First Deployment Advice

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Dec 31, 2011

What unit are you going with? Depending on what unit will depend on what you will need. If you are going to the southern part of the country you will not need as much cold weather gear as if you are in the northern part of the country.

A good holster for you M9 would be a good idea. I wore a leg holster, which was nice. Another one that some had was a small one which cliped to their belt.

You will need to bring a computer, I-pod, travel alarm clock etc.

As far as bedding, items for you living area, the person that you are replacing will either give or sell them to you. When I went I ended up with 3-4 sets of sheets, blankets etc and did not buy anything.

Also, depending on where you are going will depend on what type of PX they have and what you can buy. Once you get there you can have items shipped to you. I would not have it sent before you get there because Camp/FOB you are going to could change. When you leave, mail as much home as you can. Only carry what you have to turn in when you get back and what you need for the trip home.

Remember everything that you bring with you have to carry along with all the equiptment you are given by the unit or Ft. Benning depending on how you deploy.

I was at Camp Dwyer in the Helmand Province and if you are going there you will not need to bring alot with you, they have a small PX along with a hospital that has been there for a few years.

New1LT · Jan 1, 2012

For some reason I knew you would be the one to reply!!! I was actually hoping it would be you!!! I've actually been talking to the COL that's in charge of my deployment. He has been so helpful and full of very good information. And he completely opened up the channels of communications and has encouraged me to ask away. I've limited it, but even with the small mundane questions he returns a boatload of info. Loving it. I'll be at Bastion, also in the Helmand Province. This has been harder to swallow than I anticipated. I'm so very excited and can't wait for the experience, but leaving my family has proven to be quite difficult to think about. When I was in before, going to the field wasn't that bad. It was just my husband and I and it was for a month at a time. Now I have a family and the length and distance from them gets my heart all tied up.

Thank you so much for your info. It is greatly appreciated!! I'm sure you may get a PM from me with some further questioning!!! lol!!! Happy New Year to you!!

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jan 1, 2012

Bastion? Oh, lucky you!! :) My recruiter (who was a 66H8A who went to recruiting, then back to the ICU) is there:

This is the medical equivalent of a Formula 1 pit stop — Major Richard Yardley: The Sun visits the trauma unit at Camp Bastion hospital | The Sun |News|Campaigns|Our Boys

New1LT · Jan 1, 2012

Trust me Lunah...been loading myself with every piece of information I can possibly gather...already read that quite a few times!!! I'm backfilling for one of the CPTs that left just before I got to my duty station, so I've been hitting him up for info as well as the CDR of the unit I'm going with. Very intimidating!! But looking forward to the challenge and the wealth of information I'm sure to learn from all the coalition staff. If you don't mind, PM with some contact info of your recruiter. Would love to try and pick her brain as well!! LOL!!! Thanks for the info Lunah!!! Keep it comin' cause I know you're a research demon!!!

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Jan 1, 2012

I do not know to much about Basition since it was under the British last year. We had heard that they were going to give up the hospital up there. Is it the 10th CSH you are going to be with? Just be prepared to go to one of the smaller FOB's and be with one of the FST's. We had 2 nurses that were to be at Dwyer end up with FST's.

rustynail · Jan 3, 2012

Watch the show "Combat Hospital" on Hulu before you go. It is a good conversational piece from our friendly neighbors up north :)

It is not all that realistic and it seems like they tried to pack too much action into each episode. Then again, a good conversation piece for laughs and giggles :)

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Jan 3, 2012

Yeah, its a complete joke as most hospital shows are. Sorry can't watch it, attempted to several times but just cant.

rustynail · Jan 3, 2012

Baghdad ER then. That show is real. I haven't seen it yet but I have it in my queue on Netflix.

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Jan 6, 2012

Baghdad ER is a documentry of the CSH which was there at the time. I know several nurses that were there with that CSH but can not remember which CSH it was.

kalevra, BSN, RN · Jan 8, 2012

I preferred using a pistol belt with my M9 holster and magazine pouches. Leg holsters tend to pull and constrict movement once your running and it also makes accessing your cargo pocket a little more inconvenient.

Definitely bring your own laptop, never buy expensive electronics at the PX. A small mp3 player is also usefull and make sure you have head phones. Digital cam with recording capabilities is also useful because you can document stuff for later review. If your in a vehicle ask one of the NCOs if they know how to Macgyver the headphones into the internal comms.

You can also put a small pack of baby wipes in your IOTV where the plates go. This way you always have something to "wipe" with when outside the wire. I do not know if you will ever leave the wire to do some good will type milk runs, but if you do I highly recommend bringing a pack of cigarettes. Nothing else is the world is as friendly as a random stranger offering you a cig.

I dont know what your quarters will look like, but you will be surprised how comfortable the issued sleeping bags are. I used them through out my entire deployment and never bought sheets.

Deployment is not that bad, tons of people have done this before and come out just fine. Relax you will be ok. Trust in your training and your team. Its only 12 months and you get a 2 week break somewhere in there for vacation.

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Jan 8, 2012

Its only 12 months and you get a 2 week break somewhere in there for vacation.

Deployment for nurses are increasing to 9 months vs 6 months. Since new1lt is backfilling it will just be until the end of the CSH's tour.

I prefer the leg holder since I could move it was out of my way when I was in a vehicle/aircraft. Plus it was easy just to unclip it and put up when I was in the hospital.