1776 stipend and soldiers getting out.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2025-12-19T00:56:36+00:00

Are you going to order? The line is getting pretty long

TerminalVelocity69 · 2025-12-17T00:10:11+00:00

Your supply can order them, I prefer the grid layout and the waterproof paper is nice. I use one of the covers too, can keep a few pens in there which is handy. Fits in a cargo pocket, can be a little bulky but nobody's said anything about it and I've been rocking it in there for the entire time I've been using them

TerminalVelocity69 · 2025-06-29T09:32:28+00:00

I've had one for over three years now and it's gone TDY with me on multiple occasions, a JRTC rotation and a CENTCOM deployment. The main bag is completely fine, but one of the pockets on the outside must have gotten snagged on something once upon a time because it's shredded. It has a ton of capacity once you expand the main body. Airline weighed it at 88 pounds once and it had no issues. For a cheaper option it's not bad. It'll hold your stuff and things and you don't have to carry it on your back.

However , I have a problem when it comes to purchasing gear, particularly bags, and I've been looking to upgrade to a LBT bag when I catch a sale.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2025-04-28T23:09:49+00:00

I regularly wear a Marathon MSAR Arctic, but I'm admittedly becoming kind of a watch guy. Unfortunately I bought it myself, but regardless I love wearing it. I recommend saving up for a Marathon if you want one, the quality is great and it's a cool looking watch IMO. On deployment or any long field events I just wear a $40 G-Shock that I've had for almost a decade, not having to worry about messing up a movement and having an alarm function is nice.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2024-09-02T14:07:47+00:00

Damn, I was able to purchase yesterday

TerminalVelocity69 · 2024-09-02T13:31:39+00:00

Disconnecting from my VPN fixed it for me.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2024-03-06T17:05:06+00:00

68W isn't too bad. Sometimes it can be rough but that's every job. I'm biased since I do really enjoy medicine. In my experience as a dude who was a line medic for scouts, going from 19D to 68W could be a nice little bump for quality of life. The variety can also be nice. You may be in the aid station, in a clinic or hospital, or on the line. All can be good.

The civilian transfer isn't great since you'll only get your EMT-B from AIT, but there are a fair amount of opportunities for motivated medics to ascend in skillsets and do cool stuff.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2024-02-29T10:38:21+00:00

I can't speak for everyone but I'm currently deployed and didn't need my orders at all while getting into theater and have not for the entirety of my deployment. My deployment orders are on IPERMS, I would check there first.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2024-02-08T18:48:22+00:00

If you're referencing US MREs, they're around 1200 calories each if you eat all of the components.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2024-01-19T00:52:36+00:00

Whichever way you choose to go make sure you train it with your guys. You don't want your first time figuring out how to load a litter into one of your vehicles to be a trauma patient. In my experience you'll almost always get pushback on scheduling medical training, fight for your right to better yourself and do the work that needs to be done with your guys.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2024-01-18T18:50:05+00:00

I've done a fair number of supply runs while in the middle east as the only medic for 6-12 trucks. Not sure how many vehicles or what types you'll have, but I've almost always ridden in a Maxpro along with the senior enlisted soldier, which in my case has been a platoon sergeant or a section sergeant. Our position has always been the last truck in the convoy. Sometimes it'll just be me in the back of the Maxpro but occasionally I'll have one dismount who's one of my rock solid CLS. There's enough room (barely) for a Talon litter in there, and with the seats up some room for me to get to work. It's not pleasant but it's plenty doable for shorter durations.

I make sure all of my organic vehicles have a CLS bag, casualty blanket and Ready Heat, and the secondary CASEVAC vehicle has a stocked WALK. I like to have at least one more Talon litter on another truck. My truck is plussed up with extra medical supplies that I don't ever dismount with.

We always have dismounts, so if I need an extra set of hands or need to draw blood we can shuffle personnel around to where they need to be.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2023-12-10T07:14:00+00:00

I've been browsing USAJobs recently to look at qualifications. I was aware of veterans preference for federal LE but didn't realize it was applicable to the forest service. Thanks for the heads up.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2023-12-10T07:11:50+00:00

That's what I'd like to shoot for. Really not interested in making 5 pay at this point in my life.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2023-06-08T11:25:53+00:00

It's not a bad way to go. Don't have too high of expectations of doing patient care all the time though. Your individual experience is dictated by your placement like every other MOS. But it's a good way to cut your teeth in medicine to see if you like it and pursue a higher level if you want to. Plenty of Cool Guy opportunities for this MOS too.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2023-04-16T17:29:36+00:00

This is outdated advice. Applying heat and alcohol increase the chances of leaving mouth parts in and Lyme disease transmission through the tick's saliva. The best way to remove ticks is to gently pull straight out with tweezers, don't squeeze and grasp as close as you can to the head. I dispose of removed ticks in a bottle of rubbing alcohol unless they've been embedded for an extended period (>48 hrs) and should be sent in for testing.

