(Part 3) Top products from r/CanadianForces

Edit: I'll keep adding things as I remember them. I'm not adding the usual stuff like laptops, ipads, gym gear, etc, because those seem...common sense?

Updated: 24 Nov 1252 hrs AST

• Cold meds with pseudoephedrine
  
• Magnets (for lockers if you get one)
  
• 3M command hooks of varying weight limits
  
• Strong plastic coat hangars
  
• 550 cord (I'd say no more than 30' of it)
  
• Headlamp with red and white light (find one that you don't have to go "through" the white to get to the red!)
  
• 2-3 good quality plastic clothes pins to hold curtains closed or some other task (the ones linked are identical to the ones at the Dollar Store for, I think, $4 for 12)
  
• Knife sharpener
  
• Pocket knife
  
• Suction cup hook for the shower (if you use a bath scrubby)
  
• Nail clippers and nail file
  
• Small FA kit (bandaids, etc)
  
• Small sewing kit with the right colours of thread
  
• GoToobs for stuff like shampoo and body wash (and aloe gel if you burn)
  
• Bose noise cancelling headphones (with a spare battery)
  
• Camera (don't be the guy that brings a DSLR with 5 lenses)
  
• Couple of power adapters if power is different
  
• Water bottle (and denture cleaning tablets to clean it if there's no bottle brush)
  
• Couple of locks (combo or keyed-alike, varying sizes)
  
• Travel blanket
  
• Inflatable neck pillow (the best one I've ever used)
  
• Anker USB battery bank (love Anker products!)
  
• Anker PowerPort
  
• Depending on living accommodations, I also have a "travel kitchen" that I take with me that has a good Santoku knife, cutting board, pepper grinder and garlic press.
  
• 2-3 tide pods because it could be a few days or a week before you get to the PX
  
• If you know your sleeping arrangements, buy a "bed in a bag" for that bed size. Nothing like having your own good sheets to slide into after a rough day. Make sure you wash everything before heading over, so they're soft and ready to go when you get there.
  
• A collapsable shoe organizer that you can use to store gitch, socks, t-shirts, etc, or even a collapsable sweater organizer (or two) if you want more horizontal space and less vertical.
  
• If you're coming home or going somewhere on HLTA, don't forget to pack a civvie-pattern backpack. Don't be the guy wandering around a foreign airport wearing your day pack and combat boots in jeans.
  
• Birthday/Anniversary/special event cards that you can mail from your location (shows you were thinking of them well in advance of your departure and before the event). Bonus points if it's a mushy anniversary card to a significant other, ensuring that your return is "extra special".

I'm going to apply this week or next week (after I get my references sorted out and study up for the CFAT) and was wondering if I could have some advice.

I'm a 19 year old who hasn't done too much with his life aiming for nothing but NCM Regular Infantry and want know what my chances might be at getting in for next year's January BMQ course since I really doubt I'd make it for September this year. I figured if I hand in my application before the very end of this month I should be able to make it for January selection at least. Looking on the army.ca forums I saw that a few people who have applied earlier this year have gotten the September BMQ course for Infantry, so I'm thinking my application should have enough time if things goes well on their end. I've lived in Canada all my life and my parents have resided here for a long time, so I think I should have no problems. The references I'm going to use are my supervisor from work, a supervisor from my old job as a writer for articles on the Internet, a senior from my old job (both old job references are from America, but I read that references from different countries are okay), and a best friend/tutor that has helped me in highschool with graphic design work. I feel like I'll be ready for the interview since I'm always reading about military stuff everyday.

I'm currently following the workout guides from The Complete Guide To Navy SEAL Fitness to get in shape and I'm also taking Adult 1 swimming classes. I'm not too good with the water yet, but I hope to be able to swim decently at least by the time the lessons are over so I'm prepared for basic's swimming portion. As for preparing for the CFAT, I'm using Khan Academy to help me brush up on some much needed mathematical skills.

I pretty much just want to know if I'm on the right path towards preparing and getting everything done for the application and the Canadian Forces. I think about joining the military everyday and want to make sure I don't screw up anything.

The Casio F-91W was the top recommendation the last time this question was posted, it can be had for $10 on ebay. I use the AE1200, which is a mildly cooler version that is also cheap and works well.

