Originally Posted by MtnGoat (Post 463984)

IMO is depends on where you will be. How close you are to a major city, the people support in the area, ETC ETC ETC. This drives our DSORs. We all know this. IF we think we can't get it around our VSP we WISH FOR it on the DSOR list. Time of the year you will be there too drivers it.

Good 5Kw Generator and power tools from hell if your building a new VSP site.
30+ breaker panel for your main Generator panel, plus at least 8-10 breaker panels with 6-8 slots for individual rooms and OPSCEN. Some times all you have are tents so this drive this too. If your not sure request enough to set up your base line OPS and living. You can buy locally sometimes too but typically it is all 220V. With a military Generator you can run 110V and 220V with your Hertz at 50Hz or 55Hz. So you can run both, yes long term it can mess things up. But a Dyncorp guy taught me this, it works.

Screws of different sizes, 1 1/2", 2", 2/12", 3" 4' ETC. Boxes (I'm saying boxes) of 16d nails and good hammers if you don't have 1:1 per man from your carpenters tool kit. Buy good ones. We all know how well Chinese nails & screws are!! Tool belts, at least 4 belts. Both Charlies and two for others to help out.

Good welder if not a whole welder unit then at least get your gloves, bib, Auto-Darkening welding helmet, etc. If you are far away from a city I would get welding rods to start out with.

When I'm planning a new VSP I plan on making a shower/latrine trailer. So get a pipe cutter (for both Plastic Pipe and Tube Cutter) and a Ratcheting Cutter. Since most of your piping is metal (Steel) it is great to plan for them and/or get a pipe bender that can do 0 to 90 degrees bends. Get 3 piping threading tool set (I say more than 6 piece set). Just like buying drill bit sets, more the better. Northern Tools is a great place if you have one in town. Grainger tools too. Get lower water pressure shower heads, they pay off!!!

One thing I wish I had last trip was a hole cutter set, something along the lines of a 10 to 15 piece set )1/2" to 4"). If your thinking your going to do a lot of work then I say put down two sets. Cutting through SEALANDS, they go quick and you can't find good ones in Kabul or Kandahar.

If your there during the winter time put MATTRACKS down for your Razors. They are MONEY!!! But Most Commands don't like them due to there cost $10,000!! Ouch!! Yeah I know. But if they want you out during the winter months your MRAPS can't move for shit. Having two RZRs with these give you some mounted direct fire weapons and medical platform. Something for the LOJ, having something from your Bn Med can help too.

During the winter time leg gators are money!! Especially if your in the mountains and at altitude.

Air Compressor and 3000 PSI pressure washer for you vehicles and weapons. You can get these in country both gas and electrical powered, but most are Chinese made.

MPro 7 cleaning supplies. Enough said.

*********** Medical **********

Hand Pump water filters, like a MSR Sweetwater or miniworks plus two additional ceramic replacement filters. Dismounted patrols.

Our Medic DSORed a Portable oxygen concentrator, not sure if he got it. Will post update.

Cooking thermometers helps too.

If you have the DOG security system, get the add on devises from S4 Tech. I got their DOG Dual Sensor Kit and Thermal Camera Kit. Just email them and they will work with you and your needs. CJSOTF-A has many of these systems, check to see if your VSP has them.

Originally Posted by Jgood (Post 465562)

depending on where ur going the 5k can be a lifesaver we ended up with 3 broken 60ks in feb/mar in the mountains and only had our 5k to run the TOC for a month and a half only power on camp down side we didnt bring enough replacement/pmcs parts for it(will next trip) its still gtg.

one of those electric/desiel shop heaters are also really nice to have.

biggest problem for use with wire was getting a heavy enough gage to run to the buildings from the gens.

Originally Posted by Mills (Post 465481)

Do you think that the self filter lifesaver water bottles will work versus the MSR hand pumps? Just thinking in terms of saving space and guys actually using them. Working the DOG system now, the S-8 slued me into that a few weeks back and the feedback that I have is great. Looking at a late winter to summer trip, so have to plan accordingly.

The biggest obstacle we seem to have is access to the 5K.

I never thought about the aspect of bringing my own panel boxes and wiring. It would make things a lot easier in regards to setting up shop versus having to go with cheap 220V boxes and wiring. Maybe I will look into getting all of the needed electrical supplies prior to leaving.

The shower trailer was a given. I am counting on having to build one of those, however that is a lot of material to haul. My electrical skills are solid, however my plumbing skills not. So that is another problem to deal with. Hopefully I will be able to track down some diagrams prior to leaving.

Originally Posted by MtnGoat (Post 465605)

Great points.. You can get good 5Kw to 25Kw generators the issue now is MEL process. Just like you heat how BAF,KAF & JAB ETC all have SEALANDS, chicgos etc. yeah maybe on some Ppt or BPA sheet. But it's getting them is the hard part. Your spend list and MEL is were you win or lose.

I have a guy in Kabul that I meet YEARS ago use to work on old Vance. He is cousin to "Z" and Tiny for all of you. He can get me anything and if needed ship it to me. Knows people and makes shit happen. Once again it is all on the MELs.

One other thing.. Your ASTs can be magic. If your ODA had a AST at KAF/BAF he can be your go getter if you forgot something. AST sucks, your not out with your ODA doing the deed. I got it. But you're the guy that gets supplies and such fir your ODA. So IMHO if you're not on duty or in the gym; get your butt out of Pizza Hut and the Green bean and go to the different shops, TF Paladin, ASP, Robotics, DMRO, ETC. Knowing places & people. Eat chow with the contractors in "their" DFAC.

If you can get it stateside from your DSOR the better it is.

Originally Posted by theskeindhu (Post 465798)

100% agree; B team/AST makes or breaks the logistics train most of the time. It is amazing how difficult it is to get certain items with OMA, but with remembering key words like "force pro" "winterization" etc it is still possible to make things happen.
Another distburbing trend is dealing with Fluor supply avenues and the paperwork involved in getting simple stuff done through those clowns. My Afghans and I can jerry rig almost anything, we do not need to wait 3 weeks because the Fluor site manager has to contact the District Manager and sign a blah, blah, blah. Screw off, leave we can handle our sites without this farce.