There are no stupid questions when you are learning (unless you're in a brief, please save your questions)
as for the gear, you can have it here, but if the packing list says "OD green flashlight, issued w/red lens" you must bring your issued ta-50 flashlight.
For anything during beast, you will use your issued gear, minus small things like a knife or headlamp if you have it. On top of that, if you have things that are different than your classmates, you will just stick out...which I try not to do.
The small unit tactics team wears different gear, only when they're training, so does the combat weapons team, but when they're in the field they wear the issued stuff.