Couple of Questions

icelander27

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I know this is looking a bit of the ways into the future, but what things should I have my parents bring or ship out to me in August once the Academic year starts?

Also I was looking at the list of recommended items to bring and it says do not bring your cell phone. Is this just the Academy saying, "You won't need/use you cell phone during Beast Barracks, so don't bother bringing it" or are they serious about not bringing it? (I am referencing the PDF version of "Information for New Cadets and Parents" on Page 10)
 
It isn't really too much in the future seeing as we leave for R-Day soon and you can't ask during Beast.

As far as cell-phones go most cadets have told me they brought theirs and got it just fine from storage at the end of BCT. I've also heard it's a risk and the phone could get damaged so I might have my parents being it on A-Day instead.

The other items your parents can bring is anything you need for the academic year. I'm sure you will be able to come up with a list during BCT and mail it to them before it's over. So far all my parents are bringing is a fan for my room. The rest I told them I would figure out by talking to cadets during BCT and mail them a list.
 
Packed away

Anything that's brought to CBT that is not permitted will get stored, They will give you a lock box and a trunk
 
Our son waited for the cell phone until A-Day, when we delivered it to him.

If you do take the phone up with you, I have heard it is best to remove the battery as the area they will be stored in is not necessarily temperature controlled, and it can cause problems for the battery when left in the phone. I do not know if this is accurate information or not, but thought potential preventative measures would be worth passing along.
 
Should I shine my low quarter before reporting to R-Day?
 
Should I shine my low quarter before reporting to R-Day?

I have heard that we should shine our low quarters, but only enough to make them look nice and presentable. Really shiny low quarters would probably attract unwanted cadre attention.
 
I have heard that we should shine our low quarters, but only enough to make them look nice and presentable. Really shiny low quarters would probably attract unwanted cadre attention.

What do we do if we can't get them? I looked and they only sell the already shined kind here.
 
It is too late now, but candidates were provided with instructions on how to order the correct ones from AAFES. You may regret not ordering them and breaking them in -- I'd suggest packing some moleskin...
 
I am surprised the PX you visited did not give you info to order online. We had to go to 3 different ones to find the boots last year, and during the process searched for the low quarters, too. If you don't have them now, your feet are going to be sore puppies come R day :frown:
 
America's Finest,

Non-shinny shoes must be mainly an Air Force thing these days. No one around the nearby army base carries them but, as soon as my son asked, the lady at clothing sales said "try an air force base". Nearby AFB had them on display and plenty in stock.

Here is my take on the "what if we can't get them" question... (all unofficial opinions).

In the instructions sent to you, low quarters come up in two places.

1) They sent you an authorization letter to purchase low quarters at your option. If you want to get shoes before reporting and break them (or, more importantly, your feet) in before R-Day, that letter gives you the option to do so at the AAFES price. If you can't find the shoes or if you think your feet will do fine and would just rather wait to have shoes properly fitted at WP, I think you can skip buying the shoes and no one is going to hang you over it.

2) On page 8 of "Information for New Cadets and Parents", it says:
"c. A pair of “broken-in” shoes of the following
description should be worn when reporting in: black, plaintoe, smooth all-leather, laced uppers, replaceable rubber heels, and replaceable rubber or leather sole."

The document "Instructions for Applicants Offered Admission" is even more general:
"wear one pair of comfortable, well-fitting, inexpensive,
black leather laced shoes with plain toe and
rubber heel when reporting to West Point.
You will wear these until you are issued
the regulation cadet shoe"

In my opinion, the "shoe letter" and "what shoes to report in" are really two separate issues. If you can buy the shoes before reporting and you report in them, you've satisfied both. If you can't find the official shoes, you still need to follow instructions and report in a pair of shoes that at least look like the official shoes. Why? Think about what's going to be happening on R-Day. Sometime during the day (possibly before shoes are issued), they have to teach everyone how to drill and march well enough to get through the oath parade. They don't want to be trying to teach about-face to new cadets in flip flops. Sometime during the day (possibly before shoes are issued) they are going to fit you for several pair of long pants. Shoes with the the correct heal will give a better fit than your running shoes.

There are probably plenty of other reasons why WP has decided to ask everyone to report in black, leather, lace-up, low quarter shoes but they stopped short of saying you MUST buy the official shoes before reporting and you MUST report in the official shoes.

In the end, you'll get through R-Day whether you have the right shoes or not. You'll probably get plenty of attention whether you have the right shoes or not. Your feet will hurt whether you have the right shoes or not. Two weeks from now, what shoes you owned or didn't own on R-day won't matter.

Good luck and hang in there.
 
