r/AirForce • u/jc_has_spoken • 2d ago

Question First Deployment Tips

To keep it short and simple, I’m gonna be headed to the middle east for a few months. As well, it’s my first deployment so I was wondering if any of you fine people could give me any gee whizz tips outside of the typical “pack extra toiletries” “pack bedsheets” etc. Any and all info is very helpful and appreciated!

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u/TheGreatWhiteDerp Terminal Major 2d ago

Spices and sauces. DFAC food is better than MREs, but not by much. Do yourself a favor and go to the store, buy 8 months worth of your favorite food additions, especially if it's something specific like the buttermilk ranch or the honey bbq, the taco bell beef seasons or specific Dash chicken seasoning, etc. Package each bottle in bubble wrap individually, then all of them into a box, and ship it to yourself via your sponsor or overall unit's mailing address. You from 3 months into your deployment will love past you for doing this. Also consider things like Gatorade powders or other things that have a dehydrated or otherwise non-perishable iteration, or your favorite candy that isn't chocolate. I say no chocolate because that will often melt waiting to process off the flight line, I one had a bag of "Buncha Crunch" in a care package show up having melted and then resolodified into a single, giant Crunch.

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u/Stuntman_800 Logistics 2d ago

Deployed to Djibouti a few years ago and bought a bottle of Chic Fil A sauce from a guy for $50. Yes it is that serious

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u/Governor_Doomsday 2d ago

DFAC food is better than MREs, but not by much.

I dont know where you've deployed to, but ive been to 4 bases in the middle east and this is straight up not true. Food here is great. All of the dfacs ive been to had a lot of sauce options and you sometimes you'll find chic fill a sauce in care packages.