This Training Information Sheet deals with various equipment for field investigators. It is an expansion of page 34 of the MUFON FIELD INVESTIGATOR'S MANUAL. This paper also discusses home office and skywatch equipment. Instructions on the use of said equipment can be found in the MANUAL and TI-2, FIELD INVESTIGATION. Because of the state- of-the-art regarding some equipment, some of these items may be obsolete.

For instructions regarding the use of these items, please refer to other TI's, in particular TI-2, "UFO Investigation".

FINANCIAL LIMITATIONS
The following lists are comprised of items used in field investigations. Because of the financial limitations inherent in any volunteer organization, the items have been divided into three categories: "Necessary", "Desired", and "Optional", according to priority and/or expense. For example, not everyone can afford to purchase a good Geiger counter and be professionally trained in its use. Thus, this piece of equipment has been placed in the optional list. None-the-less, the State and/or State Section Director should contact their local Civil Defense Director or Civil Defense Radiological Monitor. Usually Civil Defense is most cooperative in this respect. In some instances, CD personnel may be interested in becoming field investigators or consultants. Arrangements might be made to utilize their expertise and equipment.

NECESSARY EQUIPMENT
Although the investigator will generally not always employ all of the items in this list during any given investigation, such items, nevertheless, should be readily accessible to him/her when the need arises. Thus, it would be advantageous to store these items in a special container, suitcase, or tool box-type unit. Experience has shown that one kit pertaining to paperwork and related materials should be the primary kit.

MUFON ID Card
Camera & film
MUFON questionnaires
Sample containers (ziplock bags)
Field Investigator's Manual
Tape measure, ruler
Compass (good quality)
Flashlight (extra batteries)
Clipboard or notebook
Farmers almanac (ref 1)
Area maps
Magnifying glass
Paper
String
Pencils, pens
Knife
Star finder (ref 1)
Tweezers

DESIRABLE EQUIPMENT
This second list contains items which are extremely helpful to the UFO investigator and should be added to your kit, if possible and practical.

Cassette recorder & tapes
Supply of stakes
Color chart
Small garden trowel
Elevation indicator
Shovel
Arc indicator
Boots
Binoculars
Disposable polyethylene gloves
100' steel tape
Insect repellent
Several 100' chalk lines
First aid kit
Camera flash attachment
Personal MUFON calling cards
Plaster of Paris or paraffin
Detailed almanac (ref 1)

OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT
The items in this list are valuable tools for any UFO investigator. Some instruments require a trained specialist to operate correctly. Someone with a background in Chemistry or Physics would be a likely candidate for locating and operating a Scintillation Spectrometer. The contents of these kits are dependent upon the capabilities and resources of the Network talent.

Geiger counter
Video camera & videotapes (Ref 3)
Pocket spectroscope
Camera light meter
Scintillation spectrometer
Camera tripod
Magnetometer
Topographical maps
Camera & diffraction grating
Aerial maps (ref 4)
Police scanner (ref 2)
Rangefinder

OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT FOR OFFICE OR CAR
Cordless telephone
Telephone recorder
Cellular telephone

OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT FOR SKYWATCH OR RAPID DEPLOYMENT TEAM
Whisper 2000 or bionic ear
Halogen spotlight
Strobe light
Telescope
Night vision goggles
Polaroid sunglasses (ref 5)

References:
1. A subscription to "Astronomy" or "Sky & Telescope" could replace the almanac. Current star
    & planet positions are found in each monthly issues of both magazines. Of course, if you have
    a personal computer, there are numerous inexpensive programs such as "Skyglobe" and "EZ
    Cosmos".
2. Where legally permitted only.
3. See TI-12, Camcorders & UFOs.
4. Aerial photos and maps in the form of soil surveys can be obtained from your county office of
    the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service.
5. Polaroid lenses are supposed to show areas of polarization around UFOs due to their alleged strong magnetic field. This would be one way of verifying a daylight sighting of a genuine UFO.