Cap Gear readiness

[RogueLeader]

I was just wondering where your ES Gear is kept in case you get "The Call."

[DeputyDog]

The bane of my wife's existence is that I store my 24 hour and my 72 hour gear in the trunk of my car. The groceries won't fit in there...

[Tubacap]

The bane of my wife's existence is that I store my 24 hour and my 72 hour gear in the trunk of my car. The groceries won't fit in there...

That's great planning 

[davedove]

I've started carrying mine in the car.  I might have to repenish food or water if I get a call, but everything else is there.  Occasionally, I might take out an individual item (cell phone, etc.), but it's usually close at hand so I can put it back in the gear.

I don't have a uniform in the car (except the extra one in the gear), so I ought to get an extra one that I keep there.

[floridacyclist]

We have a foyer closet that doesn't quite fit all 6 72hr kits. We keep our stuff either there, or hanging on storage hooks in our individual bedrooms. Our gear  also doubles as an emergency evacuation kit or as some call it, a "Bug Out Bag".

[jeders]

The only time my gear comes out of my car is when I'm using it or replenishing it, except the water which I pull out and empty so it doesn't grow mold.

[JRESO]

I keep mine on my back as I jog in place waiting for the "call", which I just know will come any second....  Seriously though, I keep all my gear in my office which is strategically located right next to the garage. When the call does come, I simply load it into the back of my truck and I'm off!

-Side note - Am I the only guy out there who will, out of boredom, take a pack and remove the contents just to remember what I have where and then repack it all? My wife claims this is really unnecessary. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that when she walks into the office and every bit of survival and ES gear known to man is strewn about, there is probably something else "more important" I should be doing....

[IceNine]

Nope, never hurts to take it all apart, inspect it (things like mold, decay, torn bags, etc) all happen just from sitting or moving. And knowing where those extra glow sticks are when is dark, your flashlight is dead, and the glowstick your holding is no long "glowing" is never a bad thing.  I also check for things like expiration dates (energy bars, water sani tabs, and so on) and other things that are bad to find out when you need them.

By the way my 24/72 is in the truck, team gear is at my team rendezvous point, and my base gear is in my garage

[JRESO]

By the way my 24/72 is in the truck, team gear is at my team rendezvous point, and my base gear is in my garage

How extensive is your team gear? Was the gear compiled by your squadron for the team or did individuals simply purchase the equipment for this purpose? Reason I am inquiring is, our "team" gear is very basic, flashlights, some hardhats, gloves, whistles, chemlights and orange vests, oh and a Korean era litter.

[IceNine]

I put the first one together, with equipment from all different venues (donation, bought, assigned)

There is a radio box which contains 3 ISR's, 1 VHF Portable, an L-Per, and Air Band Radio.  I also put in batteries, operating manuals for all equipment, and other documentation (forms, station licenses, and other)

There is a box of food, and food prep supplies

I put in some survival equipment glowsticks, rope, signal panel, signal mirrors, flashlights, extra batteries, various firestarting equipment, 2 medium size tarps, and more

And then I put in stuff that most people forget or could run out of.  Foot Kit (socks, powder, moleskin), field towels (thick wet wipes), pocket poncho's,

I am sure that I missed stuff but you get the gist.  My goal is to raise enough money this year to get one of these kits for each vehicle in my unit with a VHF mobile installed

[Tubacap]

Can you take pictures and post them?  The reason being is that we have go kits that are basically 72 hour bags for 4 people in my unit.  It would be nice to be able to have an add on system where cadets could add into the team gear as opposed to having two separate things.  Also, who carries the team gear?  (C/AB's)

[IceNine]

Whatever coach we are riding in holds the team gear. It isn't small, and it was designed for the military

I'll get some pictures, it'll be the first of next month before I get over there though

[JC004]

I keep mine in big, plastic, clearly marked containers...one for UDF, one for GT, one for aircrew and mission base stuff.  I have a plastic bag in the closet with my BDUs, which has my hat, belt, shirt, pair of socks, and undergarments.  Basically, I try to keep everything as separate as possible so that I don't find myself using the undershirt and not being able to find it, etc.

I have red signs on my gear boxes, partly because I often lend out gear if I am not home.  Say that I am at a CAP activity elsewhere or hiding from CAP several states away, I can just tell whoever where it is, they will plainly see it, and they can borrow whatever I am lending them (and hopefully not eat all my granola bars). 

