HOW TO PACK, WHAT TO TAKE
Everyone develops his or her own methods of packing for an embed. I’ve developed mine over 25 years as a war correspondent. But it’s not gospel, and I urge those reading this to make adjustments to fit their own traveling style and preferences. Moreover, when you sign up for an embed, the military provides its own list of items it recommends be packed (visit the “Checklist” tab, above).
Helmet, vest
A "word cloud" of necessary items. Click for full size.
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Kevlar helmets and ballistic vests — and the ceramic plates that go inside them — can be bought online from any number of suppliers. I have purchased them from www.bulletproofme.com.
The one military requirement is that you purchase a Level 4 vest. This is the highest rating for body armor, designed to stop armor-piercing rounds. I recommend that you also buy a blunt trauma pack, which is a sort of internal pillow designed to absorb the tremendous force of a bullet hitting the vest.
Your helmet should come with an internal foam impact liner, which is designed to reduce the impact of a bullet hitting the helmet.
Baggage
I have a rule against taking more than two packed bags for mobility’s sake (although I do take along a third — a laptop backpack — stuffed inside one of the others. I explain why below). That’s a luxury I have as a print journalist.
One of my bags is a very large hybrid backpack/duffel bag — a “mother bag” of sorts — in which I pack the big stuff , such as clothes, washing supplies and other personal essentials, including a Camelbak water carrier. (I bought this bag in Kabul and I haven’t been able to find something similar online that I can include a picture of or link you to).
The “mother bag” has numerous large pockets along the sides, top and bottom that are convenient for carrying some of the smaller items that I will recommend taking below. It can be used like regular luggage by securing the backpack straps with smaller straps or using it as a backpack by using the backpack straps. It has four zippered pockets on each side, each about the size of a shoe and a larger zippered pocket on each end. So, it has lots of spare room to carry shoes, laundry bag, and other spare items.
Blackhawk field pack
My second bag is a smaller, military-style field pack (made by Blackhawk) that I can use to carry gear on operations outside of the main embed location. While traveling to the location, I stuff inside the field pack a third bag — a slightly smaller backpack to haul the tools of the trade: a laptop, a BGAN satellite, notebooks, pens, headlight, batteries, digital recorder, camera and other such items. (The laptop bag is like this one). This way, I can leave my largest main bag — with most of my stuff inside — in my dwelling at the main base and take only what I need for an operation in the field pack.
Water reservoir
For the field pack, I purchased extra straps to secure a sleeping bag to the two bottom ring straps and to secure my sleeping mat to the top. I strap my Camelbak water carrier on to the back of the pack. When not in use, I also hang my helmet from its chin strap on the field pack.
If it’s a vehicle mission, I have the choice of also taking my laptop backpack. But if it’s a foot patrol, I will take just the field pack, with a change of underwear and socks, washing gear and perhaps the laptop, BGAN and extra batteries if I am planning on filing. That way I have room to carry Meals Ready to Eat (MREs).
Other supplies and considerations
You also should have a headlight, a small flashlight and utility tool such as a Leatherman that can be worn in pouches on your belt, and several small disposable red LED “night” lights whose use is mandatory when “light discipline” – a ban on white light – is in force. These small red lights, which can be clipped to your credentials lanyard or a belt loop, and many of the other items that I recommend, can be purchased at the stores on most larger bases.
Because of Afghanistan’s ever-present talcum powder-like “moon dust” that penetrates everything, including the pores of your skin, always store your laptop and BGAN inside large zip-close bags. To deal with the dust on your hands, take a small travel-sized bottle of hand sanitizer, such as Purell.
Have enough rechargeable batteries, be sure they are in top shape, and recharge them whenever you can.
I use a compression pack to reduce the size of my sleeping bag, which I put inside a tough garbage bag to keep out the dust, and strap it on the bottom of my field pack. Always bring a roll-up sleeping pad. It can be strapped to the top of your field pack. I once had to spend the night at 8,000 feet in minus 20-degree cold in the mountains of Wardak Province, trying to sleep on a concrete floor without a sleeping pad. I do not recommend it.
You should have sun block, lip balm (such as ChapStick), mosquito repellent, a towel and plastic sandals for wearing in showers.
A track suit is convenient for wearing to and from the showers, as well as for sleeping in when at a major base. Most bases have hot showers, but your must provide your own shampoo and soap (carry these in zip-close type bags). Some bases have laundries that can get your clean clothes back to you in 24 hours. But if you’re at one that doesn’t have a laundry, use the shower to wash socks and underwear. I carry a length of stout string to use as a drying line.
I consider my underwear and socks my most important pieces of clothing. Your outer clothes can get filthy, but you need to keep your underwear and socks as fresh as you can. Bring a small plastic bottle of baby powder or similar powder and pour lots in your socks every morning to absorb the sweat from your feet to avoid blisters or athletes foot. Men should also use it regularly on their crotches in warm weather.
You should bring a wad of toilet paper into the field — some is provided in every MRE, but not enough — as well as a package of large baby wipes to clean the places where the sun don’t shine in case there are no showers where you are or you end up spending several nights off the Forward Operating Post. Keep your feet clean with them as well. They are available in base stores.
Bring a hat for the sun when not wearing a helmet.
Bring sunglasses, preferably the kind with ballistic plastic lenses that can stop tiny blast fragments. Glasses with ballistic lenses are mandatory for the troops and can be bought at stores on the big bases. If you use prescription lenses, you will have to get these glasses before leaving the US. The most popular brand with the troops is Oakley.
I also have a pair of rugged sports glasses of the kind that basketball players wear so that I don’t have to wear my expensive, everyday glasses into the field. You will need combat goggles if you are going to be around helicopter rotor washes.
While not compulsory, a pair of binoculars is useful.
Bring a pair of shorts, T-shirt and running shoes so you can stay in shape. You can end up waiting days for an operation to begin, so jogging and using base gyms are good ways to use up the spare time.
To help while away the spare time, take along a good paperback. Once you’re done, you can trade it for another with a soldier.
As for the amount of regular clothing you should take, that depends on how much weight you’re willing to carry on and off helicopters and how filthy you’re willing to get. I usually bring three pairs of pants and three shirts and a week’s worth of socks and underwear. In the winter, I bring a pair of snowboarding pants, long underwear, a good fleece and a Gortex shell of a dull color. In the summer, I’ll pack light cargo pants and short-sleeve shirts. I don’t wear jeans. They are too constricting if you have to run for cover. And they are too hot.
Finally, I take a stout padlock. There is a lot of theft on military bases and I use mine to either lock up my main bag or the door on my hooch.
As noted, many of the items that you need, such as the disposable red LED night lights, can be purchased at the stores on the main U.S. bases. These stores also sell everything from towels, underwear, shampoo, talcum powder, backpacks and boots to blankets, sleeping bags, running shoes and candy bars. But there is no guarantee that they will have what you need — or in your size — in stock so it is best to buy whatever you need before leaving home.
