Since mercs often operate in remote areas, it's important to know what he carries - one can't simply reach into a footlocker or a cabinet for a screwdriver in the bush. Here is your character's suggested basic kit.

Clothing - military

• Cover: a US Army boonie hat, a French Foreign Legion képi , a beret (FFL green, Para red, UN blue, &c), an olive-green 'Castro cap,' a camo-patterned 'Bigeard' or 'Kico' cap with a long back flap to shade the neck, a wide-brimmed Australian bush hat, a US Air Force or Spanish Foreign Legion side cap, a military or civilian baseball cap, or a souvenir Warsaw Pact or Chicom wheel hat taken off a dead officer at some point in your merc's previous career
• Fatigue blouse, pants, and jacket: olive drab, khaki tan, SADF 'nutria' brown, camo pattern (ARVN 'tigerstripe,' US ARMY ERDL leaf camo, French tenue léopard, &c) - probably mixed and matched to colors and styles
• Combat boots: brown or black leather, preferably paratrooper because PARATROOPER!
• Skivvies - olive drab t-shirt, shorts and socks - two complete sets
• Optional accessories: scarf (Para mesh style which can be turned into a camo net, dashing silk aviator, &c), CDO-style cable-knit pullover sweater with shoulder and elbow patches (black or olive green)

Clothing - civvies

• Casual clothing: IZOD polo shirts, khaki chinos or blue jeans, tennis shoes (trainers to Andy) - two of each
• Jacket: sheepskin-lined leather bomber jacket, nylon Members Only racer jacket, &c
• Suit: dark or tan jacket and slacks, matching socks and tie - all rumpled from spending most of their time in the bottom of your luggage - and a pair of brown or black brogans in need of polish
• Toiletries - straight or safety razor (the only acceptable reason for a merc to use a safety razor is the twitch his hands developed from his last mission . . . ), shaving soap in a mug with a brush (preferable) or a pressurized can (if in extremis), hair brush, comb, nail clippers, tweezers, toothbrush and powder or paste, small scissors

Accessories

• Sunglasses - gold wire-rimmed RayBan aviators are the only acceptable option here . . .
• Wrist watch - Swiss brushed steel chrono with timer and UTZ face, water-resistant to 30 m
• Swiss Army knife - the Gerber multi-tool of its day
• Moleskin notebook and a pencil, 'cause you can't sharpen a pen in the bush

You'll immediately notice arms and armament aren't listed - these are provided by your employer. Feel free to add some personal items to your kit - this is meant to be representative, not exhaustive, and more than a little tongue-in-cheek . . .
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:29, Wed 02 Aug 2017.

It's hard to argue with The Corporation's suggested list, so I'll definitely have that stuff, as well as anti-malarial and anti-diarrheal medication (as suggested by Andy) and some basic first aid supplies (I'll pick up the rest in Joburg). In addition, Steve will carry a knife and a "hunting" rifle appropriate for safari (but carefully modified and sighted in for sniping work). Oh, and insect repellant!
This message was last edited by the player at 05:39, Thu 27 July 2017.

In reply to The Corporation (msg # 1):

My Loadout
Clothing - military
Cover: civilian baseball cap
Fatigue blouse, pants, and jacket: olive drab
Combat boots: brown
Skivvies - olive drab t-shirt, shorts and socks - two complete sets
Optional accessories: Para mesh style which can be turned into a camo net, CDO-style cable-knit pullover sweater with shoulder and elbow patches olive green


Clothing - civvies
Casual clothing: IZOD polo shirts, khaki chinos, tennis shoes (trainers) - two of each
Jacket: sheepskin-lined leather bomber jacket
Suit: dark jacket and slacks, matching socks and tie - all rumpled from spending most of their time in the bottom of your luggage - and a pair of black brogans in need of polish
Toiletries -safety razor , shaving soap in a mug with a brush (preferable) , hair brush, comb, nail clippers, tweezers, toothbrush and powder, small scissors


Accessories
Sunglasses - gold wire-rimmed RayBan aviators .
Wrist watch - Swiss brushed steel chrono with timer and UTZ face, water-resistant to 30 m
Swiss Army knife - the Gerber multi-tool of its day
Rite-in-the-Rain notebook and a (2)Pentel 0.7mm mechanical pencils with 4 lead refills and 2 erasers. protractor. compass, binoculars,zippo. mini survival kit in a tin.

