BCT 2013

zachtx

5-Year Member
Joined
Mar 4, 2013
Messages
96
Is there anything that current/former cadets recommend bringing to I-Day for basic or the academic year beyond what is listed in the "instructions to appointees" booklet?
Also, does anyone have any words of wisdom for basic or doolie year?
Thanks!
 
I heard 2014 and 2015 were weak! What has everyone else heard?

You heard wrong, very wrong. BCT will rock your and everyone in the class of 2017's world. To answer the OP's question, bring SEVERAL pairs of compression shorts, they are a must when wearing ABU's just about everyday, have a good amount of cash to buy basic toiletries and room cleaning supplies (windex, 409, paper towels, etc...) You will have a couple of opportunities to go to the Cadet store to purchase these items during BCT, and you want to make sure you can get them. As far as the mental/emotional side goes, having something to look forward to is huge, that really helped me get through. I was blessed to have great parents and a wonderful girlfriend that wrote me a letter just about everyday, which is what I looked forward to each day. When your going through BCT also don't focus on how long you have left until the end, break it down (i.e. focus on making it to the next meal each day), this will also help. After basic it is a long haul to recognition in march. Resign to the fact that you will have to do a lot of little things that really don't make much sense and excel at them. There will be a lot of people who want to complain and be negative about "being a 4-degree", embrace the suck, give everything your best effort, and most importantly, develop strong bonds with your classmates, you are all in it together and it helps a lot if you can all find ways to have a good time with each other. Manage your time well and take academics very seriously your first semester. You will not have an easier academic schedule than first semester and it provides you the opportunity to set a great foundation for the rest of your time here, it will be easy to find ways to waste time instead of focusing on your grades, do not make that mistake, because this is a place where it is near impossible to play catch-up. If you have any other specific questions feel free to send me a private message, best of luck.
 
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I heard 2014 and 2015 were weak! What has everyone else heard?

Oh look! 1 post, joined this month. Must be a troll.

Don't worry guys, they did this on facebook too.

$5 says it's Pat Gilwee.

EDIT: Silver is also 2017's color, and that wasnt decided until recently. Also, it's not generally out there and would really only be known to those who are already a cadet at USAFA.
 
What color compression shorts would you recommend bringing? Should we bring them in a backpack to inprocessing?
 
What color compression shorts would you recommend bringing? Should we bring them in a backpack to inprocessing?

I brought black, either bring black or white. It is important to note that whatever bag you bring to I-day, you WILL NOT be allowed to wear on your person, you must carry it in your left hand so pack as light as possible.
 
Thank you! At some point they will take my bag and all contraband away from me. Do I just take the compression shorts out and hold onto them before they take my bag?
 
You'll show up on I-Day, stand in a hundred different lines for different stages of the processing, and then you'll eventually end up in your squadron with your bag of stuff, when the opportunity presents itself, just ask the cadre about what to do with your comp shorts. The contraband collection is not a big deal and even if you keep your comp shorts in your bag until that point, you can simply say that they are in there and that you want to take them back to your room. If you forget to do this, you can ask the cadre if you can retrieve them from the storage room that contains all of the contraband, if they are nice enough they will go and get them for you, but I recommend not forgetting.
 
There are a plethora of "advice for BCT/compression shorts/what should I bring" threads. Use the search bar.
 
Oh look! 1 post, joined this month. Must be a troll.

Don't worry guys, they did this on facebook too.

$5 says it's Pat Gilwee.

EDIT: Silver is also 2017's color, and that wasnt decided until recently. Also, it's not generally out there and would really only be known to those who are already a cadet at USAFA.

Just a lurker who had to get his $.02 in. I hope that big Bratka guy is working again so I can beat him in PT.
 
I brought black, either bring black or white. It is important to note that whatever bag you bring to I-day, you WILL NOT be allowed to wear on your person, you must carry it in your left hand so pack as light as possible.

Air force regulations. either black, white, or gray.

don't be that guy with neon. please.
 
Just a lurker who had to get his $.02 in. I hope that big Bratka guy is working again so I can beat him in PT.

...you joined the forum yesterday. For no other reason than to post something that if you were really just a lurker, would know that would be seen by upperclassmen and also makes 2017 look arrogant and somewhat disrespectful. Which is exactly what upperclassmen have been trying to do on FB. I believe an example still exists on the MLIC page somewhere.

No, I don't think you are that naive.

I do appreciate the attempt at trolling, though.
 
Just a lurker who had to get his $.02 in. I hope that big Bratka guy is working again so I can beat him in PT.

:lolatyou:

Ok, here's a lesson for those who are smart enough pay attention (probably not you, Silver). Those who are actual bad asses rarely feel the need to boast about it. In the service, they are called "Quiet Professionals" or similar things, and they are the ones who actually wind up doing great deeds.
 
just have to say this because it does happen...there are those of you who think you're better than some upperclassmen. and...well. thats normal.

but i've seen those people inprocess in my own class, and they let it get to their heads. they don't last very long here.

no hard feelings. just friendly advice :)

as usual, if you have any actual questions, feel free to PM
 
So this might sound like a dumb question, but do all undergarments really have to be white? Like can sports bras and underwear be gray, black, or dark blue?
 
I don't recommend that. You might get away with it if you don't have any female cadre, but if you do you will be up a creek. I know when I worked basic if I inspected a drawer and found that it would have been bad news. I know it doesn't make sense, but the instructions were white, so bring white. I just went and bought large packs of both and threw them away after basic. I think I brought something like 16 of each and it was SO worth it.
 
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