R-Day Countdown begins

[Luigi59]

It's almost two whole months away...not THAT close.....

Funny thing is, my husband said to me...."son goes to the academy NEXT MONTH". Whoa. That made it sound so much closer than "son goes to the academy in 7 1/2 weeks". Six of one, half dozen of the other....I'll stick with 7 1/2 weeks. It's what we've all been hoping for, but the reality is a bit much to digest when I really let myself think about it!

Remember to save your shopping money, as the Exchange and the Bookstore are open ALL DAY on R-day for parents to shop for all that CGA merchandise!

Hoping everyone else is enjoying all of the paperwork and tube sock shopping as much as my son is.

Yes, those socks MUST be motivated during swab summer!

 

[shellz]

Remember to save your shopping money, as the Exchange and the Bookstore are open ALL DAY on R-day for parents to shop for all that CGA merchandise!


Yes, those socks MUST be motivated during swab summer!

Son is tall, so finding those suckers was tough. They all looked long until he put them on....! Got 'em though, and I think they will be "motivated" enough.

 

[Stitch626]

LONG Tube Socks

Try JC Penney -- I found these REALLY long tube socks there last summer! My daughter is short (5' 2-1/2" -- she stresses that 1/2!) and she thought they were too long - they went half way up her thighs!!! She ended up taking some shorter ones to the Scholars orientation, but didn't wear them since they were issued socks. I think I'll send her off with the extra long ones this summer though -- she will be REALLY motivated that way (& can lend them out to taller shipmates)

 

[LineInTheSand]

There are VERY true statements about Swab Summer....


1. It's hot.

2. Chase Hall smells, but it's not the building, it's the swabs. Don't share any clothing, it will be wet (sweat + humidity = long drying time). You become oblivious to the smell as a swab, but to everyone else who walks into Chase Hall, it will hit you like a brick wall. It's the same smell every year.



Don't buy TOO much CGA stuff...leave some stuff for your cadet to buy you for your birthday, Christmas, mother's day, father's day, etc.

 

[shellz]

Try JC Penney -- I found these REALLY long tube socks there last summer! My daughter is short (5' 2-1/2" -- she stresses that 1/2!) and she thought they were too long - they went half way up her thighs!!! She ended up taking some shorter ones to the Scholars orientation, but didn't wear them since they were issued socks. I think I'll send her off with the extra long ones this summer though -- she will be REALLY motivated that way (& can lend them out to taller shipmates)

We did see the ones at JCP....but they had a heel, and we weren't sure if that was a no-no. KMart.com had a pack of 10 true "tube" socks (no heel) for 15.00. Of course, I am guessing that the JCP ones would have been ok. They were better quality too...but more expensive. I figure son will never ever wear them once he doesn't have too, so cheap ones it is!

Thanks for the advice...keep it coming!

 

[shellz]

There are VERY true statements about Swab Summer....


1. It's hot.

2. Chase Hall smells, but it's not the building, it's the swabs. Don't share any clothing, it will be wet (sweat + humidity = long drying time). You become oblivious to the smell as a swab, but to everyone else who walks into Chase Hall, it will hit you like a brick wall. It's the same smell every year.



Don't buy TOO much CGA stuff...leave some stuff for your cadet to buy you for your birthday, Christmas, mother's day, father's day, etc.

I feel sorry for those in charge of the swabs that have to endure the stink....ewww.

So you think the kid will actually have enough dough to buy gifts? lol. I predict he will eat up his earnings. But, good advice and we will try to heed it. Maybe just a hat, a couple of shirts for the little ones and a window decal for the car?

Have a great day!

 

[mnolan]

socks and things

As to socks and other underthings......

You might consider buying extras and/or writing down what you did buy and where....

Then halfway through swab summer, send a care package with new, clean, socks and underwear! It will be appreciated.

 

[shellz]

As to socks and other underthings......

You might consider buying extras and/or writing down what you did buy and where....

Then halfway through swab summer, send a care package with new, clean, socks and underwear! It will be appreciated.

We bought a few extra pairs of socks....10 pair, I think. And the required number of shirts and boxers. Great idea, to send replacements. Will make a note of it!

Keep the advice coming!

 

[trackandfield08]

What LITS said about the smell is so true. I remember at AIM when our cadre said that we smelled, we were all like "okay...sure." And then the last day of AIM our cadre let us take our time showering and we didnt have PT that morning. When we were in formation and had started squaring to go into the Wardroom, I was in between two swabs and the smell is definitely overpowering. You really don't notice it at all when you're the one who smells bad.

When you say "heel" on the tube socks, do you mean a different color heel, like gray? Just want to make sure that I don't buy the wrong items.

 

[LineInTheSand]

As to socks and other underthings......

You might consider buying extras and/or writing down what you did buy and where....

