UDM my first deployment: Grabbed me and essentially took me shopping. Anything I can think of, he got. Socks, shirts, knives, and anything that was "optional". We had an approximate date of leaving over 3 months out and orders 3 weeks prior. There were no surprises and everything was super smooth. All CBTs and training (weapon quals, etc) were combed over MONTHS prior to our departure.

Conversely, my latest deployment: Half of my gear was never purchased, to include things like holsters and other "mandatory issued" gear. I had to go out of pocket for a ton of things that we were supposed to be issued - worth well over $200. I was one of the only people to even get uniforms my size (or at all), others had to go to airmen's attic as soon as we landed for OCPs. We were told that we're leaving one day, only to be told it was going to be 2 weeks earlier(less than a month out) only to get it re-changed the week of. All timings were fucked. CBTs were a disaster with half the group either not knowing or not completing them even the day prior to our departure.

Fuck shitty UDMs and ROAD AF members.