Clothing - military
Cover: beret + a camo-patterned 'Bigeard' cap with a long back flap to shade the neck,
Fatigue blouse, pants, and jacket: olive drab blouse, British DPM camo pattern jacket & trousers
Combat boots:  black para boots
Skivvies - olive drab t-shirt, shorts and socks - two complete sets
Optional accessories: scarf (Para mesh style which can be turned into a camo net) black CDO-style cable-knit pullover sweater with shoulder and elbow patches


Clothing - civvies
Casual clothing: polo shirts, long-sleeve shirt, khaki chinos or blue jeans, trainers  - two of each
Jacket: leather biker jacket,
Suit: dark jacket and slacks, matching socks and tie and a pair of black shoes
Toiletries - straight razor, aerosol of shaving cream, hair brush, comb, nail clippers, tweezers, toothbrush/paste, small scissors


Accessories
Sunglasses - Saigon mirror shades
Wrist watch - waterproof digital watch
Swiss Army knife
Moleskin notebook and a pencil,


Extra personal items: some cash, cigarettes & matches, paracetamol, washcloth and towel, handkerchief, a copy of 'The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy'
This message was last edited by the player at 11:35, Sat 29 July 2017.

Clothing - military
 Cover: US Army boonie hat & SA Special Forces beret
 Fatigue blouse, pants, and jacket: olive drab and camo
 Combat boots:  black paratrooper boots
 Skivvies: olive drab T-shirt, shorts & socks - 2 sets
 Optional accessories: scarf (Paramilitary mesh)

 Clothing - civvies
 Casual clothing: Hawaiian shirts, khaki chinos, sneakers
 Jacket: sheepskin-lined leather bomber jacket
 Suit: tan 2-piece, matching socks and tie and a pair of brown leather pennyloafers
 Toiletries - straight razor, shaving soap/mug with a brush, hair brush, comb, nail clippers, tweezers, toothbrush/paste, small scissors, zit creme

Accessories
 Sunglasses - RayBan aviator
 Wrist watch - Swiss brushed steel chrono with timer and UTZ face, water-resistant to 30 m
 Swiss Army knife
 Moleskin notebook & 2 pencils

Additional: copy of Houdini on Magic by Harry Houdini, small head/neck pillow

I'm assuming (maybe The Corporation can make final ruling) we'd all have tents and/or hammocks with mosquito netting as well?

That's not something you're expected to provide for yourselves - outfitting is your employer's responsibility.

All will be made clear shortly . . . .

I'm also packing some boerewors and Branna, just in case.

What's Branna?

I tweaked my gear a bit: changed the fancy watch that everyone else has to a digital, and went for the aerosol of shaving cream. This was to make things more individualistic, and an aerosol  might come in handy for an improvised explosion!
This message was last edited by the player at 12:02, Sat 29 July 2017.

In reply to Andy Wilson (msg # 10):

It might indeed. I grew up with a kid with third degree burns over a quarter of his body from playing with fire and aerosol cans.

Jeez. :(

In reply to Steve Heron (msg # 9):

Per the ever-reliable Wikipedia, Branna is short for "brandewyn" (literally "brandy"). Afrikaans slang!

Ah, I see.

Would boerewors go bad in the bush? Or can it be made into, I don't know, some kind of jerky or something to last longer?

In reply to Steve Heron (msg # 14):

Janco made it into a homemade sort of jerky. Yum.