I was asked to make some comments about uniform, boots and so on in the training center. Ok, I will try.

I describe what I got, what would be good to have, what is convenient and what won’t be superfluous. I emphasize that is my personal experience.

The uniform is ok, too hot for now, but there is no choice anyway.

If you get boots of the correct size, lace them right and wear, they will fit you perfectly in a week and will feel like sleepers. And they promise that they will give even better ones.

There are 2 T-shirts that comes along with the uniform. That’s enough, but if you have an opportunity, it’s better to have couple more.

They give us two pairs of socks, it’s better to have your own. Those that they give us it’s better not to wear at all.

I didn’t try their underpants, when you touch them it feels similar to socks.

As for towels, they give us “waffle” towel. It’s better to have 2 of your own ones, one small and a bath towel.

You need to have your own soup and shaving accessories. They give a bar of soap that is usually used to wash clothes.

You must have a patch and flu kit.

Need to have a knife of any kind.

It would be also good to have your own cup and bowl.

You need to have your own repair kit with a needle, thread and small scissors.

They give you a backpack, but it’s better to have your own backpack for 40 liters. Packed all your staff in it and put it under the bed.

I have my own sleeping bag and it’s good to have it.

Get some vitamins, if you take them regularly, you will get well faster.

Good to have watches also, that’s useful in civil life as well.

Matches and lighter.

As for money you need about 200-300 UAH per week. If you would like to have some snack in case there will be a place where to buy that. You won’t need more money.

As for the phone it’s better to have average smart phone, but with good battery (external battery would be good to have also).

Bank card with money on it, you can do banking via the phone, can buy something online, put money on the phone. That’s just convenient. I often help the guys, not many of them here know about it.

Good leather belt.

Flags, different bracelets with symbolic will be good to have. Men are like kids, you give them blue-yellow ribbon and that makes them happy

For the future I know for sure that you will need tourniquets, about 3 of them. Plus you will need to put more stuff in you combat first aid kit. I don’t know what we are going to get, but experienced men say that not everything needed is there.

You will need warm underwear and any kind of warm clothes. I don’t know what the Ministry is thinking about, but what we already got is not enough if they don’t plan to give us more.

More likely we will need another set of uniform and boots, but we will see later.

For now this is all I can say.

I needed all that. But I was in the training center, that’s something like barracks and classrooms. Let’s see what it’s going to look like when you get to the training ground.

As you can see not everything is necessary.

Anton Goloborodko for Informator.lg.ua