Hi all - I have a nephew whose Army Reserve unit has been activated and will ship out for Iraq at the end of the month. He's a tank mechanic, so he may well be living the (comparatively) plush life on a big base, but I've read of lots of specialists suddenly being told "surprise, you're now patrolling the streets." So, I have no idea of where he may be on the spectrum of lifestyle for soldiers in Iraq.

I've been reading ETS for several years now, so I've got the basics of the Altoids kit, etc...Also, I've been on CPF for a couple years, so I'm sending him a box of flashlights, too. I'm looking more for the specifically military end of stuff, and the Iraq-specific stuff.

I've in the past run across (and didn't save) various soldiers' "packing lists" and "lessons learned" threads at various Web sites that focus on Iraq. I guess I'm specifically looking for the grunt-level suggestions (don't need specific combat info), and suggested gear lists of stuff that's not issue, or that is much better than issue gear (I've never paid attention to stuff like the cooling helmet liners/neck wraps/underarmor vests - that kind of thing). Most specifically I'm looking for the non-issue and comfort, health items.

What I don't need are links to "battalion-level" lessons learned, powerpoint presentations on forces in the theater, urban combat tactics, etc. etc., however fascinating it may be. (I have all the Soldiers for the Truth (sftt.org) links I need.)

I need to get a pool of suggested gear he may not have heard of or thought of, so that he can look at it all and tick off what he wants or might like. Hopefully we can add some innovative or "out of the box" ideas that'll make his life better for the next 18 months. And if anyone here's been there, firsthand knowledge is all the better.

Thanks in advance folks
Dave