I also have a G-Shock DW6900, which is a great watch, but it's big and digs into the back of your hand when doing pushups if you wear your watch below your ulna. Some guys in my unit have the rangeman, which is cool but pricey; I've yet to hear back about the reliability of its compass for land nav. I've also seen this behemoth out in the wild, which would be cool if it weren't obscenely large (not "big for guys with 6" wrists" large, just plain large) and had the same features as every Garmin and Suunto.

I like the Garmins and Suuntos from a training perspective (for tracking runs and hikes, etc.), but most of the Suunto models don't seem to have seconds readouts, which I think is pretty critical for a military application. The Garmins are pretty good and there's a store where you can download different watch faces to suit your needs. It's a shame smartwatches are so often overpriced, because there's a ton of untapped functionality there.

Whatever you do, get a digital readout, preferably a 24 hour one. Don't be the guy with an analog watch; I understand the aesthetic appeal and normally wear one all the time, so I can tell the time pretty quickly on them, but it's so much easier to use digital at night or on course.

As mentioned by u/jside86, something along these lines is a much better product than the shit daypacks, and you won't look like a tard.

The Taliban Don't Wave by Robert Semrau was an excellent book, and I would highly recommend it.

I’ve been using Peltor’s and the Surefire earplugs for years, both have been great.

Peltor 6 S Headset No issues fitting under a helmet.

Surefire EP4

Surefire EP7

I'd suggest Crucial Conversations Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, Second Edition . I found it to be a good introduction on how to lead firmly yet fairly. I used the methods a lot in my retail job but I'm not sure how well they will translate to military life haha.

I have some liner socks from Amazon that keep my feet dry on those rare occasions that I leave the safety of my desk. https://www.amazon.ca/Fox-River-Outdoor-Alturas-Ultra-Lightweight/dp/B000LGVM0U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1506550222&sr=8-1&keywords=liner%2Bsocks&th=1

https://www.amazon.ca/Casio-Standard-F-201WA-9AJF-Japan-japan/dp/B002MUB3IO/ref=sr_1_1?s=watch&ie=UTF8&qid=1511995255&sr=1-1&nodeID=2235620011&psd=1&keywords=f-201wa

This is what I use. It's cheap yet durable (it survived BMQ and BMQ L).

https://www.amazon.ca/Sharp-End-Canadian-Soldiers-Story/dp/1553657535

I enjoyed reading this book, he speaks on his time in Bosnia and Rwanda.

Ha! I showed you!

your wish is my command

https://www.amazon.ca/Uprising-Novel-Douglas-L-Bland/dp/1926577000

I'm not gonna claim it's good, but it exists.

Oh hey, that's me! A friend linked me this and said I'm famous now. Didn't realize this was going to be online as well; figured it was just the paper.

For those chiding me on my dress, I just want to add we'd been de-storing ship to go into the ditch for the last 3 months. I'd been hauling gross cave couches for a couple hours before this photo, and continued afterward. Woulda been kind of stupid to show up inspection-ready.

For any who might be interested, here's a couple amazon links. Witches Be Crazy and Astro-Nuts

MSR Pocket Rocket

Hatch Gloves

5.11 Rush 24 Backpack

Marathon Laser Pointer

Badger Shave Brush

Grimlocs

Snugpak Merlin

Drifire Tshirt

You can buy these at most sporting goods places:

https://www.amazon.ca/Gripmaster-Exerciser-Tension-5-Pounds-Finger/dp/B0006GBDZY?th=1&psc=1&source=googleshopping&locale=en-CA&tag=googcana-20&ref=pd_sl_8tm9av05mk_e

You can also buy these hard rubber balls that you squeeze.

No jokes please...

Clause has the market cornered too
https://www.amazon.ca/Funtasma-Santa-Combat-Black-X-Large/dp/B002LW2SY6/ref=asc_df_B002LW2SY6/?tag=googlemobshop-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=306396159300&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=582563888397902321&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9000711&hvtargid=pla-353530876289&psc=1

I have a petzel (I think). It has a red filter shutter that goes over the white light. There is no red setting. Every white light setting can be used as red by simply putting the shutter over it.

Edit: I thinking it's a Princeton

Since Reddit wants to be difficult, I've provided the link here:

https://www.amazon.ca/Shadow-Vimy-Thomas-Kirby-Battle/dp/1537537938/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1478531241&sr=8-2&keywords=shadow+of+vimy