Gear Issue

First day of mobilization processing, and other than a lot of running around, nothing of interest... EXCEPT - gear issue. The gear issue location was like CostCo for the military (Read: Kevin was like a child in a super awesome candy store where everything kicked ass), where you get a shopping cart and a bar-code reader and a guide (it's that big) to show you around. Then you just fill up your cart with a metric ass-load of stuff (it's slightly larger than the American butt-load). Then you have to figure out A: how are you going to carry all this to your car, and B: how are you going to carry all this crap to Afghanistan?!

To give justice to the insane quantity of gear we got, attached are some photos, which I have labeled for those who may actually want to know what it is. Click a photo for bigger view.

First is just the tactical gear / bags / items other than what you might wear on your body.


Then the wearable gear (not including my actual uniforms):


All told, probably a good 100 plus pounds of gear worth well over $10,000. Granted, I have to give most of it back - sadly - but I don't have much need for a bullet proof vest or kevlar helmet on the mean streets of San Diego... Yet.