- Joined
- Jun 3, 2009
- Messages
- 50
So I've been getting a lot of PMs from girls with questions about BCT. I'm an upcoming third classman from 2012. I definitely know that when it comes to preparing girls for BCT, USAFA leaves a lot out. So I thought I'd go through and give some of my advice that I learned last summer.
1. What kind of underwear do I need to bring? Yes, boys are issued their underwear, but girls are not. I know that the packing list says something like 8-12 pairs of white underwear. As for the type, it can be any kind you like. The most important thing is for you to be comfortable. So I suggest that if there's a type that you've been wearing for years, bring that. Second, bring more than that! My flight only did laundry about 3 times during basic, so it was nice to have a little bit more than necessary. If you can't find that many white pairs, bring what you can find. I wouldn't suggest say, neon pink, but generally, any neutral color or gray/black etc is ok. Most of your cadre are men, and they're not that concerned with your underwear. Also, bring sports bras. Your fancy Victoria's Secret stuff has no place in BCT!
2. Hair? Make sure you figure out what you're going to do with your hair ahead of time. If you have long hair and are planning on cutting it short but haven't yet, DON'T! It's not a good idea to cut your hair right before basic, because then you're not used to putting it up, it may be at an awkward length, etc. Long hair is actually easier to put up than it is trying to keep short hair at the right length/out of your face. Make sure you can put your hair up in around 2 minutes. If you use elastic bands/bobby pins/hairspray or gel, bring it with you. And bring enough for the entire 6 weeks. The cadet store is very limited on what they have. What worked well for me, is I french braided my hair at night when it was wet, and hairsprayed the heck out of it. That way all I had to do in the morning was throw a uniform on. You WILL NOT have time to put your hair up in the morning. If you have questions about hair regulations, shoot me a PM.
Squeamish men, refrain from reading below
3. I can't stress this enough- bring your own feminine products. Again, the cadet store is limited, and the most important thing is your comfort! Bring enough to last you- basic has been known to screw up your cycle, so be prepared. Bring what you're used to. Basic is definitely not the time to try something new.
4. Keeping up with the men. This may or may not be a worry for some people. It's a relative fact that generally, the females will be the ones that tend to fall behind. Don't be that girl! Make sure you're physically preparing yourself now. However, if you find yourself struggling, ask for help. Don't just sit there breaking, because that hurts the flight as a whole. The big emphasis of BCT is teamwork. Help each other, and let others help you when you need it.
For now, that's all I can think of. Anymore questions, and just shoot me a PM. Good luck girls
1. What kind of underwear do I need to bring? Yes, boys are issued their underwear, but girls are not. I know that the packing list says something like 8-12 pairs of white underwear. As for the type, it can be any kind you like. The most important thing is for you to be comfortable. So I suggest that if there's a type that you've been wearing for years, bring that. Second, bring more than that! My flight only did laundry about 3 times during basic, so it was nice to have a little bit more than necessary. If you can't find that many white pairs, bring what you can find. I wouldn't suggest say, neon pink, but generally, any neutral color or gray/black etc is ok. Most of your cadre are men, and they're not that concerned with your underwear. Also, bring sports bras. Your fancy Victoria's Secret stuff has no place in BCT!
2. Hair? Make sure you figure out what you're going to do with your hair ahead of time. If you have long hair and are planning on cutting it short but haven't yet, DON'T! It's not a good idea to cut your hair right before basic, because then you're not used to putting it up, it may be at an awkward length, etc. Long hair is actually easier to put up than it is trying to keep short hair at the right length/out of your face. Make sure you can put your hair up in around 2 minutes. If you use elastic bands/bobby pins/hairspray or gel, bring it with you. And bring enough for the entire 6 weeks. The cadet store is very limited on what they have. What worked well for me, is I french braided my hair at night when it was wet, and hairsprayed the heck out of it. That way all I had to do in the morning was throw a uniform on. You WILL NOT have time to put your hair up in the morning. If you have questions about hair regulations, shoot me a PM.
Squeamish men, refrain from reading below
3. I can't stress this enough- bring your own feminine products. Again, the cadet store is limited, and the most important thing is your comfort! Bring enough to last you- basic has been known to screw up your cycle, so be prepared. Bring what you're used to. Basic is definitely not the time to try something new.
4. Keeping up with the men. This may or may not be a worry for some people. It's a relative fact that generally, the females will be the ones that tend to fall behind. Don't be that girl! Make sure you're physically preparing yourself now. However, if you find yourself struggling, ask for help. Don't just sit there breaking, because that hurts the flight as a whole. The big emphasis of BCT is teamwork. Help each other, and let others help you when you need it.
For now, that's all I can think of. Anymore questions, and just shoot me a PM. Good luck girls