America's Finest,

Non-shinny shoes must be mainly an Air Force thing these days. No one around the nearby army base carries them but, as soon as my son asked, the lady at clothing sales said "try an air force base". Nearby AFB had them on display and plenty in stock.

Here is my take on the "what if we can't get them" question... (all unofficial opinions).

In the instructions sent to you, low quarters come up in two places.

1) They sent you an authorization letter to purchase low quarters at your option. If you want to get shoes before reporting and break them (or, more importantly, your feet) in before R-Day, that letter gives you the option to do so at the AAFES price. If you can't find the shoes or if you think your feet will do fine and would just rather wait to have shoes properly fitted at WP, I think you can skip buying the shoes and no one is going to hang you over it.

2) On page 8 of "Information for New Cadets and Parents", it says:
"c. A pair of “broken-in” shoes of the following
description should be worn when reporting in: black, plaintoe, smooth all-leather, laced uppers, replaceable rubber heels, and replaceable rubber or leather sole."

The document "Instructions for Applicants Offered Admission" is even more general:
"wear one pair of comfortable, well-fitting, inexpensive,
black leather laced shoes with plain toe and
rubber heel when reporting to West Point.
You will wear these until you are issued
the regulation cadet shoe"

In my opinion, the "shoe letter" and "what shoes to report in" are really two separate issues. If you can buy the shoes before reporting and you report in them, you've satisfied both. If you can't find the official shoes, you still need to follow instructions and report in a pair of shoes that at least look like the official shoes. Why? Think about what's going to be happening on R-Day. Sometime during the day (possibly before shoes are issued), they have to teach everyone how to drill and march well enough to get through the oath parade. They don't want to be trying to teach about-face to new cadets in flip flops. Sometime during the day (possibly before shoes are issued) they are going to fit you for several pair of long pants. Shoes with the the correct heal will give a better fit than your running shoes.

There are probably plenty of other reasons why WP has decided to ask everyone to report in black, leather, lace-up, low quarter shoes but they stopped short of saying you MUST buy the official shoes before reporting and you MUST report in the official shoes.

In the end, you'll get through R-Day whether you have the right shoes or not. You'll probably get plenty of attention whether you have the right shoes or not. Your feet will hurt whether you have the right shoes or not. Two weeks from now, what shoes you owned or didn't own on R-day won't matter.

Good luck and hang in there.

Thanks, I have the black shoes that look close enough to the official ones so I'll wear those.
 
The issue is not really whether you can follow directions and show up in the correct shoes. The greater issue is your feet. So now, you will walk miles and miles in unbroken in shoes. Make sure you pack plenty of moleskin and blister bandaids (and neosporin). You don't want to get special attention because the cadre now have to look after your feet. It is very different to go from tennis shoes or Sperry's to a regular shoe. Your feet will need time to adjust. You might want to invest in some good "super feet" insoles.
 
The issue is not really whether you can follow directions and show up in the correct shoes. The greater issue is your feet. So now, you will walk miles and miles in unbroken in shoes. Make sure you pack plenty of moleskin and blister bandaids (and neosporin). You don't want to get special attention because the cadre now have to look after your feet. It is very different to go from tennis shoes or Sperry's to a regular shoe. Your feet will need time to adjust. You might want to invest in some good "super feet" insoles.

That's fine. I packed some first-aid stuff and I'm used to wearing those kinds of shoes (I have like 3 pairs but they're the pre-shined ones). Also it's not as bad as some of you paint it. It's not wearing unbroken shoes for all of BCT, it's only wearing unbroken shoes for about a week because after that they should be broken into (if we do in fact walk in them as much as we're told we will). I got the insoles a few days ago as well just in case.
 
Also it's not as bad as some of you paint it. .


Good to know we're not being realistic! :cool: I guess those parents who wrote stories about their kids needing medical attention because of not breaking in the shoes last year on plebe-net were just exaggerating.

:bang::bang::bang::bang:
 
Good to know we're not being realistic! :cool: I guess those parents who wrote stories about their kids needing medical attention because of not breaking in the shoes last year on plebe-net were just exaggerating.

:bang::bang::bang::bang:

I noted your advice but at this point it's all I can do. Worrying won't do anybody any good. Nothing wrong with a positive attitude. :thumb:

I also went and bought some "foot supplies" so I did listen to what you said. :wink:
 
That's fine. I packed some first-aid stuff and I'm used to wearing those kinds of shoes (I have like 3 pairs but they're the pre-shined ones). Also it's not as bad as some of you paint it. It's not wearing unbroken shoes for all of BCT, it's only wearing unbroken shoes for about a week because after that they should be broken into (if we do in fact walk in them as much as we're told we will). I got the insoles a few days ago as well just in case.

Good decision on the insoles - my son said it made a huge difference in the comfort of the low quarters.
 
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