Questions for a Freshman Cadet

Jezzie said:
I know, as a parent, you dont want your child to go through any more hell than they have to, but it's character building.
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No. As a parent I want my son to be knowledgeable about his choices and the consequences of those choices. If he is willing to wear a Hawaiian shirt with a t-shirt under it that says "I’m here to kick butt and chew bubble-gum, and I’m all out of bubble-gum!”....more power to him. It's his choice as are the "character building" consequences.

As a parent I would also like to believe that the advice you and your fellow cadets are offering in this thread is both truthful and helpful to the candidates currently considering reporting to I-Day. I am somewhat concerned (and disappointed) that it took a number of "wear the Hawaiian shirt" posts before anyone thought it important to post the repercussions of wearing that shirt and why you thought the consequences were "character building". Perhaps going forward you could include any possible negative consequences with your initial advice.
 
I will add just one last thing, basic is what you make of it and it is all about attitude. You WILL get beat, I'm sorry that is what you signed up for, but no one said basic is required to be the worst 6 weeks of your life (although it can be), yes it will be tough, but if it was easy everyone would do it. Just think, you get to spend 6 weeks with some of the best friends you will ever have creating memories you will always remember. You do have some power over basic and that power is that you can make those memories full of fear and depression, or you can make those memories full of teamwork and hilarious experiences (that even your cadre laugh at). From my experience, it is much easier to remember and laugh about the positive experiences rather than the negative.

Well, I have said enough about that. Thanks for the questions to get us back on track.

I can't remember if they were considered contraband, but if you do bring extra underwear, make sure they are white and you might get away with it.

As for the cold during basic, don't worry about it. You will be up and working out within minutes. Yes, I felt pretty cold in when we first got up some mornings, but when you go work out for an hour, you are usually pretty glad that you didn't bring any extra clothing. As for wearing something different, that won't go well unless all of your classmates look the same. You must always standardize with your classmates or you will be asked "Why are you different, basic." They will give you enough clothing and they will also tell you what to wear in the morning. "Bang, Bang, Bang, FALL OUT TO THE CQ WITH _______ UNIFORM ON."

As for bringing things, I remember going to the C-store on about the 3rd day. Remember, you will have seconds to brush your teeth, shave, and do whatever you need to do in the morning so don't worry about using everything up. As for using plastic in the C-store, I can't remember if it is allowed. I remember pretty much everyone used cash (Can't remember what they told us about that). Maybe Jezzie can help you with that.

Later,

Brian
 
I, as a recent grad with these memories still in my mind, am for one glad I did not attract extra attention on I-day. Those that did really wouldn't have done it in hind-sight. For me, in hindsight, I'm still glad I didn't do anything silly. I have plenty of great memories and stories without deliberately bringing attention. For example, my bodies way of coping with having to suppress all expression and emotion was to channel it all to my eyebrows. My cadre loved it and would hassle me, then run around the corner giggling (which I knew and then expressed through interpretive happy/laughing eyebrows). Or the times I woke up at attention in the middle of the night because I thought cadre were in the room. Or playing flashlight tag with the mice in our "couch" out in Jack's Valley. Or my class mate (and now out here stationed at LA AFB too) who had to hold up a big poster saying "Chess club master" (he was always incapable of not smiling, and this was just that much better with the cadre running up the stairwell to ROFL away from us). So, I got plenty of great stories and fun from spontaneous things happening rather than deliberately planning.

Bottom line, MY advice: don't deliberately attract attention, you'll accidentally do something at some point which will be much better, IMO. And Bullet's entire post, despite his unfortunate ROTC origins, is spot on. :thumb:
 
luckymacy said:
He, he, he, that's a hilarious visual. Seriously though, you are allowed to bring a ton of underwear/compression shorts and they'll let you use them and not count them as contraband? Is there a color requirement like they must be all white or what?
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Couple thoughts - my understanding was that the Preppies (Prepsters, whatever the AF phrase is!) were the ones who wore Hawaiian shirts? :confused: Kind of a "group unity" thing and the cadre knew and expected it? Was I totally mistaken on this?

Second, Macy, my son tried his best to keep any shorts/boxers. We bought plain white boxers and a couple pairs of plain white compression shorts and he had them mixed in various places in his luggage to hope to keep at least a couple pairs of either. Had them all taken away and told he was adamantly not allowed to wear them. As other said, obviously that varies by squadron, but don't be shocked if you have to wear whitey tighties the entire time in Beast. He was thrilled to get his boxers back shortly before A day!

