Deployment Orders and a Few Questions...

amcardon

amcardon

Joined
Jun 29, 2009
Messages
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Hey guys, my brother in law got his deployment orders last night for deployment to Iraq in September. This is his 2nd tour and his wife just found out they're pregnant with their first child, due in October.

Anyway, I'm trying to get an idea of things I can send with him to make his tour hopefully better than his first. I am going to try and make him a knife for daily carry but I was hoping you guys might have some ideas as to other items that I should consider sending. I'm a student so please don't recommend items that would be fantastic to have but require a lot of money.

Anyway, thank you for any posts or suggestions you guys might have. I've never served in the military so I really don't know what to send him with.
 
FOOD. The food they serve on the ship and while on deployment is crap. Peanut butter and some chocolate bars would be a good start.
 
It really completely depends on his unit and what gear they have been issued, what his job is and the facilities around where he will be in the sandbox.
 
amcardon said:
This is his 2nd tour and his wife just found out they're pregnant with their first child, due in October.
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This happened on my third tour. My wife was 8 months pregnant when I went over. It was my first boy...really sucked.

I would suggest Dip, Smokes, DVDs, Books, Ramon Noodles, Camera Memory Card, Blanket, Pillow and a quality sharpener. Just some things off the top of my head.

Matt
 
external hard drive loaded with movies and TV shows... nothing like coming home after humpin around in the desert than a shower, a meal and being able to sit down and watch a movie on a laptop.
 
Some things he might enjoy are a decent knife sharpener (diamond/ceramic), magazines, DVD's, movies already downloaded on harddrive, chew, smokes, food, candie, goodies. Again it does depend on where he's deployed and how large or small his FOB/FOP might be. Anything enertainment wise is always a good thing.
 
Yeah, not sure where he's heading, just Iraq is all we've heard. He's with the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team that just got called up. He doesn't smoke/chew so that won't be a problem. Didn't even think about sending him with an external w/ movies, that's a great idea.

I'll start thinking about what sharpener would be best to send. Trying to draw out some ideas for a knife for him but I'm still a newb so I might need some help with what would be appropriate for a military knife fit for the sandbox.
 
amcardon said:
Yeah, not sure where he's heading, just Iraq is all we've heard. He's with the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team that just got called up. He doesn't smoke/chew so that won't be a problem. Didn't even think about sending him with an external w/ movies, that's a great idea.

I'll start thinking about what sharpener would be best to send. Trying to draw out some ideas for a knife for him but I'm still a newb so I might need some help with what would be appropriate for a military knife fit for the sandbox.
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Even if he doesn't smoke and chew here he might on deployment, I smoke maybe a cigarette a year (usually involving kissing a girl that's a smoker) but on duty I smoked like a windbag. Even if he personally doesn't smoke or chew cigarettes and dip, cigars too, are better than cold green cash in a combat zone.
 
How about an ESEE-3MIL?

I had one bought and engraved for my nephew and sent it to Afghanistan for Christmas last year.

Here a couple of pics of it before I shipped it. It was purchased and engraved at Knifeworks in Louisiana:

IMG_1751Medium.jpg

IMG_1752Medium.jpg


He's currently back in the States (AK) and will be redeployed back to Afghanistan in the Fall.
 
HD Full of movies and TV Shows. Snacks that are easy to eat in the field such as Pistashios, Pumpkin Seeds, Jerkey, Gummie Bears...you get the idea. When I was in Saudi and Kuwait this is the stuff I asked for.
 
amcardon said:
Yeah, not sure where he's heading, just Iraq is all we've heard. He's with the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team that just got called up. He doesn't smoke/chew so that won't be a problem. Didn't even think about sending him with an external w/ movies, that's a great idea.

I'll start thinking about what sharpener would be best to send. Trying to draw out some ideas for a knife for him but I'm still a newb so I might need some help with what would be appropriate for a military knife fit for the sandbox.
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If you can't get a knife made in time I have an Izula I won here on the forum and I would be proud to give it to one of our countries finest.

