gpoteet
USMA/USAFA/USMMA appointee, USNA CPR, AROTC 4yr NS
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2024
- Messages
- 20
Do you have any recommendations on a specific pair of gloves or multi-tool? I know everyone says buy a leather man, but which one?Current plebe here.
This is what I brought to R-Day. I did not feel like I was missing anything important. At the very end of this list you will find some stuff that would have been nice to have, but not what I considered to be a “must have.”
What would have been nice:
- DD Form 93
- Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance Election and Certificate
- Completed cadet finance papers
- Wallet
- Photo ID
- $100 cash and debit card
- Glasses and cases (if you wear any)
- Watch (A cheap Casio watch is perfect, like the F-91W)
- Phone
- Phone charger w/ cable
- Portable charger and cable
- 50-60L personal bag. Our issued bags (the green “US” bags, which are called flight bags, are about 60L, but they will have issued items, so you will NOT be able to utilize the full 60L for the stuff you bought. Though you technically only have 60 seconds to transfer your stuff from your personal bag, if you don’t finish, you may get additional time if your cadre are good people on the inside. Cadre are still people and were in your shoes just two years ago).
- Boots (Garmont T8 NFS)
- Running shoes
- Low quarters (matte black leather oxford-style shoes without cap toe)
- Gallon zip-loc bags (to pack stuff like socks and underwear for easy transfer into the flight bag. Pack extra zip-loc bags because they are occasionally useful during CBT).
- Black socks (can be used as both boot socks and dress socks)
- Purchased 9
- I was issued plenty of green boot socks and black dress socks, but not many white PT socks that actually fit me. Fit is important because if you can’t keep them motivated (pulled as far up your leg as possible), you will get yelled at.
- Black or gray underwear
- Nobody checks, so if some other color is cheaper, buy that.
- Highly recommend packing at the VERY LEAST 12 pairs but preferably 18 pairs because you are NOT guaranteed to get any laundry done AND even if you do, it may get lost.
- Hanes moisture-wicking underwear are great and cheap on Amazon
- Deodorant
- I recommend not getting gel deodorant because you will bring some when you're out in the field, which will stay in your rucksack. It could get very hot, so the gel may very well melt and / or explode.
- Soap (3) and soap box
- Razors
- I recommend getting a common gillette razor with handle and replaceable razors. Space efficient, and if you run out, you can probably buy more razors at the Cadet / Academy store for your handle.
- Moisturizing cream
- Face wash
- Toothbrush and case
- Do NOT forget a case.
- Tooth paste (2)
- Chapstick
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Sunscreen (some may be issued to you)
- Bug repellent cream (some may be issued, but if you want to buy some, buy cream)
- Foot powder (some may be issued to you)
- Band-aids (and some kind of blister relief pads or molskin, if you are susceptible to them)
- Baby wipes (2 packs of 100. The costco / kirkland ones are the best because they are super space efficient).
- Multi-tool (must buy)
- Lighter (not the most useful item, but nice to have when you actually need it. Others in your platoon will have one though).
- Shoe shining kit (I would recommend so that you aren’t forced to use a battle buddy’s kit)
- Headlamp (extremely optional b/c we were issued them last June)
- Tape (3 packs of 2 black flat rolls. Look for flat rolls of tape on amazon. This stuff is not only amazing, but actually extremely useful. You will be in the field and eventually, you or someone else will need tape. These can easily fit in your ACU pockets or in your FLC grenade pouches. Absolute must buy).
- Rite in the rain hand-sized book and pen
- I would highly recommend because it will rain eventually and you will most certainly get wet.
- Pencils (2) and pens (2) (You will get some pens anyway. It’s nice to have little things from home, though).
- Envelopes and stamps (20 of each. You will be issued some but if you get a lot of letters, you may run out).
Tips for CBT:
- US Army face paint kit
- Black, green, brown, and dark gray are the colors that I remember being allowed to use.
- A mirror to apply the paint
- Some kind of long-lasting body spray. Technically, you are not allowed things that spray in order to apply, but nobody actually checks for that and some cheap cologne/body spray is sold at the C store, which you may buy. It just sucks to stink almost all the time.
- BLACK gloves for shooting and field stuff. The ones we are issued suck because they’re all leather and clunky, but they’re really not THAT bad.
- Photos of family and friends. CBT is easy, just do as you're told. The real hard part is being away from home and isolated from the rest of the world, especially if CBT will be your first time away from home. You have a lot of people counting on you.
- Addresses of family and friends. Preferably, you will give them your P.O Box and they will write letters, but the first week or so may feel very isolating and dehumanizing. You may or may not have free time during the first half of CBT (up to your platoon’s leadership), but eventually you will be in your room doing nothing. Write and send out letters for fun.
- Phone numbers of family and friends. You might be able to make a short phone call a few times during CBT. Not that I didn’t want to call my mom (because I did, and she was mortified when they left me at Ike Hall, according to my family), but her phone number was the only one I could remember. You don’t want to have the opportunity to call a loved one to be taken away because you forgot to write down phone numbers.
- Small things from home that make you happy.
- I saw a lot of people asking about running in general. You will run a lot, but they will not be at very fast paces, however, they will suck if you did not run at all before CBT. As a (humbly) very good runner throughout high school, I recommend building up to being able to run 5 miles at a 9:00 minute pace. You will not run this far during the beast (2-3 miles max run, which may depend on your ability group), but you will ruck distances longer than this. You need to build the mental grit of doing nothing but moving for extended periods of time, as well as cardio. Increase mileage by 10% each week. Run at least 3 times a week and stay consistent. Running everyday is not very useful and could lead to injury. Rucking is also not good for your body, so don’t ruck before CBT. This is contradictory to what many people say here, but if you want to be good at rucking, buy good boots, boot socks, be tall/have long legs, have a strong back, don’t injure your back (especially lower back), and have strong hips (if you put on the hip strap of your ruck and you have weak hips, you will not have a fun time).
- Go to the gym and get big. Running is important, but being strong is so much more valuable. You don’t wanna be THAT guy who can’t last during smoke sessions, and / or can’t drag / carry a battle buddy. West Point has a very serious physical fitness culture.
- Have fun and don’t take things too seriously. As mentioned earlier, CBT is easy. Just do what you’re told. Obviously, don’t be a huge square, but don’t be the reason why your platoon or company gets smoked. Read the room. Know when you can loosen up and when to lock it up. You will be with your platoon of new cadets (future plebes) for the next 4 years, and platoon leadership for the next year (PL is a firstie) or two (squad leaders and PSG are cows); don’t make enemies. Make friends. CBT will be your easiest and least stressful time at West Point.
- Have fun before you leave. CBT is the end of your childhood. You haven't yet committed to minimum of 5 years of service, but you may have taken the spot of another kid who has been working towards getting into West Point and eventually commission. I don't necessarily blame those who leave West Point before Affirmation, because you really don't know what it's like here until you're done with your first semester. Cadet Candidate visits are simply not enough to capture what life is actually like here, so really know what you're getting yourself into.
