A few tips for those on their way.

A few handy tips before venturing into this wonderful world of logcap and contingency contracting:

1. Get or renew your passport, you'll need this before you even get this process started. It's a hundred or so bucks if you plan ahead, but you aren't going anywhere without it.
2. Keep or otherwise transfer your clearance (worth bucks). If you're in the reserves now would be a good time to get that squared away.
3. Get a family plan, will and power of attorney executed.
4. Make sure you do not have high blood pressure or dental issues. If you do, get them squared away asap. This is critical and could ruin your chances if you have outstanding issues.
5. Buy a large size bug-out bag. Do not travel with a roller suitcase. One, you will be ridiculed as a newbie and 2, it's a pain in the ass when there is nowhere to roll it! Lots of rocks and dirt and the roller bags don't do well on that terrain.
6. Pack ONLY what you can carry. If you are a female don't count on people helping you, it just doesn't happen there. You can always have stuff mailed to you once you are settled. You will have to lug your gear across runways, rough terrain, in/out of helicopters etc all before you get to your first base, so make sure you can carry everything you are bringing. TRAVEL LIGHT!
7. Make sure to bring a carrier unlocked, GSM cell phone with you. You can get these on ebay for about nothing. You can buy sim cards once in country. If you are going to Afghanistan you can buy a sim and minutes at callafhanistan.net . I am not affiliated with them. I have used them a lot and they are reliable and legit. If you are going to Iraq you can buy an Etisalat sim in Dubai, just make sure you get one that can roam in Iraq.
8. If you are travelling light enough bring a laptop with you. Along your way you will have wifi access periodically. The Dubai airport has free wifi, so that is helpful.
9. If you are with KBR / Fluor / Dynacorp on Logcap you will travel with their folks to / from the airport, just follow directions you'll be fine.  If you're with a smaller company and going to Afghanistan, make sure to get to DXB about 3 hours minimum before your flight, otherwise you'll get a crappy seat and be behind all of the Logcappers.  You'll still get a seat, but it will be middle.   If you're going to Iraq and not on LOGCAP then I can't help you, never done non-Logcap in Iraq.
10. A tip for when coming out on R&R from either country.  Make sure to print your boarding pass at the hotel.  Otherwise you will have to wait until late in the evening (7pm) to check in for the flight.  If you checkin online, you can get thru passport control and on your way to the Irish Village pub.  :)  Otherwise, you'll need to wait with the rest of the sea of humanity to get thru.  This will really help things and you'll not be in any lines.  It will cost you about $10 in cab fares, in lieu of taking the cattle train, but you'll get there before the heard.