Conversely, my son has been using his own (Apple) computer, on the network, since he took it back sometime in the fall. He had to get it checked out by the IT department, but was allowed to hook it up to the network. Webcams have come and gone - he was allowed to use them (although I think that was encouragement by the 3/c), then they had them confiscated, then they got them back. I think the general mindset now is to use them unobtrusively. So again - the different rules for different squads!
 
Tutmom - my kids needed no cash at all until after A-day. Maybe things have changed? Their cleaning supplies were "charged against their account" or some such accounting. Mine left their cash at their sponsor family's place.
 
My son had some of the chaffing issues during BCT, so he and his buddies wore their bathing suits under their ABUs the whole time. I'm not sure they ever even washed them, but they helped with the chaffing!
 
Even as girls, the ABU pants can still cause chaffing on your inner thighs or your hips (right where the belt is). The bathingsuit thing is a good idea. Too bad us girls have the one piece or else we could have done that.

About the hawaiian thing - could have been a preppy thing but they're definitely not the only ones.

Aglages- If you'd like to know the consequences of something, or whatever we might have accidentally left out - just ask and we'll gladly tell you. When you're accustomed to something, it's easy to forget all the aspects and questions people might have about it. Sorry to "disappoint" you, but it wasn't intentional. I can speak for myself and other cadets I know on this forum - we wouldn't try to sugar coat or leave out information to the disadvantage of the parents/appointees on this site.

CASH OR CARD??
MAGIC MONEY??
USAFA used to give "magic money" to basics to use. They stopped doing that. That doesn't mean they can't start it up again, but they didn't have it for us. Better to bring $$$ than assume the "magic money" will be there and risk it not being available.
The Cadet Store IS able to take debit cards. If you'd rather bring your debit/credit card, i don't see why that wouldn't work. Just make sure that it'll work out of state, and that it is completely set up and able to be used.


COMPUTERS:
I don't see why you wouldn't be able to bring your own computer, as long as it is compatible with the usafa intrawebs and is given the green light by the technology department. No one in my squad has one but that doesn't mean you can't. *shrug*
 
pn298ab said:
If you have been told (or encouraged) to wear that Hawaiian Shirt (those 40 some odd of you), wear it.

If not, don't worry about it. You'll find out what it is when you get here, should you be fortunate enough to have one of them in your flight.
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Actually I think it's gonna be about 65 this year.... oh goody.
 
aglages said:
At some point prospective Basics need to question the quality and motivation behind some of the advice given on ANY internet site. Just because some posters are current cadets at the USAFA does not mean that their advice is well intentioned or accurate. I would recommend NOT wearing an Hawaiian shirt when you report for I-Day. Instead of attracting attention to yourself try to "fly under the radar" and blend in. Just my opinion....
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that's fine but don't think they're trying to get people to get in more trouble or anything... it's kind of an inside joke type of thing.
 
Just some chaffing advice from a Boy Scout, putting some Gold Bond on can work wonders. It'll also help prevent some chaffing. Just don't overdo it, unless you want white powder puffing out of your shorts every time you step. I'm not sure about the availability of gold bond at basic though.

Or you can always just change your underwear often to a clean pair. And remember to scrub where you need in your showers. Even in a 30 second shower, you can scrub your hair, neck, armpits, and between your legs well enough to help prevent chaffing. Sometimes all it takes is a shower when you're chaffing.

I'm sure this stuff is general knowledge, but I hope it'll help someone. A scout is clean :thumb:
 
I do apologize if I didn't provide an acceptable answer, but I can assure you that I am not trying to make it any worse for anyone. I have forgotten a lot about basic, but I would never give advice to make it worse for anyone. I am a freshman, I am still in this stuff for 40 more days and I can't be cadre. In fact, sophomores are not even allowed to interact with basics until school starts. So just to clear this up, I am not looking to get appointees into trouble from my advice, I'm just discussing some of things I did wrong. I took basic way to seriously and I could have made it a lot more fun.

Later,

Brian
 
P
Jezzie said:
Even as girls, the ABU pants can still cause chaffing on your inner thighs or your hips (right where the belt is). The bathingsuit thing is a good idea. Too bad us girls have the one piece or else we could have done that.

About the hawaiian thing - could have been a preppy thing but they're definitely not the only ones.

Aglages- If you'd like to know the consequences of something, or whatever we might have accidentally left out - just ask and we'll gladly tell you. When you're accustomed to something, it's easy to forget all the aspects and questions people might have about it. Sorry to "disappoint" you, but it wasn't intentional. I can speak for myself and other cadets I know on this forum - we wouldn't try to sugar coat or leave out information to the disadvantage of the parents/appointees on this site.

