What does a Chaplain in Iraq carry in all of those pockets? I have at least eleven pockets. Here is a sample of the stuff I carry with me, everywhere I go.
1. Bible. Gideon New Testament (New King James Version) with the new ACU (Army Combat Uniform) Cover.
2. Mead Memo Notebook. So cheap…it isn’t even found on the Mead website.
3. Ice Breakers. Ice-cubes chewing gum. Whoa!
4. Hand Sanitizer.  I got this bottle for Christmas!
5. Bandanna. I use this for as handkerchief.
6. Pen. Uni-ball Vision Elite Micro. Great for journaling, underlining in my devotional book, and signing leave forms.
7. Mechanical Pencil. Rose Art Great Grips. Not my favorite because it is yellow–not the most tactical. I use a pen in underlining important points in the books I read.
8. Post-It flags.
9. Military Grade Gerber Pocket Knife. Incredibly cool!
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Great list…I didn’t know you liked Ice Breakers gum.
Boy, do I feel frivolous! I have a credit card, 2 grocery store customer cards, my health insurance card, my French drivers’ license, and the card that says that I am alloewed to live here. Plus a lip gloss, but you probably don’t need that.
Do soldiers like to get stuff like gum, or is it fairly easy to get there? My husband has found that certain flavors are not availale here so he has to import.
Soldiers love gum–we have a PX that sells it. But, actually the Army gives the Icebreaker Ice Cubes gum to the Soldiers. It has been proven to help keep teeth healthy in combat environments. I need to research the whole study for a post someday–but it has some thing to do with the process of chewing and the ingredient Xylitol.
This is a great list and really insightful. Everything has a practical purpose and function, which I’m sure is essential in your environment. I really enjoyed the link to the pocket knife article and will consider carrying one again on a regular basis.
Hope you’re doing well!