Easter - Long Weekend

[Manny]

Well, as I am packing for Easter camp today, I thought I'd take pictures along the way aas there are many threads running about how to pack and what to take. I hope this will be useful for newbies on their first camps.

Complete Spread
It is a good idea as you are packing to lay out all your kit across your bed. That way, you can see everything and tick it off the supllied kit list.


From left to right - Running Trackies + Trainers, Civvi Clothes for NAAFI, Combat Jacket, Boot Cleaning Kit, 3x Shirt OG, *Lots of Socks, S95 Clothing, Beret + Brassard, Lightweights, Personal Equipment.

*A tip I learnt the hard way last easter - Take more than you need, that way you can have spare pairs to change into if your current pair get wet.

Personal Kit

• Wash Kit - Talc, Shower Gel, Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Soap, Flannel, Towel and a Small bag to put it all in. Also shown is antibacterial gel. I always keep a bottle in my webbing - A must have in the field before eating
• Notepad and Pen! - Forget these on your own head. Take a few pens and pencils if possible. You should keep them in your left hand pocket of your 95 Shirt.
• First aid Kit - In your locker or holdall keep plasters, paracetomol, etc. For your webbing, keep paracetomol, small bandages, plasters, antibacterial spray, that kind of thing.
• Mug and KFS (Knife, Fork, Spoon) - You must bring these - even though disposable cutlery is available on most camps.
• Housewive (sewing kit) - Couple of Needles, Black and OG thread, couple of buttons (different sizes)
• Camera - Not a must have, but a nice thing to have to get some piccies. If you feel you can look after it, take it!
• Expo gear - "Emergency" Rations - It is always a good idea to have a spare meal or two in your webbing, just incase
• Phone and Charger - I put my phone in a milspec waterproof bag while in my combat jacket, incase I happen to fall in a river . Make sure you turn them off for lessons and when in the field.
• Lightweight Waterproof Jacket - an absolute must. Keep in the daysacks of your bergan, or in your mess tins when out in the field (also stops the mess tins from rattling)
• Ipod - OK, so not a necessity, but quite handy for the coach or minibus to camp. Again, if you feel you can look after it, take it.
• Torch - Keep in your webbing. Get a good, bright LED torch - the batteries last forever and are stronger than bulbs.
• Mapcase - A good investment Keeps your map dry, and gives you somewhere to put your notepad and pen out in the field.
• Padlock - An absolute must for camps with lockers.
• Gloves - I keep a lightweight pair in my combat jacket, and another in my webbing.

Uniform Tips

• Keep two belts - one of lightweights, one for S95
• Twisties - Have a couple of pairs, they get lost too easily
• Two Pairs of trousers - If you can, get a second pair of trousers for fieldcraft, and leave your issued pair for parade.
• Seperate your uniform - Place your lightweights in one bag, running kit in another etc.
• Try not to sandwhich your beret between other clothes!

Next, I will put of pictures of my webbing and how it is packed, and then my bergan later today

Manny

[Manny]

Webbing and Bergan Packing

The problem that most cadets have with webbing is either packing too little, or too much. With the Bergan, the trouble that we all have is getting everything in the right order.

What you could do is make a quick sketch - and then tick of the kitlist as you find a place for each item:



When you arrive at your billet, the first things you will need will be the things that go into your locker, on your bed, or those that you eat with. As it takes up the most room, I generally put (force) my sleeping bag at the top of my bergan - it comes out first and goes on your bed. Next comes your uniform (neatly folded ) which can then be laid straight into your locker, along with your wash kit, CIVVIs + PT Kit, etc.

You should also consider what you might need out of your bergan before you can unpack it - thats where our friend the daysack comes into its own. In the daysacks, you should put your Waterproofs, First Aid Kit, Mug and KFS (incase you eat before you have a chance to empty your bergan), a water bottle and any small items you want at hand, such as sewing kit. That way, you can rip your daysacks off the bergan and put them on a yoke, without having to fill them up.

Lastly, your field kit - Things that you may need such as Bivvy bag, Basha Kit, Spare rations (if your picky like me), spare trousers, etc. When in the field, you might like to put issued rations + brew kit etc in the daysacks, so that you can grab the

Once my uniform is ironed, I will post pictures of my bergan being packed, and of my webbing.

Manny

[Talon]

This is a good post...I think ill make it a sticky.

I may well do similar for my stuff later, just to show it from an instructors eyes. You will laugh at my kit .

[argyll Ian]

Excellent post, Manny.

Rep awarded.

[Retro Cadet]

Ditto the above.

Good idea, good post, good lad, have a good camp!

[Manny]

Thanks very much, just getting everything together for the next installment

UPDATED

[Edwards]

Very Good explanation of packing for camp.

Rep Rewarded

[Manny]

Thanks very much for the rep everyone

Sorry I havent had a chance to post pictures of webbing yet, will do tommorow, but for now, im off to det

Manny

[Harry Flashman]

An excellent post young man (for an infanteer ).

Rep awarded

[Toby.H]

Will definetely be referring to this when I pack this year!
Rep added? (To add rep do you have to press the button with scales on)

[blobo12123]

Thank you very much for this information. It will indeed come in handy for this year's easter camp. :-)

P.s Toby.H You cannot give rep yep, for you don't have enough rep yourself.

Oh yes. I'm a Royal Anglian myself

[Manny]

Thanks for the compliments guys

[FYI - The Best]

Clever little bump now that Easter is approaching!!

Good thread and well described, Cadets really should take note!! Rep added.