Frag Out! Magazine

If you would like to get all information in one time and place please join us during the next Maritime Security Operative course organised by Paladin Tac Ltd. and Tactical Risk Group. The details are available on FB and at: Paladin Tac Tactical Risk Group www.paladintac.org – www.tacriskgroup.com THE ILLNESSES In one of the further articles we will present the threats in terms of life and health. Maintaining a hygiene is very important, both on the land and on the ship because a diarrhoea is a real knacker even in the case of the brave soldier plus dehydration can have catastrophic consequences. So, it is worth to take with you herbal teas and specifics which could comfort when suffering from a gastritis – let's remember that on the ship mostly water, tea and coffee are available. In the handy first aid kit there should be pills for headache with an anti-inflammatory action, a medical absorbent carbon, the Stopera, an antibiotic and a pills against sore throat. The tropical zone is a place where the bacterias and parasites develop enormously and it is almost sure that we take some of them with us home. A visit after a contract in the medical clinic and constant consultations with the tropical medicine expert would not be a waste of time and money. If it is possible, it is worth to disinfect with a rational dosage (up to 150 ml) of alcohol (whisky, cognac, gin with tonic containing quinine) after a contract, as well as during a stay on the land (if it is only consistent with the terms of our contract). We warn against buying alcohol in the suspicious places (a contractor died in Sri Lanka after consuming a local vodka), and for sure, against a drug use. Despite a common availability of marihuana or other drugs in Sri Lanka it cannot be forgotten that possessing them is liable to a death penalty – perhaps the authorities will turn a blind eye on the British or Russian tourist concerning the amounts of money they leave there, but let's remember that we are there working and we feel ill at ease so there are possible provocation from the sides of the authorities or even competing companies. The firms which employ do not conduct any insightful investigations and it happens that they dismiss an employee on the basis of the denunciations of the companions who took part in this entertainment ill practice. Let's do not be stupid because we may pay a huge price for this, and in the best case it would be breaching a contract… Using the charms of the local beauties is also a controversial issue and although an old proverb says that a real man is not ashamed of the gonorrhoea, but becoming infected by the HIV virus could be not so funny. THE EQUIPMENT – WHAT TO TAKE WITH YOU AND WHAT IS ISSUED BY THE COMPANY CAssuming that all costs airport fees are covered by a contracting company, we do not have to worry about the flights, hotels, boarding, visas and transfers. Up till now the luggage rules were standard for us which allow the operators to take up to 30 kilograms of luggage. However, there is a story afloat that the companies while saving on the tickets, buy only a limit up to 20 kilograms, what is a pitiable conduct and we do hope that not common. It is worth to take all above mentioned medicines, sunglasses, a scarf or a hat for a head (necessarily with chinstrap) and a sunscreen cream. Optionally we advise our students to take with them (if only it is compliable with the terms of the contract) their own tactical gear. Up till now most of the contractors took their own ballistic protection gear because companies had stopped to issue them, but there is a risk it can be confiscated by customs officers. All of these is a matter of our attitude to security and an awareness of the danger – the further very debatable issue. www.fragoutmag.com

• Cover