Then halfway through swab summer, send a care package with new, clean, socks and underwear! It will be appreciated.

Excellent idea mnolan!

 

[shellz]

[

When you say "heel" on the tube socks, do you mean a different color heel, like gray? Just want to make sure that I don't buy the wrong items.[/QUOTE]

No, not a different color....but the first pairs we bought had a true heel, like in normal socks. Tube socks are just that....tubes from top to toe....no pocket for your heel. Hope that rather lame explanation helps. BTW, I don't know how much it really matters, but because someone said there was a special way to fold socks during swab summer, we made sure to get true "tube" socks. Maybe a current cadet can fill us all in on the importance (or not) of tube vs. heel-y socks. I am guessing that as long as they are nice and long and white, they will be fine??

 

[bossf51]

Go to the parents web site, then to the photo albums from R-day...you'll see all kinds of socks. Some really high, some lower.

As far as how you fold 'em, I remember my son saying they had to be smiling at you!

 

[LineInTheSand]

Go to the parents web site, then to the photo albums from R-day...you'll see all kinds of socks. Some really high, some lower.

As far as how you fold 'em, I remember my son saying they had to be smiling at you!

Yes, keep those socks smiling, I still do too.

Also, a sock with heels is fine, they don't have to be straight tubes. Basically "no ankle" socks.

But, yep, keep 'em smiling!!!

 

[shellz]

Go to the parents web site, then to the photo albums from R-day...you'll see all kinds of socks. Some really high, some lower.

As far as how you fold 'em, I remember my son saying they had to be smiling at you!

???? My socks just sit there. No smiling.

 

[BR2011]

only the length matters for the socks so buy whatever is comfortable. as for the smiling, the way that you're required to fold socks makes them have a "smile" that you have to make sure is facing up.

 

[LineInTheSand]

I recommend somewhat soft, absorbent socks, because those feet will sweat. Also, once it's time to get black socks, cotton only; nylon will just start to smell bad and will keep your feet wet (which will become a problem, get ready for Athletes Foot).

 

[shellz]

I recommend somewhat soft, absorbent socks, because those feet will sweat. Also, once it's time to get black socks, cotton only; nylon will just start to smell bad and will keep your feet wet (which will become a problem, get ready for Athletes Foot).

Just to stir the pot a bit....podiatrists and outdoor enthusiasts will caution one to not wear cotton when participating in sports or other activities likely to cause sweating. A synthetic sock will wick the moisture away from the skin and keep feet dryer than cotton...so they say, anyway. We learned this when our boys were younger and were packing up for a week long backpacking trip. The guide laughed at all the cotton tshirts and shorts we had packed. He promptly emptied the pack of all but a couple pairs of boxers, a pair of nylon convertible pants, a nylon shirt, some light outerwear and a hat. They survived, and even came home with some un-worn clothes.

I personally like cotton, but don't find my feet sweating too often. I guess, one way or the other, they will be stinky and sweaty from head to toe.

 

[LineInTheSand]

Just to stir the pot a bit....podiatrists and outdoor enthusiasts will caution one to not wear cotton when participating in sports or other activities likely to cause sweating. A synthetic sock will wick the moisture away from the skin and keep feet dryer than cotton...so they say, anyway. We learned this when our boys were younger and were packing up for a week long backpacking trip. The guide laughed at all the cotton tshirts and shorts we had packed. He promptly emptied the pack of all but a couple pairs of boxers, a pair of nylon convertible pants, a nylon shirt, some light outerwear and a hat. They survived, and even came home with some un-worn clothes.

I personally like cotton, but don't find my feet sweating too often. I guess, one way or the other, they will be stinky and sweaty from head to toe.

When I play soccer, run and play hockey, I wear socks that wick away sweat. The problem you'll run into, your cadet will be in "leathers" of even worse, "Frams" and that sweat will just collect in those shoes, for an entire day of class and activities. That's ONLY for the black socks cadets wear once they're in uniform.

I love my sweat wicking socks for skating, I promise you that!

 

[shellz]

When I play soccer, run and play hockey, I wear socks that wick away sweat. The problem you'll run into, your cadet will be in "leathers" of even worse, "Frams" and that sweat will just collect in those shoes, for an entire day of class and activities. That's ONLY for the black socks cadets wear once they're in uniform.

I love my sweat wicking socks for skating, I promise you that!

Good info! That makes sense. But, for swab summer they will wear the running shoes they bring with them, right? Or, do they issue them boots or leathers or "frams"....so much to learn.

 

[LineInTheSand]

They will be issued most of that. Frams are kind of "no nos" until you get older (you don't shine them, they are plastic shiny shoes....windex works). I don't know about the running shoes question. That may have changed since I was a swab and a cadre.