Plebe Summer Items

Here are two photos I was able to find from last year as my DS was preparing for Plebe Summer and we were wondering what to bring/not bring. The first picture is of the mass staging of supplies. The second is representative of toiletries/notebooks/stationary...etc...issued to each plebe (second picture). The picture may not be an exhaustive representation of all that is issued, but as you can see, this in not USNAs first Plebe Summer. Outfitting 1,200 new Plebes is a massive undertaking to say the least and DS did not need much else. My advice, would be to bring as little as is necessary. Iday supplies staging area.jpg Iday hygiene issued items.jpg Iday hygiene issued items.jpg
 
What will and will not be confiscated on I-Day is somewhat dependent on your company. Some detailers will allow things that others won't. Personally, the only thing I brought on I-Day was paperwork, a pair of running shoes, 5 pairs of compression shorts, a little bit of cash, and my phone and charger in a bag. The detailers took my phone and gave it to me every 2nd Sunday afternoon while I got the chance to call home. You will need the cash for your one trip to the mid store, the baseball game, and to buy your shooting qualification ribbons after going to the shooting range.
As far as snacks go, I did not bring any on I-Day. But, I did have a bunch of snacks mailed to me early on in Plebe Summer. The detailers will search every package you receive for contraband. Some things that were commonly confiscated from packages were caffeine supplements, cough drops, and recreational reading material. Some company's confiscated unhealthy snacks such as candy but mine never did.


I almost neglected to mention that the most important thing to have on I-Day is humility and desire to do your best at every task you are put through. The fifth law of the Navy states, "On the strength on one length in the cable dependeth the might of the chain." Do not let your self be the weak link.
 
@Temple17, this looks like it could've been written by my DD. Same thing for her, almost to the T -- from what she brought to her experiences to the lessons about attitude. Plebe summer truly is a shared experience, apparently in more ways than one.
 
The best thing I saw on I-Day was when all the Detailers were moving all of the backpacks off trucks onto the deck to the rear of Bancroft Hall, to take to Company areas. One package stood out amongst all the backpacks (some were huge - filled with stuff they probably didn't need). It was a ZipLoc bag with a phone and charger, with a name hand-written with a sharpie on the outside. That was it. Less is more, people.

The Detailers had a fire bucket brigade line set up to move all these bags, and they all paused to read the name on that little quart-sized plastic bag. That Plebe nailed it.
 
@Temple17 @MidCakePa @THParent

EXACTLY it. Don’t be the Plebe that brings a suitcase. That the detailer take until summer is over. DS packed the same as Temple. In a daypack. That’s it.

You will even be issued a suitcase so don’t need that either.

I was amazed at the bags people brought. I knew they weren’t part of the forums!

The only thing I would do different is have the phone in a shockproof case in the baggie in the daypack, or maybe wrap in bubble wrap? Its tossed around. DS’s screen got cracked.

One of my big memories of IDay, was DS’s toothbrush, comb, shave kit, toiletries, and pile of clothes he slept in all left in the bathroom. Like he was literally walking away from his old life....

....which actually he was.
 
one other tidbit - if you have an early report time (they start around 0600), you might want to pick up something the night before for plebe-to-be for breakfast. if you are in a hotel, there will be nothing available at 0430-0500 and it will feel like a very long time before they eat again.

we stopped at Subway the night before and took a small turkey sub back to the hotel.

i remember waking up at around 4am and DS was sitting on the balcony of the hotel, in the dark, eating his breakfast. he later said it was a very good call.
 
One of my big memories of IDay, was DS’s toothbrush, comb, shave kit, toiletries, and pile of clothes he slept in all left in the bathroom. Like he was literally walking away from his old life....

....which actually he was.

I think this hits a lot of parents on I Day. It took me till PPW to actually formulate the thought that she didn't live at home anymore.
 
The best thing I saw on I-Day was when all the Detailers were moving all of the backpacks off trucks onto the deck to the rear of Bancroft Hall, to take to Company areas. One package stood out amongst all the backpacks (some were huge - filled with stuff they probably didn't need). It was a ZipLoc bag with a phone and charger, with a name hand-written with a sharpie on the outside. That was it. Less is more, people.

The Detailers had a fire bucket brigade line set up to move all these bags, and they all paused to read the name on that little quart-sized plastic bag. That Plebe nailed it.

my son checked in with the phone, charger and the papers that he had to bring with him. BAD IDEA! he was given a ziploc bag and he had to fit all the clothes he had on him in that bag (hoodie, shirt, shorts). so BRING an EMPTY BAG! LOL
 
Is it ok to bring a book to read?

You will be given reading material during PS, and you will be so mentally and physically busy/exhausted the rest of the time, your time will be accounted for.

Presumably you were given a list of things to bring. If it’s not on there, don’t bring it, though you might see practical suggestions here on SAF for things like compression shorts. Family can always mail you things or bring it on PPW, once you get a feel for your new life and what makes sense. Ac year is different than PS.

You will also have limited storage room, and you’ll have to manage the avalanche of issued uniforms, gear, other stuff and ac year books and supplies in a 3 or 4 person room.

This is not to say you won’t have room for personal items or time for personal activities, but PS is not the time to worry about that.
 
one other tidbit - if you have an early report time (they start around 0600), you might want to pick up something the night before for plebe-to-be for breakfast. if you are in a hotel, there will be nothing available at 0430-0500 and it will feel like a very long time before they eat again.

we stopped at Subway the night before and took a small turkey sub back to the hotel.

i remember waking up at around 4am and DS was sitting on the balcony of the hotel, in the dark, eating his breakfast. he later said it was a very good call.
So everyone doesn't have the same report time? My DD is 0615, so not a mass invasion? Can be having a Bloody Mary by 0645?!
 
My DS is 0900. We will have a luxurious breakfast and linger over our coffee and eggs benedict (only kidding - DS will be too nervous to eat).

Do Plebes carry wallets? Assume they can have them? (They have to have their SS card, I believe). DS will also need to take his passport because we are still transitioning to Real ID and his drivers license doesn't qualify.
 
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