CASH OR CARD??
MAGIC MONEY??
USAFA used to give "magic money" to basics to use. They stopped doing that. That doesn't mean they can't start it up again, but they didn't have it for us. Better to bring $$$ than assume the "magic money" will be there and risk it not being available.
The Cadet Store IS able to take debit cards. If you'd rather bring your debit/credit card, i don't see why that wouldn't work. Just make sure that it'll work out of state, and that it is completely set up and able to be used.


COMPUTERS:
I don't see why you wouldn't be able to bring your own computer, as long as it is compatible with the usafa intrawebs and is given the green light by the technology department. No one in my squad has one but that doesn't mean you can't. *shrug*
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Let me guess, g I Joe USAFA issued bathing suits only during bct too? I didn't know there was any swimming at USAFA during BCT. My BDUs never chaffed so what up with now? Some of the crappy issued gym shorts that had big honkin inseams that seemed to be threaded with nylon rope caused chafing grief though.....hopefully that history now right?
 
What kind of things does a 4* do on weekends when there isn't training? How often do you realistically get to leave base (like borrow an upperclassman's car or something to get into C-Springs)?

Also, this might sound stupid, but what are the restrictions on female going into a male's dorm and vice versa? When I was at SS, we just had to have the door open when we were in a guy's room, but guys couldn't be anywhere near our dorms...
 
Everything depends on your squadron. If you arn't "Restricted" you can use your passes to leave base for the weekend. You can be restricted for a number of things, and it is up to your squad's training staff to make those rules.

For example I am at my sponsor's house right now, chilling here for the weekend. I left after my LMD(Last Military Duty, which was class) and signed out on Basic passes. You get 10 per semester, maybe more depending on performance and other things. My squad's training staff says we are restricted if we fail two knowledge tests in a row, and can divvy out more if we do not perform well as a whole in the squadron.

And to answer your other question, if there is a person of the opposite sex in your room, you have to have the door open while they are there, and cannot be on the same "horizontal service except the floor." So a guy and girl can't sit on the same bed. But we can go to a girls room and vice versa.
 
Based on the whole underwear discussion, it sounds like a new cadet's luggage must be searched for "contraband" when they arrive for BCT?!? If a cadet were to arrive wearing a few pair of boxers/compression shorts that they could then use during BCT, would that be noticed too? Interesting that it sounds like a bathing suit is OK to bring, but underwear is not. Just like Alice said, this gets "curiouser and curiouser"! But my son still hopes to go!
 
DK6732 said:
Everything depends on your squadron. If you arn't "Restricted" you can use your passes to leave base for the weekend. You can be restricted for a number of things, and it is up to your squad's training staff to make those rules.

For example I am at my sponsor's house right now, chilling here for the weekend. I left after my LMD(Last Military Duty, which was class) and signed out on Basic passes. You get 10 per semester, maybe more depending on performance and other things. My squad's training staff says we are restricted if we fail two knowledge tests in a row, and can divvy out more if we do not perform well as a whole in the squadron.
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Just wait until you get the privilage of sitting CQ on a Friday/Saturday night. What a responsibility!

USAF52 said:
Based on the whole underwear discussion, it sounds like a new cadet's luggage must be searched for "contraband" when they arrive for BCT?!? If a cadet were to arrive wearing a few pair of boxers/compression shorts that they could then use during BCT, would that be noticed too? Interesting that it sounds like a bathing suit is OK to bring, but underwear is not. Just like Alice said, this gets "curiouser and curiouser"! But my son still hopes to go!
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The swim suit that has been referenced is one that is issued when you get here, not one that was brought from back home.
 
During I-day, you will change into a uniform and have your civilian belongings locked up in a storage room (usually an unused dorm room).
 
Maybe you could just hide the boxers in a bible. Tighty-whiteys aren't too miserable though. Feeling supported can be comforting :yllol:

And in case the bible thing was over any heads, I've heard of basics bringing a bible with a lock or tie around it and pictures of friends and girlfriends along with some notes from them hiding in the pages. Because a bible wouldn't be taken away as contraband. Do people do that?

And don't actually hide boxers in a bible... Just wear the uniform clothes
 
RyWalk said:
Maybe you could just hide the boxers in a bible. Tighty-whiteys aren't too miserable though. Feeling supported can be comforting :yllol:

And in case the bible thing was over any heads, I've heard of basics bringing a bible with a lock or tie around it and pictures of friends and girlfriends along with some notes from them hiding in the pages. Because a bible wouldn't be taken away as contraband. Do people do that?

And don't actually hide boxers in a bible... Just wear the uniform clothes
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I'm sure a hollowed out bible would accomplish that 10x better, but hiding contraband in a BIBLE seems like a bad idea :shake:.
 
Yes, I hid pictures in my Bible and a lot of my squad mates did as well.

Later,

Brian
 
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