[bosshawk]

Most of the postings in this thread are by GT folks.  Us pilots have a different approach.  I carry a go bag in the trunk of my car containing my flight suit, boots, socks, black T-shirt and long johns(yes, it gets cold in the Sierras in CA) and an extra pair of boot socks.  Right next to it is my survival vest.  If anyone cares, I can describe what is in that.  With my flight bag, that all gets me into the 182 or 206.  In CAWG, we have survival kits in every airplane(that I know of) that contain enough stuff for three people for three days: the one in the 206 that I usually fly weights 50 lbs. 

Even though we are accused of being bronze heros in green bags, some of us take survival seriously.

[SARMedTech]

I have a friend who says that a pilot who isnt prepared (survival gear wise)to fly over a given terrain, has no business flying over it.

[Tubacap]

Absolutely true and correct!  Likewise goes for Ground Team Members.  As for Mission base things, we have a bag that is a large duffle with each duty station in the ICP having a small plastic container inside (ie checkin, Air Ops, etc...)  Inside the plastic container is all the paperwork necessary plus pens pencils and other such goodies.  There is also a gazateer.  In addition, we have a case with all sorts of extension cords and things to hook up several computers and chargers at an ICP.

[bosshawk]

I like SarMedTech's comment: I happen to totally agree.  I see non-CAP pilots jump into their favorite flying machine wearing shorts and flip-flops to cross 13,000 ft mountains.  In most of those places, there isn't a soft spot to land, nevermind being over some of the nastiest terrain in the US.  Wouldn't want to try to walk out of any of it, never mind in flip-flops.  A light plane is not your living room couch.

[RogueLeader]

If I travel anywhere there is a distance of 15+ miles between towns, I make sure I have food/water lbe in the vehicle, just in case anything happens.

[SARMedTech]

Most of the postings in this thread are by GT folks.  Us pilots have a different approach.  I carry a go bag in the trunk of my car containing my flight suit, boots, socks, black T-shirt and long johns(yes, it gets cold in the Sierras in CA) and an extra pair of boot socks.  Right next to it is my survival vest.  If anyone cares, I can describe what is in that.  With my flight bag, that all gets me into the 182 or 206.  In CAWG, we have survival kits in every airplane(that I know of) that contain enough stuff for three people for three days: the one in the 206 that I usually fly weights 50 lbs. 

Even though we are accused of being bronze heros in green bags, some of us take survival seriously.

What is in your survival vest? I must know. Better, I must SEE. I am a well-known gear freak and have a special fondness for vests of any kind, LBVs, Tactical, Medical...basically I go coo-coo for CoCo Puffs for anything that is tactical black with lots of pockets and velcro. (Hi. Im a friend of Bill and Im a tactical addict). There now you cant pick on my because I have made the first step of admitting I have a problem. Now you all know why I am always asking about pouches, packs, bags, vests, etc. I love it and cant get enough. The briefcase I carry for CAP  is an Uncle Mikes Tactical Officers Case with a hidden CCW holster. Affixed to it are: the Command Patch, NREMT-B Patch, an old ILWG patch and the Goofy ES. In EMS we call it whacker gear. Is this kind of thing what military sorts call snivel gear and is a person who hoards it a sniveller?  In EMS its called whacker gear and those who hoard it are called...yes...whackers.

[SARMedTech]

I like SarMedTech's comment: I happen to totally agree.  I see non-CAP pilots jump into their favorite flying machine wearing shorts and flip-flops to cross 13,000 ft mountains.  In most of those places, there isn't a soft spot to land, nevermind being over some of the nastiest terrain in the US.  Wouldn't want to try to walk out of any of it, never mind in flip-flops.  A light plane is not your living room couch.

Having attended two private a/c crashes in NM as an EMT, because of the extreme likelihood of fire and hence severe eshcar burns (3rd degree where the skin is charred black...fortunately, it is the most painless burn after it is completely burnt because the nerves are destroyed...it will actually hurt less than a mild sunburn)..Even as a non-pilot I dont think any pilot (even non-CAP, if there is such a thing  ) should fly without nomex, 100% genuine leather 8" boots and sunglasses, either aviator green or yellow...please, no fly boy eye mirrors (aka girl watchers). I pulled a pilot out of a plane in the Jemez mountains (what a coincidence, it was a 182) wearing cargo shorts, a sleeveless t-shirt and...wait for it...no shoes. He had no flight plan and no survival/emergency gear. He died 22 hours later with 3rd degree burns over 80% of his body. To all you CAP pilots from the EMT who loves you, please fly prepared. I dont want to be the one at your funeral who says to your spouse "On behalf of the U.S Civil Air Patrol and a grateful nation..." as I hand her the flag. BTDT