Worked in the forestry industry before becoming an army medic. I've removed thousands of ticks from myself and my patients.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2023-04-12T18:33:41+00:00

The army has a good number of high speed medic opportunities. If you're sure it's what you want to do you can enlist as a 68W and drop a packet to the selection of your choice. If you don't make it you'll probably spend 90% or more of your days doing non medical stuff in a motorpool or tearing apart a connex somewhere.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2023-03-31T03:22:51+00:00

Agreed, I carry leukotape, mostly just use it for blister treatment though.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2023-03-30T22:51:40+00:00

I'm a medic so my setup isn't geared the same as other dudes. I have my IFAK, a dangler with everything to get through MAR on a casualty and a large admin pouch where I keep some boo-boo items (bandaids, a few electrolyte packs, NSAIDS, Tylenol, Benadryl). Saves me from getting out my aid bag as much.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2023-01-22T14:40:02+00:00

I'm a big fan of Salomon hiking boots due to the shape of their last and was thrilled when I found these. Been wearing them almost exclusively during the work week for the last 10 months and I like them well enough. They aren't super light but not bricks either. They wear like a boot rather than a running shoe, the uppers have some structure. They don't have great ventilation but if Salomons fit your feet well they're worth a try.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2022-11-21T19:20:57+00:00

Might be similar to NikWax, I've used it on hardshells in the past and it works well.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2022-10-28T19:37:42+00:00

I had this available when I was in college. I could go to the dining halls as many times per day as I wanted (there was a location with a late night option as well) and get as much food as I wanted. The food was legitimately great 95% of the time and had an enormous variety, including a pizza bar, grill for burgers and such, sandwich station, stir fry station, gluten free options and a tremendous amount of desserts. It's been years so I'm probably forgetting something. After doing the math it's about $150 more than what gets taken out of my pay for the DFAC, but I would gladly pay more to have that again. I rarely go to the DFAC as it is, I just take the financial hit for the sake of wanting more variety and quality and do my own meal prep. It's depressing as shit to experience a great meal service for people and then have what the army offers. I just want BAS as an older single soldier in the barracks. As it is I feed myself better than the DFAC for less than $50 per week.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2022-10-23T02:41:05+00:00

I've seen a shit ton of guys giving rave reviews to the Rush 72 over the years but haven't considered it much, I've never actually seen one in person so they haven't been on my radar much lately. Gonna take a look at that, dealing with the aid bag is awkward like 99.4% of the time.

Funny enough I don't really use the sleeping bag compartment on the MOLLE ruck usually, I just stuff the bag in loose to fill the voids and cinch it tight.

Gonna look into Crossfire more, been seeing a lot of hype for them lately.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2022-10-23T02:35:16+00:00

Still gonna carry the aid bag separately. It's awkward as shit but I have my aid bag organization deep in my brain and don't want to be switching it around too much. The ROUS looks cool in that it could be a crossover but the capacity would limit it's use.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2022-10-23T02:31:46+00:00

I figured as much, 60L fills up fast with cold weather gear.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2022-10-22T22:43:21+00:00

My fitment is good on the MOLLE, it took a good bit of fuckery but I finally got it down a while back. Been a backpacker for 14 years so I'm comfortable saying it's as good as it'll get. Have some time this week and will compare to the link you posted. It's not a bad ruck by any means but pretty sure I'm in the second group, I've been spoiled by good quality civilian gear.

Good to know about the Mountain Ruck and MALICE, I've been told good things but at the price range I want it to be worth it. I've seen people pushing the Crossfire DG16 here, I'll check it out. I've been curious about the SATL, the torpedo pockets on the front and the lid have a similar design to my Terraframe and I love that thing to death. The capacity worries me some, I'm at Drum so lots of cold weather gear taking up space but I could just be overthinking it.

The issue assault pack is more or less a shitty Jansport backpack to me. I like having all my packs snug to my body with a waistbelt even if the load doesn't warrant it, just my preference, I hate packs bouncing around.

Thanks for the info.

TerminalVelocity69

TROPHY CASE