Gearing UP

Being prepared to cover the military during training or combat is one of the most important duties for a reporter, photographer or videographer. To assist first-timers, Military Reporters and Editors have compiled several lists of gear, clothing, equipment and other items that journalists should consider taking along. Of course, each person should customize their own gear list based on their personal needs, experience and circumstances, with ample consideration given to the assignment length, climate, season, danger quotient and weight and space constraints.

If you have suggestions, please send them to Jim Crawley at james.w.crawley@gmail.com.

Joint Readiness List | Crawley's Pack List

Army Times packing list

This is the basic packing list that Army Times photographers use for overseas assignments. While some of the equipment is photographer specific, the gear, personal and clothing lists are useful to journalists of every ilk covering combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. MRE wishes to thank the editors of Army Times for allowing the organization to reprint this packing list.

PHOTO
Nikon D1 (2)
D1 chargers (2)
D1 batteries (5)
Lens (17-35 f2.8) (1)
Lens (14 f2.8) (1)
Lens (35-70 f2.8) (1)
Lens (80-200 f2.8) (1)
Compact Flash cards (5)
Flash (SB 28Dx) (2)
Flash cord (SC-17) (1)
Tripod (1)
AA batteries (40)
Gray card (1)
Cleaning kit (1)

COMPUTER GEAR
Laptop (Apple G3 or G4) (1)
Batteries (2)
DVD/CD-ROM player (1)
CD Rewriteable burner (1)
PCMCIA-Flash card adapter (1)
CDs (blank) 15
USB flash drive (1)
Digital storage unit with Firewire (1)
System backup software (1)
DVDs (for personal entertainment) 6
Headphones (1)
AOL dial-up number list (1)

TELEPHONE EQUIPMENT
15-foot telephone cord (male ends) (1)
3-foot telephone cord (male ends) (1)
Male-to-2-female adapter (1)
Female-to-female adapter (1)
Alligator clips to male jumper cord (1)
Mini-phone with dial pad (1)
Foreign country adapters (1)

POWER KIT
Foreign country adapters
3-plug power strip (1)
Surge protector (1)
Ground-to-ungrounded converter (1)
10-foot extension cord (1)

COMMUNICATIONS
GSM cell phone with charger (1)
Satellite phone (1)
Walkie-talkies (2)

GEAR
Blackhawk ruck w/side pouches (1)
Body armor vest (1)
Ceramic plates (front and back) (2)
Helmet (Kevlar) (1)
Canteen or Nalgene bottle (1)
Goggles (1)
Mini-Maglite flashlight (1)
Leatherman or similar tool (1)
Gaffers tape (10-15 feet) (1)
Notebooks
Pens, pencils, markers Compressed air (camera cleaning) (1)
Business cards
Carabiners (2)
Bungee cords (2)
List of equipment serial nos.
Passport photos (4) Travel tickets
Credentials
Cash
Passport

PERSONAL ITEMS
Antibiotics (Doctor's RX)
Cipro (for stomach/other infections)
Anti-malarials (depending on location)
Ambien (sleeping pills)
Any personal prescriptions
Cold/allergy pills (over the counter)
Imodium (over the counter) (for diarrhea)
Pepto Bismol
Motion-sickness pills (if needed)
Personal-hygiene articles (shaving, deodorant, dental, soap, shampoo, etc.)
Pack towel (chamois)
Baby wipes
Toilet paper
Hand sanitizer
Sunglasses (with strap)
Sunblock
Moisturizing lotion
Lip balm
Bug repellent
Bandages
Moleskin
Resealable plastic bags
Garbage bags

CLOTHING
Gore-Tex jacket (1)
Gore-Tex pants (1)
Fleece jacket (1)
Parka (depends on climate) (1)
Cargo pants/BDUs (tan) (3)
Jeans (1)
Shirts (long-sleeved)
T-shirts
Thermal underwear (top/bottom) (1)
Underwear
Socks
Bathing suit (1)
Brown scarf (1)
Boonie hat (1)
Balaclava-style winter hat (1)
Boots (1)
Sneakers (1)
Flip-flops (shower shoes) (1)
Gloves (light)
Gloves (heavy)


Items without a specific quantity are contingent on personal preferences, season, location and length of assignment.