The East Wind staff work very hard to provide you the participant with the most accurate and realistic experience that you can possibly have. We are portraying the militaries of the late 80's and very early 90's in a "what if the wall hadn't collapsed timeline." While specifics of allowed or recommended personal equipment are covered in the individual unit lists, a few items are specifically forbidden, and are called out here.
Some of these are disallowed due to compatibility. For example, no matter how well your radios operate, and how much you think they are period correct, all the radios used at East Wind work as a system. Bringing others could not just leave you out of contact of the administrative staff, but could interfere with the band plan and leave everyone out of contact. Similar issues are true for many other equipment items.
Additionally, many of these are disallowed for safety purposes. Incorrect stoves, in particular, are fire or asphyxia hazards. But even radios, again, can be a safety issue if you are not listening to the assigned bands.
Reasons are not always explained in detail, but none of these are negotiable, so please abide by the rules.
Non-Approved Two-Way Radios
East Wind provides all of the radio communication equipment you are likely to need. You may bring your own radio equipment, but it must be a functioning, period-correct military radio system. All these will be subject to approval by the WARPAC administrator, and must operate within the band plan.
No other two-way radios will be allowed. Specifically, commerical and consumer FRS/GMRS radios you are likely to own are not allowed on the field at any time. Leave them at home, or in your car.
GPS Receivers
GPS is not, and was not used by any East Bloc nations for any purposes. The U.S. specifically built the system to be able to be disabled, so foreign militaries could not use it. Therefore, no GPS receivers, even those commerically available or in service with NATO countries at the time, will not be allowed.
The Soviet GLONASS satellite navigation system did come online starting in 1991. If you have a (very rare) period correct receiver in working order, contact the WARPAC administrator. It still must be pre-approved before you will be allowed to use it at East Wind.
Non-military tents or camping gear
You are welcome to bring your own period-correct military tent. The limits are discussed in this forum post. No civilian tents or camping gear of any sort is allowed. All tents will be deployed in designated camping areas, in the location and orientation determined by your chain of command. Aside from helping the campsite look correct, other tents may not stand the rigors of nine days in the weather and heavy use usually encountered at East Wind.
Non-approved tent heaters
Heaters may only be used in communal tents, designed for a heater. Specifically do not use any type of heater in a shelter half; you will run out of oxygen and die in your sleep.
Tent heaters may be either liquid fueled (burning diesel or kerosene only) or wood fired. No gasoline, propane or electric heaters will be allowed under any circumstances.
Tent heaters will be vented in order to pass the combustion gasses outside of the tent. Flue pipes will be appropriately guyed to keep them stable. If you are burning wood, you must have a damper on your flue pipe to both control temperature and prevent sparks from damaging your and other's tents.
If your tent has a heater, you are required to keep a fire extinguisher at every door of your tent.
Any heater must be inspected and approved by the WARPAC administrator. All heaters deployed will be monitored by the administrative and safety staff during installation and throughout the event. Follow all their instructions regarding setup, maintenance, fueling and so forth.
Excessive Quantities of Snacks or Extra Food
All the food you will need at East Wind is provided. A professional cooking staff is employed for most meals, and all others (such as field resupply) will be appropriate ration packs, such as a replica of a WARPAC ration pack. There is no need for you to bring any of your own, and cooking of food not issued will generally not be tolerated.
This is also a safety issue. You will be very physically active, and living off sugar, or generally not having your food intake monitored by the event staff and chain of command may result in you becoming a casualty. Yes, you may bring small amounts of snacks, appropriate to your role. Period correct, nationality-correct snacks are especially permitted, but not enough to live off. Moderation in all things.
Alcohol or Illegal Drugs
No consumption of alcohol, even for those of legal age, will be tolerated during the event, buildup or teardown. Do not bring any alcohol onto the field. Naturally, illegal drugs will also not be tolerated to any degree. If you have any concerns about legal, prescribed drugs (especially those which are abused by others) be sure to bring it in a bottle with a prescription in your name attached to the side.