I need a fixed blade for my upcoming deployment.

[Danbo]

I would opt for the Simonich Midtech Raven; especially since Rob gives active duty military a pretty good discount.

 

[dboy]

I'm an activated reservist, just came back from Kuwait 3 weeks ago...I had my personal microtech scarab that I used 3 times during the 5 months I was there...opened up a couple MREs anc cut some 550 cord with it...it got filled up with sand and grit and stunk with the WD-40 I sprayed to clean it out. I should have kept it at home. I used a $0.25 box-cutter to do 95% of my cutting and a leatherman tool for everything else...and I threw away the box-cutter when it was dull and picked up a new one from the box of 5 that I brought with me for $1.25 (I've still got 3 of them brand new in the box).

Use what is going to work...not what is necessarily cool or sexy...Box-cutters are really great for utility work and they are very cheap and disposable. The leathermen/SAK/other multi-tool will handle all other specialized work you need. Unless you have a specific MOS/AFSC you won't need a large fixed blade...if you find you need one you can pick one up for cheap over there. If you have a combat MOS you should already have a decent FB so it shouldn't be an issue. If you want peace of mind and want a FB anyway, you might as well buy a decent one and stick it in your bag...just don't be suprised it ends up as a decoration on your LBE. Good luck and stay safe.

 

[Skyssx]

Originally posted by BadBamaUmp
I'm sorry that noone told you about getting extra necessities to put in your chem suit, I can't be everywhere but now you know and make sure you pass that on when you become a leader (I don't know if you're an NCO yet). Well I hope you won't be offended if I pass on some other tips.

I'm E4P but points keep jumping just out of my reach I always welcome tips from those who really do the Army thing.

Do you have a Camel Bak? We bought MotherLodes before our trip to Kosovo. They carry a lot of water and gear. I won't go anywhere without mine to back up my LBV. Remember to only drink/eat off of your LBV after you've exhausted your other supplies, the stuff on your LBV is for if you gotta run and gun.

Gone through two since AIT already. I currently have a HAWG a few years old, before they started making them all ultra huge. Our supply supposedly ordered some but i've yet to see them along with all the other crap they say they are getting for us. I'll probably snag a desert colored one before I leave.

Get a signal mirror and a decent sized chunk of a panel marker, the marker goes in either your butt pack or the top of your kevlar under the webbing. you'll never know if you need it.

Good tip. We had orange sheets when I was on Det in Korea. I'll find one of those. I should get the mirror to shave with anyway. I'm set on batteries too.

One last thing. A friend of mine got a knife sent to him through APO in Korea. Not a large affair, just a $20 folder that looked cool. He never got it, another package from the same guy at the same time but i'm willing to believe they lost the knife because I ordered an entire computer case and never got it (I eventually got a full refund). Does anyone know if there are going to be any hangups in getting one of these knives sent to an APO Community Mail Room in Germany?

 

[BadBamaUmp]

I used to do the "real Army" thing, due to bad knees I'm now a Public Affairs weasel. But my journalists look and act like real soldiers.

The Motherlodes can be purchased on IMPAQ directly from CamelBack Military Sales, they have an NSN so it's no big whoop if the money's there (y'all should be plussed up with CONOPS $$$, CONOPS money is magic money.) Load up on chapstick, sun screen (this also helps prevent wind burn and bug juice.

Soldiering is soldiering, remember when you become an NCO you have an implied responsibility to take care of all soldiers, not just yours.

Godspeed