Personal Equipment List

Keep in mind that this is not an all inclusive list, not everything here is required, and addition items can be added

Bold items are absolutely or highly recommended

Check with Airlines about bag weight limits, some may charge for over 50 lb. bags 

Your day pack / Butt Pack (WEB GEAR) or Backpack: (to be carried on person at all times)

1. Canteen - 1 quart water / Canteen cover
2. Leather work gloves
3. Eye protection / Ear protection
4. Rain gear
5. Flashlight
6. Multi purpose tool / Leatherman / Gerber ( keep in mind TSA carry on rules )
7. Notepad / pencil / pen
8. FEMA ID / Drivers License / Money / Credit Card (keep in mind ATM's may be out of service for quite a while)
9. Bandage scissors / hemostat / stethoscope  ( keep in mind TSA carry on rules )
10. 1 MRE 

(Optional items)

1. Sunglasses
2. Skin protection (sunscreen)
3. Insect repellant
4. Hat / Handkerchief
5. chap stick / tylenol / decongestants / etc.
6. Snacks

Considerations:

1. Total weight of all your equipment cannot exceed 70 lbs. (keep in mind when using commercial air travel, there may be over weight fee for bags )
2. Try to keep the number of packs of your equipment to the minimum.  You should be able to carry them all at once for short distances.
3. Military duffel bags are ideal.  Vacation type luggage is acceptable, but sometimes discouraged.  Large commercial luggage that has rollers on them seem to be a very good option.
4. Label ALL your equipment with your name and address.
5. Absolutely NO sterno, propane or compress gas containers should be in your gear. Military (and some commercial) aircraft prohibit it (chemical heaters sealed in your MRE is currently acceptable ).
6. It is possible that there will be no electrical outlets available. Electrically powered items are discouraged.

Duffel Bag or Luggage:
(Soft duffel bags are preferred over hard luggage!)

1. Uniforms (2-5 changes of clothes)
2. The NDMS team colors are Khaki (light brown)
3. Weather dependent: Long pants, Long sleeved shirt, shorts, T-shirts,
4. Team T-shirts
5. Work or hiking boots that provide ankle support
6. Sneakers / tennis shoes
7. Trouser belt
8. Underwear
9. Long underwear (weather dependent)
10. Insulated gloves (weather dependent)
11. Swim wear (weather dependent)
12. Socks (bring plenty)
13. Spare batteries for flashlight
14. Utility items: rubber bands, safety pins, needle and thread, extra buttons,
15. Clothes line
16. Towels, Face cloth/Washcloth
17. Soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, razor.
18. Zip lock bags (assorted sizes)
19. Garbage bags
20. Dirty laundry bag
21. Small roll of toilet paper
22. Non uniform apparel (blue jeans, un-marked shirt/T-shirt)
23. Laundry soap ( I find the dry, tablet type are best )

(Optional items) 
     Radio / batteries 
     Pillow (small travel size)
     Medications 2 weeks worth. prescription meds should be in original bottle with your name and med info.
     Reading materials / entertainment 
     Shower shoes 

Special Considerations:

   1.Consider packing each of your days worth of clothes in a separate
     ziplock back for easy retrieval of that days items. 
   2.Pack all equipment in your pack in separate ziplock bags in case your
     pack is exposed to the weather. A dry pair of clothes is very nice to slip
     into after standing in the rain all day! 

When packing , keep in mind current TSA rules about carry on items

Prohibited Items: 

    1. The following items are prohibited from being carried onboard Military Aircraft.

        Contents under pressure 
        Camp Stove Fuel 
        Lighter Fluid 
        Insect Foggers 
        Alcohol 
        Weapons - Knives over 4", Firearms/ammo, Mace 
        Blood Products 
        Lithium Batteries 

    2.  If any of these items need to be carried onboard, the Aircraft Load Master MUST be contacted and ONLY the Load Master can allow any of the above items onboard.

    3. NDMS prohibits Weapons and Ammunition from being carried or taken on a deployment.