SFAS Packing List
Boots
Pack no less than two good, sturdy boots that are already broken in. Bring a third option that doesn’t have to be as broken for times when you’re just around Camp Mackall doing in and out-processing (i.e. the first and last few days). Understand you will be putting close to a hundred miles on your feet. You may end up throwing away a pair after Land Nav week alone.
Refer to Ranger School - Packing List (Party One) for some boot recommendations. However you may like the brand you’ve been training with already, in which case I highly recommend you don’t anything. If I could do it again I would have swapped out one of my Oakleys for another pair of Garmonts or something with a thicker sole/better ankle support.
Map Case
Map cases look dorky as hell, and you may have been able to get away with not using one in Ranger School, but it is absolutely essential for Land Nav Week. Make sure you buy the heavy duty 100% waterproof case, and not the ones with the plastic cover and mesh backing. Between all the sweat, marshy terrain, and possible water crossings, you are going to want your map air tight. The bigger the case, the better too. This will reduce the amount of times you have to reach in there to fold or unfold your map, and it also affords you additional space for your protractor, pencils, etc.
Book
You won’t have all the downtime in the world, but you will have enough to finish an entire book if you’re a fast reader. I would bring at least one good-sized book, even if you don’t plan on reading at all. Whatever you do, don’t bring a Jocko Willink book (or any Navy SEAL affiliated book for that matter). You are attending Special Forces assessment and selection. Although you won’t be penalized, you might be made fun of by cadre during the layout if you’re caught with Navy SEAL literature. For book recommendations that are commonly on SF reading lists see Special Forces - Recommended Reading.
Linens
Bring a fitted sheet and pillow! You will be sleeping in barracks for two thirds of Selection so might as well be comfortable while you’re at it. Not all the mattresses are in the best condition either, so it’s nice having something to cover up those mysterious stains.
Foam Roller (or other)
You are allowed one item for “recovery” such as a foam roller, lacrosse ball, resistance band, etc. I would choose this item based on two criteria. First is necessity: if you already have an old injury or tightness in an area that requires special attention, obviously bring something that helps alleviate that. Second is novelty: most people will choose to bring the run-of-the-mill foam roller or lacrosse ball, so if you have a specialty item like a PSO-Rite then I would highly encourage bringing that. It will bring some equipment diversity to your team/barracks, as you will have plenty of opportunities to swap with fellow candidates.
2-Quart Straws
For the thirsty boys and girls out there, these will come in handy throughout Selection. Stopping to refill your 1-quarts during Gate Week will only hurt your time on the ruck marches. Plus, drinking from your 2-quarts first will lighten the load on your back. The straws get a little tricky during Land Nav Week because vines and thorns love to grab onto anything and everything on your ruck, so ensure they are secured as tight as possible. The nozzles on the 2-quart straws sometimes leak and may cause your water to no longer be “topped off”. Ensure this doesn’t happen to you or you might get spot reported as a safety violation prior to stepping off.
Headlamp
Spend the money on one with the highest lumens possible. A part of me is convinced Land Nav Week only occurs during periods of zero illumination. If this turns out to be the case for you, you will be grateful you spent the money on a good headlamp.
A headlamp with blue lens capability or a blue pen light is a helpful item to have during Land Nav Week. If you use a yellow highlighter to mark significant water obstacles on your map, they will pop out under blue lens light. I thought it was pretty cool and it helped me route plan around tough terrain better, but it’s totally optional.
Key thing to remember: Not having a headlamp is a safety violation during periods of limited visibility. So always have a spare readily available with fresh batteries. Your spare doesn’t have to be an expensive one also, although it would behoove you not to lose the good one before land nav test day.
“Additional Weight”
For shorter people like me, making the minimum weight requirement for your ruck with the prescribed packing list alone isn’t possible. A convenient trick is to tape a couple soap bars together or padlocks and add it to your rucksack. It’s an easy and compact way of adding a couple pounds to your weight if you’re just under or would like an additional buffer (the fish scales provided are not always the most accurate).