2014 Odds & Ends Q's

pjnavy82

5-Year Member
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Apr 29, 2010
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Hi, I'm a '14 dad that has been lurking for several months and finally decided it was time to clarify a few items and ask a few Q's. Just a little info. I'm a USNA '82 grad. retired from the reserves so I'm a little familiar with the Service Academies and military although, (obviously) many things have changed over the years. I've tried to gather as much info as possible from previous threads, and my son, Taylor, seems adept at getting lots of good info as well. Still, there are a few lingering..... These are all questions/statements are looking for either clarification, verification, or correction. So here goes!

1) Boots.... Best to wait until BCT to get the boots since they don't need much breaking in, you will get the right size, and they're a much better price? The first pair is issued on I-day and the second pair the day before the march to Jack's Valley (unless you bought a pair before I-day)? Bellville 650 is the boot issued? Doolies are not allowed (or it's frowned upon) to use any boot except standard issue until after acceptance into the Wing in August (or is it Recognition in March '11) so don't bother springing for (or bringing) a nice pair of Rocky S2V's or similar until then??? Just a note; the Bellville's seem to run big! We went to the Uniform Shop at Dobbins ARB to check fit some boots and, although my son normally wears a 10 1/2 or 11, he said the 610's (hot weather boot) fit best at 9 1/2 and the 690's (cold weather flight boot) fit best in a 10. This was with thick hiking socks! They didn't have 650's (which is a medium/cold wx boot?) although they could order them for about $130/pair. The local Army/Navy Store had them for about $175/pair.

2) Boot Socks/Black Socks.... He has several pairs of thicker boot socks left over from Philmont along with the wicking liner socks to go under them. Should he bring them or are the C4C's required to use the issued socks during BCT? Would you recommend the liner socks? Are they allowed to turn the socks over the tops of the boots to keep them from falling/bunching/causing hot spots? Somebody recommended bringing several pairs of better quality/more comfortable black dress socks to wear with the Blues. Anyone else have an opinion on this?

3) Don't get a copy of Contrails ahead of time!?

4) Don't sweat the uniform sizing sheet? It's only used to make sure the right inventory of sizes is in place for BCT?

5) Skivvies (originally a Naval term :shake:).... Are the Doolies required to wear the TW's (tighty whities) during BCT or can they bring/wear plain white boxers? Someone on the USNA forum side recommended the tighter knit boxers to help prevent chafing in the high humidity (I assume not a problem at 7200'?) during Plebe summer. Thoughts?

6) Watch/Phone/Camera.... Are Doolies allowed to wear a watch during BCT? Since Doolie Day is "In" this year (10 July) will they get their phones back to call home then turn them back in thus avoiding the dreaded "Phone Bank"? Can they have a camera during BCT (wife's question, not mine, sorry!)?

7) Sponsors…. If you know of or get a recommendation from someone can he request a specific sponsor? When are sponsors assigned?

8) Pre I-day activities…. Is the C. Springs parents club or any other organization planning anything (like a picnic) on 23 June? Are there any other recommended activities pre I-day? We’re flying into DEN the 21st or 22nd, renting a car for the week and staying at the Rampart. Hope to do Pike’s Peak and that western restaurant (forgot the name) like we did for Philmont a few years ago. Any other suggestions welcome!



I’m sure I’ll have more questions, but I can’t think any more right now. This forum has been a great resource. Keep up the great work!!

Paul “PJ” Johnson
 
1) Wait until I-day for boots

2) Wait until I-day for socks no need to bring anything..

3) Don't get contrails ahead of time.

4) Everyone will be taken care of during beast

5) Wear issued stuff during BCT then after BCT wear what you want as far as undies goes

6) Basics will not be allowed to have any time telling device on them during BCT. Bring a watch however to wear once BCT is over.. bring your phone for the same reason (also for Doolie day in)

7) You can request sponsors, they get assigned during beast

8) Not sure
 
A few more questions

Thanks PJnavy82 for asking some of the same questions we have. Here are a few more: Is it worthwhile bringing any of the clothing given during summer seminar (e.g. gym shorts, work out shirts.) Are the issued underware for men briefs or boxers? Thanks, Mike
 
no point in bringing any seminar stuff....they will give you every thing.
Also about the socks....a few amount of cadets had an allergic reaction to them. My advice...buy a pair and wear them for a couple days and see if you get reaction. That way you can let them know and can get different socks....its the green ones.
 