When I deployed to Saudi back in the day my best companion was a Gerber MK I boot knife. I killed a few Scorpions and a Desert Viper (similar to a Rattlesnake) with it. I carried that knife in my boot for nearly 23 years and I still have it today!
 
Yeah, I like the ESEE-3mil and the ESEE-5 a lot. I was thinking about having family put some cash together to purchase one for him but there's a part of me that wants to send him with a hand-made knife (no offense ESEE, on the production side you're as close as it gets!).

I hadn't thought about the use of tobacco as currency but I can only imagine how true it is.
 
CDHumiston said:
If you can't get a knife made in time I have an Izula I won here on the forum and I would be proud to give it to one of our countries finest.

When I deployed to Saudi back in the day my best companion was a Gerber MK I boot knife. I killed a few Scorpions and a Desert Viper (similar to a Rattlesnake) with it. I carried that knife in my boot for nearly 23 years and I still have it today!
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I sincerely appreciate the offer. If it looks like I won't have one ready for him in time for deployment I just might take you up on it.
 
amcardon said:
Yeah, I like the ESEE-3mil and the ESEE-5 a lot. I was thinking about having family put some cash together to purchase one for him but there's a part of me that wants to send him with a hand-made knife (no offense ESEE, on the production side you're as close as it gets!).

I hadn't thought about the use of tobacco as currency but I can only imagine how true it is.
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I totally understand how you feel about sending a hand-made knife! The Izula is yours if you need it.
 
+1 on baby wipes.
DMT diafold med/fine or fine/x-fine is a great field sharpener for not much $$ where space and weight are limited.
an RC3mil or a 4" folder w/open frame would be good cutlery.
nuts and/or dried fruit in single serve packets.
 
I was an 0321 Marine, I would send, Gun Oil, Baby Wipes, Porn Mags(Hustler), Batteries, etc... Hope your Brother-in-Law, has a safe as to be expected journey. Get Some!!!
 
send him a general purpose SAK (Soldier/Officer model, etc.)--nothing too humongous (nothing larger/fatter than a Tinker), so he'll always have it in his pants pockets; they're good knives and not too pricey. He'll carry a fixed balde on his MOLLE.
 
knifestuff said:
send him a general purpose SAK (Soldier/Officer model, etc.)--nothing too humongous (nothing larger/fatter than a Tinker), so he'll always have it in his pants pockets; they're good knives and not too pricey. He'll carry a fixed balde on his MOLLE.
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The plan is to make him a fighter style knife with a 5-6" blade. Any input as to whether leather or kydex would be the better option? I plan it being carried for cross draw on his jacket. I would think kydex would be the better option as it's lighter and tough but what about the sand, will that play a role in a sheath? I can only imagine sand gets in everything over there...

On the folder front would a RAT-1 be a good option for a folder to send with him? Maybe replace it with the Izula folder once they're out...
 
Please dont take this as gospel, but with OIF terminating in September, I would say that his BCT is going to be training and/or providing security in Iraqi city. Which basically means he more than likely will be living in barracks and eatin chow on a decent FOB. I would not recommend that he take any pornography as that will get him in trouble (violates the General Order for theater). I would suggest that he invest in a decent laptop and have you send him new movies and shows that he likes. News from the states is always welcome too. Pictures of family members and what they are doing gets Soldiers through tough times by allowing them to feel more connected. I find it also helps with reestablishing those bonds after a long deployment is finished.
Food is always iffy and unless he is embedded in a city on a contact team or security platoon, he will have access to a PX that sells poggy bait. If he doesn't, then I'd wait to see what he likes and then send that to him.
If you are thinking of sending him a knife, I'd give him one he wouldnt mind losing/damaging. Customs and theives are the debil!
Tell him good luck and God bless!
 
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