NESA questions

[rpayne88]

Believe it or not, I have been in CAP for eight years now and have never been to NESA.  I am currently a GTM-3-T who needs only two exercises (I was qualified, but my certification lapsed.)  This Summer, I intend to go to NESA as a full GTM-3 and leave a GTL.   I just have a few questions:

1. Can I bring  and wear civilian hiking boots in addition to my regulation combat boots?  I have a pair of waterproof hiking boots that are lighter, more comfortable, and more supportive than my combat boots.  Yes, I know that if I wear them I will not be in accordance with 39-1.  Do not go into that discussion.  I know from Googleing this question that Hawk Mountain does not object to hiking boots.  Is NESA the same way?  I consider hiking boots to be safety equipment.  After all, an injured team member slows everyone down and that could mean death for whoever we are looking for (though I doubt we will be conducting real world missions at the academy.)

2. Due to dietary restrictions (read: Celiac disease,) I CAN NOT eat MREs (every one I have found contains either wheat, barley, rye or oats, and even if I did find one that didn't use any of those ingredients, I still wouldn't eat it, unless it was certified gluten free, due to fear of cross contamination.)  To get around this, my meal plan includes energy bars in my 24 and a 5lbs bag of Jasmine rice and a propane/ isobutane stove (Optimus Crux to be specific.)  Would the fuel canister be confiscated as "flamable material?"  If it was, would I be able to get it back when in the field?  The last time I let someone who didn't have Celiac themselves provide food/ cook for me (at SUPT-FC 2012 Columbus,) I wound up in and out of the bathroom for 36 hours (along with other less noticable, but more damaging, symptoms.)  I don't want these symptoms to begin with, much less without access to running water.

3. NESA has a "no personal electronics" policy.  I have always been told to conduct sensitive communications via phone (i.e. "We have found the target.  He/ she is non-responsive and cold to the touch.")  All phones offer atleast some degree of encrypted communication; radios do not.  The task guide states that I should have my phone but NESA's gear list does not include it (and even prohibits it.)  I am assuming I should leave my phone home.  Can I get confirmation that I am making the correct assumption?

4. Can I subsitute gear?  I have two, really four, flashlights made by a company known as Laserbrite.  If you are not familiar with thier flashlights, they consist of a translucent, but highly durable, plastic tube with a flashlight on either end.  Each flashlight is threaded on both ends, allowing it to point either in to, or away from, the tube.  When one of the heads is pointing inwards  the flashlight becomes a glowstick.  They are waterproof, neigh indestructable, and the batteries seem to last forever.  Assuming I have spare batteries and at least one chemical glowstick, can I drop the other three chemical glowsticks?

5. The NESA gear list states that I should bring a tarp instead of a tent.  Although I have set up field expedient shelters before, I have never slept in anything but a tent. This makes me uncomfortable.  Here is the nightmare scenario I am concerned about:

                 I'm sleeping under my tarp minding my own buisness.  (Insert venomous creature here), minding its own buisness, crawls/ walks/ slithers up under my tarp.  I roll over on top of it, causing it to respond defensively in the only way it can: biting.  I end up with an envenomation (it probablly wound up dead.)  An envenomation that could cause permanent injury, if not death.

Then add into the mix the general annoyance of mosquitoes and bitting flies.  How can I avoid these issues without looking like a (insert chosen word here)?  Or am I just being paranoid?

Simpiler questions:
1. What are the zip ties on the gear list for?
2. Does anyone know if they have  A/C in the barracks yet?

[THRAWN]

You're being paranoid.

Best advice is to contact your local network and see if the questions can be answered within your wing, or contact NESA directly. If your health issues were spelled out on your application, there should be no issue getting you fed.

[Garibaldi]

Husker (Lt Col Long) is a poster here. Shoot him a PM if you can. He's on the food chain at NESA and other ES schools.

[husker]

1.  No, do not bring civilian boots - all uniforms must be IAW 39-1.  If you have a good pair of boots, well broken in, you will have no issue.  My first few years at NESA were spent as a team leader in the AGSAR program.  I've never walked so much in my life, but good foot and boot care prevented any issues.  Remember that dry, clean feet are happy feet.  Bring several extra pairs of socks.

2.  With almost 600 participants each year, there haven't been too many dietary restrictions we have not seen.  When you fill out your paperwork, be very specific on your restrictions, and the kitchen staff will work with you.  Do not bring any type of stove or flammable material to NESA.

3.  We recommend that you do not bring personal electronics to NESA.   If you need to call home, speak to parents, work, etc. we will make sure you have the opportunity to do so on whatever schedule your parents or significant other's request.  However, I do have a "zero tolerance" policy for electronics in the field and in class.  While in the field and class, students should be focusing on learning, their tasks, and their safety - not texting, updating Facebook, Snapchatting, or whatever other unnecessary social media might tempt a student.

4.  Just bring the equipment listed in the Policies and Procedures.  If you do come, I would like to see this device you are describing.  Sounds interesting.

5.  No need for tents at NESA.  If you bring it, you have to carry it, so it is better to only bring what you need.  You can build a perfectly acceptable shelter using paracord, some cheap tent stakes, and a tarp. 

6.  Most barracks have AC now, but that is not guaranteed.

[rpayne88]

http://www.lazerbrite.com/versatile-led-flashlight