I was wanting to post the question about the boxers too. At orientation, we had several people tell my son (some cadets, some grads) that he SHOULD bring boxers if that's what he preferred to wear, otherwise he'd be stuck wearing the issued tighty-whiteys! He asked around the different cadets he talked to and it sounds like some were able to wear anything they brought (in terms of boxers), others were able to wear them only if they were white, and others were not able to at all. Obviously sounds like it comes down to the specific squadron or even element. I bought him a couple cheap packs of solid white ones (4 pair for $6.50) at Walmart and washed them and have him plan to bring them. I know he'd far prefer to wear boxers if it's a possibility. If not, then he'll have them for A day but I figure it's worth bringing just in case.

One more question I'd like to add on here would be about the cleats. At orientation that was not on the list of items they suggested bringing or even talked about. In the Appointee packet, it has that as a permitted item. Would you recommend bringing a pair if he has them? He's played soccer forever and although he doubts he'll try out for IC would like to try for club level or at least play it intramural. Or is that just one heavy thing to haul around on I day?

Regarding the question asked about sponsors, that should be in the Appointee packet. My son filled it out last week and sent it in and got a confirmation email today saying that they had received it all. He requested a specific sponsor that he knows, but also filled in the rest with his preferences (didn't care much about race, religion, where they were from or if they had pets, but did NOT want a family with young kids - he's not a "kid" person!). On a different note, he did fill out and email his uniform sizing form and faxed his immunization form but didn't receive any confirmation on those - has anyone else?

Thanks for all the help!
 
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We had to wear the tighty whities.

You've probably already read this but, make a copy of the immunization forms and carry it with you on I day. If they loose your form, you don't want to have a sore arm that day.
 
About the cleats, the only time he will need them during basic is during intramurals first beast. If he wants them for the 3 or 4 intramural sessions in basic, I suppose he could bring them, but I would say it isn't worth it. On the other hand, if he is going to try out for the IC team, or even a chance he is going to try out, he should bring them, because tryouts are right after A-day.

And DEFINITELY make a copy of immunizations. They were going to give me 4! but I had a copy with me and so I didn't have to get any
 
Thanks for all the responses so far!

More good info (especially about the shot record). Thanks!

I probably should have been more careful or brief in how I was trying to get information verified or clarified. Hopefully someone (or several forumites) will parce out all my statements with "?'s" and confirm or correct me.

Anyone have an answer to #8 about the pre I-day activities?

PJ
 
I don't recall any pre-I day activities but I think the Colorado Parent's Club holds on picnic on I-day. We went from the drop off at the AOG up to the Chapel wall and spent a few hours coming to grips (with other parents) to what just happened. To be honest we were not prepared for the degree of yelling (neither of us are former military) or seeing our basic with his head now shaved lugging a very large bag in his left hand across the T-zo.

The morning of I-day the breakfast places along Academy were all packed so we ended up driving a few miles south to save some time.
 
Our whole family was so nervous/tense/excited on I Day that I can't imagine doing anything or attending any other activity on that day.

We dropped our son off at AOG and went straight to the Chapel. We saw him 4 times (through the binoculars) and then he walked right down below us in his ABUs and with his bag. I will never forget the look on his face. We stayed at the Chapel wall several hours. Later, I found out several families stayed until dark. When we returned to the hotel, we saw our son on the news. I nearly had a breakdown. In hindsight, it seems kind of funny now. Watch the news and make sure you pick up a copy of the Colorado Springs newspaper the next day.
 
The Colorado Parent's Club will host a picnic after Inprocessing at the Picnic Pavillion #2 in FamCamp across from the football stadium. I'm not sure what time it starts yet. I highly recommend it if you can tear yourself away from the Chapel Wall.
 
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