the most kinetic regions of the AO. I gotta tell you that even with my past operational experience nothing could've prepared me for what I saw or was asked to do while there. We need more dedicated PAs to go forward and support the Marines and Sailors engaged in those dangerous patrols and missions. Semper Fi to all and stay safe while out and about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3GeronimoPA Posted April 11, 2011 Share Posted April 11, 2011 My first deployment we lived in a hole that took 5 days to dig bc it was solid rock. We went to the bathroom in trenches about 50 yards away from those holes. We didn't take showers for almost 4 months (nor do any laundry). I waited 6 hours in line to make a 45 second phone call to my pregnant wife back home. At one point when we reached Baghdad after the initial invasion, where logistics & supply couldn't catch up, we ate moldy bread and dates out of houses bc we hadn't eaten in about 3 days. I caught malaria (even w/ chemoprophylaxis) and strep. Our water tasted like bleach (treated) bc it was straight from the Euphrates. We never lived on an Army base out there or a support base, that served crab legs, shrimp and beer (or at least a hot meal TID). That's not even delving into getting blown up, ambushed, shot at, mortared QD during 2 deployments. So... yes. Even a guy with a name like DevilDoc likes to come back from long, dangerous, and hard days to his 7'x3' space, sit back and wrap a snuggie around himself. There is no shame in my game. Lol, I was there for the initial push into Iraq as well brother. I opted for the poncho liner (woobie). It may not be any manlier than a Snuggie but it was camo pattern so defensible in court :D. I was just joking around with you. I'm glad you took it well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RetNavyPAC Posted May 1, 2011 Share Posted May 1, 2011 Are you doing a PRT gig? If so, give me a holler. I was PRT Asadabad in Kunar from 2006-2007 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henze Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 You need to take care of yourself there and nothing else and take all the necessary equipment that are needed and just take care of yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uscbigdawg Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 Totally depends on where you're going to be at. If you're at a bigger base (Bagram, J-Bad, Kandahar, etc.) you can find EVERYTHING you'd ever want there, especially at Bagram. I did 13 months between Bagram and J-Bad in 2007 with the 82nd Airborne and thankfully learned to pack light. Literally, I brought the bare essentials and only a few "luxury" items. Ruck sack: 3 days worth of clothes, toiletries, TOWEL!, laptop and a small book. Made a small med kit (aspirin, tylenol, motrin, benadryl, etc.) for my guys while we were in route, kevlar and body armor Duffle Bag: All my other clothes and kit Trunk: Flight med gear, aid bag, portable DVD player, DVD's in a soft case (the kind that hold like 40, but only packed like 10), other books and external hard drive, preloaded with movies, tv shows and music USPS Priority shipped from the US (either by friends sending stuff to you or when you order stuff online) took 7 days to get to me. Pretty sweet when you think about it. That's why I packed light. Ordered a couple of books, videos, etc. while I was there but again, there is an AAFES type PX/BX that you can find just about anything. If you're out at a FOB or on a FST team, you'll get regular supply drops and we dropped off goodies any time we knew we were going to be near one. Contact the person you're replacing and ask them what you should bring. You can likely work out a trade or buy some stuff from them when you get there. When we got to our hut, I bought the wall fan and bedding from the guy I replaced. Made life SUPER easy. Good luck and Godspeed! Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hallwe Posted July 23, 2011 Author Share Posted July 23, 2011 OK, just found out that I will be going to Edinburgh. Anyone familiar with the area? I will be arrive there sometime in August. The things that I do know are, you poop in a bag, 2 hot meals a day (breakfast and dinner-MRE for lunch), limited internet access, 20 person tent, no gym. Can anyone else enlighten me? Thanks!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hallwe Posted July 23, 2011 Author Share Posted July 23, 2011 OK, just found out that I will be going to Edinburgh. Anyone familiar with the area? I will be arrive there sometime in August. The things that I do know are, you poop in a bag, 2 hot meals a day (breakfast and dinner-MRE for lunch), limited internet access, 20 person tent, no gym. Can anyone else enlighten me? Thanks!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmr Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 Be careful about posting where you are heading- OPSEC and all that. That said, good luck. My deployment was the worst year of my life (even worse than PA school) but I did learn a lot. Bring some benzos for the plane ride over there- some tough 11B is guaranteed to have a breakdown during the first sign of turbulance;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmr Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 Be careful about posting where you are heading- OPSEC and all that. That said, good luck. My deployment was the worst year of my life (even worse than PA school) but I did learn a lot. Bring some benzos for the plane ride over there- some tough 11B is guaranteed to have a breakdown during the first sign of turbulance;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uscbigdawg Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 Pack light. Doesn't sound like a bad tour. Slept in the sand more than one night, on my first deployment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uscbigdawg Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 Pack light. Doesn't sound like a bad tour. Slept in the sand more than one night, on my first deployment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrthoSurgeryPA Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 T-rats, wag bags and minimal comms. Ahhh how I miss that place. Good luck to you hallwe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrthoSurgeryPA Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 T-rats, wag bags and minimal comms. Ahhh how I miss that place. Good luck to you hallwe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubledown10 Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 During the initial push, like GeronimoPA and some others have pointed out, resources were limited and things sucked. Things are a lot better now. You might have a ton of down time. get your lift on and get into amazing shape. All the things they have suggested are the things that I pack first before I deploy. Actually, for a lot of guys there now, the biggest hardship they encounter is when the wireless internet goes down and when they run out of porn clips to watch during "personal time". Bring a portable hard drive. Digital media can be like currency for you there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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