Hello all,
After a brief hiatus, I'm back. Somewhat. Those of you who've been around for longer than 5 minutes should recognize me.
Anyway, before I dive into this thread (keeping in line with my habit of posting about everything but simulations), I'll update everyone on my current lot in life. I left the Corps with an honorable discharge back in May of 2012 after four fruitful years being part of Uncle Sam's Motorcycle Club. I somehow managed to leave without a motorcycle endorsement on my license. Go figure. Did two tours to Afghanistan, got the t shirts, poker chips, ninja stars, and flasks. Escaped physically unscathed. Currently fighting the VA (but what else is new) for disability. Still have awful survivors guilt. But it's getting better. Made it into Time Magazine while I was at it somehow.
Prior to my enlistment in the Corps, I was a volunteer EMT. Throughout my time on active duty, I maintained my certification and I've been working as a paid EMT since July of last year. At the beginning of this summer, I was offered a full time position at one of my jobs, and currently work a 4 on, 4 off schedule in line with the police department in town (EMS chief is a retired Police Lt. Go figure). The catch is, on my 4 days off, I work my 3 other part time EMS jobs. EMS doesn't pay diddly squat, but I make enough to get by.
In the springtime I'm going to begin processing with the police department in the town I work full time for. So I figure by the time I'm hired, I'll have been discharged 2 years. That's actually not a bad wait time to get into a law enforcement job. And if Magnum is still around, he'll be the first one to know. God knows I've pestered him relentlessly through the years about being the po-po.
In October of this year, it will have been 10 years since I joined at the tender age of 13. My birthday is actually in August, but I was too lazy to sign up the day I turned the big one three. It's hard to believe that it's been ten years I've been posting on this forum. It's almost like I've grown up here. I got some of the best advice in the world about women and life in general from RS_Colonel31st (is he still here?), shan2, pfunk, 20mm, guod, Panzer, Sauron, 531_Ghost and countless others on these forums. It goes without saying that the forums have helped me become who I am today, in a sick, twisted sort of way. It's really amazing just how far technology can go to touch someone. A very belated thank you to all is in order.
So in short: I just turned 23 a few weeks ago. I have a lovely girlfriend of 3 years who I'll be proposing to as soon as I get hired as a cop (I'll actually be able to afford it then). I'm lucky in the fact that I have not one, but four jobs, and instead of hurting for work, I'm hurting for days off. I make enough to pay my bills, put money away for a house, put money away for the sake of putting money away, and still have some discretionary funds. I manage to pay all my bills on time, my credit score is 740something, and I can finally grow my hair again. It's been 10 years since I've been a member and I can't believe time flies that quick. Life isn't all that bad.
Anyway enough with the sappy #%&*$#. My question for everyone today is, what do you bring to work with you? Obviously this is dependent on your job, so feel free to chime in. I'm looking for ideas to make my work life easier. Unlike some EMS systems in my area, I'm not required to post at a location and I can just respond to assignments from whatever building I'm in (firehouse or squad building). However, because there have been times where I've been unable to return to the building for an extended period due to calls, etc, I've put together a bag of sorts (I've come into possession of 20-30 gear bags through the course of my military and EMS career. I bet I don't have as many as Magnum though, pretty sure he has a K-9).
I have 3 I generally bring to work (4 if a night shift).
The first is a small bag that I keep various little things in. I had it during Hurricane Sandy and it was priceless. It's configured as an Urban SAR (search and rescue) bag that is always with me at work. I threw a SOG Tomahawk in there during the storm, in case we had to break things to get to people who were trapped.
Bag 1 550 cord - few hundred feet
10 Ft of 1 inch tubular webbing (used w/ carabiners for improvised harness/rescue device)
4 rubber door stops
1 roll of blue flagging tape (used for marking locations or triage)
1 Wide Tip Sharpie (marking)
2 Carabiners (link to webbing for improvised anchoring/self rescue/extraction)
1 Zak Tool spring loaded window punch (very handy)
1 SOG Tomahawk
1 Boonie Cover (from Uncle Sam)
1 Balaclava
2 Pairs gloves (Mechanix/Oakley)
Extra batteries for everything
1 Headlamp
1 Gerber CLS knife
1 Knife Sharpener
1 Gerber Multitool
Few sets of ear plugs
Notepad/pen
1 Reflective Glow belt (same one that sells at the PX)
1 Cellphone charger
1 Shemagh
Few cheapo LED flashlights from Harbor Freight
Few cheapo headlamps from Harbor Freight
These are things that get added as needed during an actual operation
Extra radio batteries
Food/water source (CLIF bars/water bottles)
Maps of area being searched
What I'd like to add
Stanley FUBAR tool (I can't find any of these anywhere)
As you can see, it's easy to figure out why I have what I have in the bag. I have tools to gain access to structures, ways to mark locations already searched for victims/survivors, light sources (in addition to those on my person already), reflective items to make my location known if needed, prop doors open, etc.
As an aside, the above can easily be converted to an active shooter/war/delpoyment/perimeter bag for LE with the addition of extra rifle/handgun mags, shells, flex cuffs, maybe some OC for those so inclined, etc. I notice that lots of folks have a bag setup for ass whooping, but I strongly suggest building a SAR kit, especially for those who live in earthquake or flood prone areas. Those people you may be searching for and attempting to rescue may be your family. Food for thought.
The second bag is in case I get held over. It's got shower stuff, extra boots, socks, toiletries, and uniform items. It generally stays in my vehicle and I only grab it when necessary.
Bag 2 The third bag is actually super boring. It's my old issued USMC day pack. I use it to tote my laptop around. I've attached a survival kit and other #%&*$# to it to make more useful if needed.
Bag 3 The fourth bag (only for nights) contains my sleeping gear. It consists of a pillow, flat sheet, blanket, basketball shorts, and a spare wall charger for my cell. It also has various issues of those Real Estate magazines that have listings and pictures and all that nonsense for looking at houses, because I'm domesticated now.
Bag 4 I also have a police style patrol bag. The gigantic kind that Magnum may have had riding shotgun at some point. I kept clipboards, reference material, some books, extra radio mics, pens, and other misc. nonsense in there. That generally also stays in my personal vehicle unless I need something out of there. So the only two bags I really bring in are the small bag, and the backpack.
Patrol Bag I have a myriad of other bags like I said, but I'm still trying to find use for all of them. I was a bit of a gear queer in the Corps, so I have an insane amount of stuff, and that's after I've given some away to other cops and emergency workers. It's almost like the Doomsday Preppers version of Hoarders (TV show), minus the unsanitary conditions and code violations.
So, what do you all bring to work, and why? What do you carry it in?
-Justin
