basic civvy travel setup
SITUATION; you work for a civvi coy which sends you to the following areas of the earth : Colombia, Brazil, India, Mexico, Kenya, NZ and Spain. You travel on your own, enter via airport and find hotels by yourself. You have to meet people for your work you don’t know. During the day you travel in the countryside outside tourist areas in 4x4s which are likely to be old and may break down. You will be in and out the country in less than a week.
You are a woman.
What would you take which makes your trip as safe and comfortable as the situation allowes? Think along the lines of money belt, wistle, small FAK.
What wouldn’t you take? Think needles in the FAK, military FFL and other gear that could make you look suspicious.
The basic setup I have though of so far:
Money belt and money case that can be slung around your neck underneath your clothes. In this will disappear credit cards, passport, cell, at least 200$ cash and a piece of paper will emergency contact details inc embassy #, your coy #, emergency #, hotel #, partner #, passport #, flight ticket # and health #
A wallet with fake/old cards, some coins for a phone box and a copy of the piece of paper with the # in case either gets lost.
Old cell in your pocket
FAK: gloves, small wound dressings, tape, wipes, plasters, no meds
Torch (strong enough to blind, which do you recommend on a budget?),
wistle
Smalle bottle water
Map (any good websites out there to look at the area in detail or where you can order world maps?)
Scarf to cover head and neck
Leatherman juice, you being a woman it’s the only type you will want to carry, it looks cute.
A ring around my ring finger
boots
What I wouldn’t carry:
jewelry
low cut tops or skirts
bikini
I would also carry a day pack with extra food, more water, PSK good folder, signal mirror, metal mug, hexi, water filter, compass, hypo blanket etc for when in the countrside but now you have the mindset of a woman who is not into emergency preparedness… you will simply not carry it because you cannot see a need and when you will need it you will expect it to be there. End.
Footnote: I realize gear is only part of the setup. Knowledge, the right mindset, alertness, studying the culture, rules+laws and country stats beforehand are all important.
My sister has traveled around Brazil, Columbia, South Africa, Costa Rica and Spain with taking nothing more then cloths and a small water-bottle. Obviously you need to protect your valuables ie, passport and some cash and cards. Beyond that May you be in Gods good graces.
Thnaks for that valuable advice but most like to take more control of their own destiny.
proper prior planning plus preperation prevent piss poor performance
If you can have the tools to pervent getting yourself in a fcuked up situiation you must be one vegetable not to grabb the chance with both hands!!
IMHO glad your sister had a good trip with the minimal of preperations, bit its not a risk I'd advice anyone to take.
A hoody, two T shirts, three quarterlength trousers. sandals (not flip flops)
shorts. strong Boots, Knee socks
Broad brimmed sunhat / boonie.
sunglasses, water bottle, survival bag / rucksack liner.
airline tickets, passport, main cash round waist in pouch.
wallet, local tickets, day to day cash. cashcard - signed as "see passport" so cash can only be drawn by you face to face in a bank.
if you are only in the sticks for 24 hours a ta time you wont need much else.
Dump everything else in the car.
I'd take a man with me.
I would take another woman with me and make out with her.
I would take lots of women but my wife would beat me for it.
Since I only travel to Britain from the US, I can get by with the usual antichav gear. Its a pain that I have a multitool and knife and various other things that I keep in both countries because they won't let me on in the plane without crying like little girls. Other countries in say South America I pretty much in agreement with others here. I do tend to keep a fake wallet though as a throwaway to muggers and the such and all your standard practices.
Haha, sound advice.Originally Posted by James
Seriously though James, you have world experiences in conflict zones... I'd like to read your tips on drills and equipment... they'd be valuable and will be used.
I don't have a "list" when I work overseas. Just try and have some understanding of the culture you'll be around and be adaptable. Otherwise, take common sense stuff. Try not to overpack.
I do alway take pills to combat diarhea. That IS on my list.
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