What do you take to the sandbox?

[545days]

If issued a side arm, a paddle holster is nice. It was a welcome change from the shoulder holster or my terrible cheap thigh holster when sitting around in the office.

The phrase "sitting around the office" should key you in that I was not a combat troop. I was just another grey haired staff officer working an echelon or three above reality.

 

[Sgt.Sausage]

Things I couldn't live without when I was in the field:

One can never have/store/bring enough pogey bait. (Do they still even use that term? I got out in the 1980's and have been out of touch for quite a while.)

For me, absolutely essential were some cheap Dr. Scholl's orthotics for arch supports. In the 1980's, we were issued Vietnam era combat boots and those things had no arch supports whatsoever. Maybe they're better now, but I couldn't live without the Dr. Scholls on any significant road march/patrol. I'm an old man now and need knee supports now too.

Leatherman tool (or equivalent) is handy in all situations, and could be a life-saver in the right situation.

A couple of cases of cheapo hand-warmers. Yeah, it's the desert, but sometimes it's downright cold at nights. Throw a couple in the bed/bag and you're toasty warm.

If male, Cruex (or equivalent) -- get stuck in the field without showers ... and maybe the tactical situation doesn't allow for "tactical wash/wipedown" ... just a couple of days in sweaty, desert heat with poor available personal hygene opportunities and the dreaded CrotchRot(tm) (commonly known as "jock itch") can set in with its evil itch and burn -- the stuff (Cruex) kills off most athletes foot and other badguys from sweaty combat boots too. There's probably a female equivalent ... but I have no idea what it would be.

If you wear glasses, at least *two* extra pair. One extra goes with you wherever/whenever you go. The other stays back at barracks/billets/housing. I wouldn't even think of doing combat ops with contacts, but if you wear contacts -- plenty of spares.

Bug repellant. I don't know how TheSandbox is, but we were always running out of the standard issue bug repellant in some rather mosquito infested areas. Most of the civilian stuff you can buy at Walmart works far better than the government issue stuff we had back in my day. Again, maybe things are different now.

Ditto the old HundredMileAnHourTape (commonly known as Duct Tape (or Duck Tape (or Gaffer Tape, depending on where you're from))) -- always running out, supply chain never really getting it to you when you needed it.

An **insulated** coffee cup/canteen cup. Just try to keep hot coffee hot (or even lukewarm) on a cold morning with the crap you're issued. Doesn't work. I need my go-go-juice hot, and to stay hot for more than 30 seconds.

Zippo lighter, flints, wick, fuel ... even if you don't smoke.

A 3-dollar tube of KrazyGlue in my ruck has gotten me out of countless jams for quick repair of issued gear or equipment.

Condoms have a multitude of field-expedient uses (besided their obvious purpose)

A simple pair of dice in the pocket (or deck of cards) can make literally *days* of boredom go away, if your situation allows such entertainment.

Glucose tablets. Most drug stores, even grocery stores sell these with over-the-counter medicines. Nothing more than a quick ingestion of some much needed sugar (in glucose form) that can get you through, say, mile 15 and 16 of a long/hard road march when your natural stores have been all but depleted. Marathon runners now get these little "gel pack" thingies for the same purpose. May want to look into those as an alternative.


Gatorade/Koolade/Crystal-light/lemonade -- your sugared up poison of choice. Plenty of water is usually available, it's a priority to keep the troops hydrated ... but it gets boring.


A pocket sized bottle of tobasco sauce makes even the dullest of meals edible. There was some rumor when I was in that they were going to start including this in some random selection of the MRE menu. Don't know if they ever did it or not. Bring your own if they didn't.

 

[SwapTail]

tobasco sauce? Yep, it is now included in every MRE, along with near-useless napkins, matches, etc

 

[bigfatdave]

Send a Yahtzee set. Seriously, it is just about the most compact / portable game I can think of - I have an Altoids tin with a set in it (limited paper, and only one pen, obviously)

For that matter, send candy that won't melt - like Altoids.

 

[Sergeant Sabre]

tobasco sauce? Yep, it is now included in every MRE

When I got out in 2003 this wasn't true anymore. Some MREs came with a packet of cayenne pepper.

 

[209]

Retired and all done with deployments.

But I've had a lot of family and friends get deployed. The latest friend just got back last Dec and seemed to appreciate everything we sent.

That stuff included:

Hoppes Bore Snake - actually the last one to come back said he didn't care for it... but he did trade it for something he wanted so it wasn't a waste.

I personally hate those multitools and have seen a lot of people get hurt using one. Plus, a lot of guys get those issued. So, I'll usually send a pocket knife like a Swiss Army Tinker. It's got the five or six common blades in it and Swiss Army knives hold a good edge. One friend lost his and asked for another. Then he lost that one. I ended up sending him a third one with a long lanyard braided on it. He brought that home.

We usually go to a novelty candy store and buy a bunch of the weirder, less-known candy and send a bunch of that. Likewise, the mail is faster than it was at the beginning and packages seem to get through faster so my wife will send homemade cookies. I had to laugh about the "no chocolate" comment posted because she sent chocolate chip cookies once and the chips melted. That happened to my nephew. He said they were messy, but they still ate them.

We used to send pre-paid phone cards, but the last friend said he didn't need them.

I guess babywipes, liquid soap and such are still desired items because we have never had any complaints.

I'll usually buy a bunch of used books at one of the local book sales and send a decent sized box of them off at least once.

Other than that, I usually wait to hear what the particular serviceman mentions he's lacking.

 

[mm1ut1]

Tupperware containers for magazines. Extra earphones for mp3 player. Lots of disposable ear plugs, peanut M&Ms, fine brush for weapon cleaning, foot powder.

 

[Titan6]

Tupperware containers for magazines

Not just good for magazines but also, toiletries, spare parts, batteries and of course food