Advice on mail packages/overall packing for beast

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Usmaappoint2027

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Joined
Mar 26, 2023
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Hey everyone, my parents and I are starting to plan my R-Day bag, and are getting some mixed information on mailing things up. A lot of current plebes and people in general are telling me to pack extremely light with maybe some underwear and socks in addition to the mandatory gear, and have my parents mail me anything else I could want (of course no food). My mom is telling me that many parents on the facebook groups are insistent that you can't mail things during Beast and to plan to carry in everything I plan on using. I am by no means planning to pack heavy, but currently planning to take a multitool, socks, underwear, ziplocs, and some hygiene products in addition to mandatory gear, just wondering if I should plan to mail that stuff as opposed to taking it in myself. Any input from parents/cadets who have been through the process is greatly appreciated.
 
Pack what is on the packing list. All of it. Do not pack light. Bring what is required. (Stick all of your stuff in big Ziplock baggies inside of your civilian duffelbag for easy transfer to your 'real' Army bag...you will thank me.....) You can receive things during Beast but mostly you will want letters. Bring the packing list. You don't need to bring giant hygiene stuff (like the bottle to last you a year) because you will have the chance to buy more during Beasts although it may not be what you love & you don't know when you will get to the C-store but you will get to the C-store. Do not count on your parents mailing you things. BRING THE PACKING LIST. Plan on carrying everything on the packing list. Don't want to carry the optional small fan--your parents can mail that to you. Underwear and socks? Carry them. Razors & multitool, carry it!
 
Usmaappoint2027 said:
Hey everyone, my parents and I are starting to plan my R-Day bag, and are getting some mixed information on mailing things up. A lot of current plebes and people in general are telling me to pack extremely light with maybe some underwear and socks in addition to the mandatory gear, and have my parents mail me anything else I could want (of course no food). My mom is telling me that many parents on the facebook groups are insistent that you can't mail things during Beast and to plan to carry in everything I plan on using. I am by no means planning to pack heavy, but currently planning to take a multitool, socks, underwear, ziplocs, and some hygiene products in addition to mandatory gear, just wondering if I should plan to mail that stuff as opposed to taking it in myself. Any input from parents/cadets who have been through the process is greatly appreciated.
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Look for the current version of the doc below. Typically much does not change from year to year.

Yes, of course you will get mail. The deluge may create a bit of a choke point. I’ll leave it to our USMA experts to comment in detail.


 
Bring what's on the packing list. I brought more socks and underwear than most others and knew I made the right decision when they were doing sink laundry after week 1 while I still had a week's clean supply. It's only an inconvenience on R-Day when you'll be hauling it around all day until you get to your barracks. After that, it'll be in your trunk and it'll never be an issue again. The C-Store covers most necessities but I'd say don't rely on it because it's platoon dependent on when you go. I didn't go until week 2 which wasn't that bad for me because I had good moleskin, enough toothpaste/shaving cream to last, extra razors etc... Some people didn't but we shared. Conversely, my platoon was really good with taking us to the mail room almost every day where we'd get our highly anticipated and ever-so-appreciated letters and packages. Some platoons weren't though. Bring extra of what you'll need and don't plan on relying on the C-Store or having things mailed to you. You'll go to both just don't rely on it. I recommend buying a head net mesh-it'll save you from getting chewed up by bugs while sleeping in the field. Get a simple G-Shock and multitool, break in your boots/ low quarters, and come with the right attitude and you'll be good to go.
 
As a class of 2026er, I totally second bringing the head net mesh and moleskin that Hale1776 mentioned above! My Beast roommate ran out of moleskin during the first week, so I ended up sharing mine with them until we went to the C store. On R-day, I had thought I overpacked with the amount of band-aids, moleskin, and duct tape that I brought, but it turned out to be incredibly useful. The bug net also came in handy since the mosquitos were pretty bad when we were in the field. Most people slept with their ACU blouses covering their faces at night since they didn't have the bug nets. Make sure to bring bug spray!
 
Hale1776 said:
Bring what's on the packing list. I brought more socks and underwear than most others and knew I made the right decision when they were doing sink laundry after week 1 while I still had a week's clean supply. It's only an inconvenience on R-Day when you'll be hauling it around all day until you get to your barracks. After that, it'll be in your trunk and it'll never be an issue again. The C-Store covers most necessities but I'd say don't rely on it because it's platoon dependent on when you go. I didn't go until week 2 which wasn't that bad for me because I had good moleskin, enough toothpaste/shaving cream to last, extra razors etc... Some people didn't but we shared. Conversely, my platoon was really good with taking us to the mail room almost every day where we'd get our highly anticipated and ever-so-appreciated letters and packages. Some platoons weren't though. Bring extra of what you'll need and don't plan on relying on the C-Store or having things mailed to you. You'll go to both just don't rely on it. I recommend buying a head net mesh-it'll save you from getting chewed up by bugs while sleeping in the field. Get a simple G-Shock and multitool, break in your boots/ low quarters, and come with the right attitude and you'll be good to go.
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Recommendation on the “good moleskin” you mentioned?
 
I might be mistaken, but I thought new cadets could only receive mail but not "packages" during Beast. Your parents should not be mailing packing list items for you to retrieve during Beast. Some leadership teams are good about getting their new cadets to the mail room; others not so much. Pack what is on the packing list for your R-Day bag. Do not needlessly overpack.
 
USMAZoo98 said:
I might be mistaken, but I thought new cadets could only receive mail but not "packages" during Beast. Your parents should not be mailing packing list items for you to retrieve during Beast. Some leadership teams are good about getting their new cadets to the mail room; others not so much. Pack what is on the packing list for your R-Day bag. Do not needlessly overpack.
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Yep, anything more than an envelope has to wait for RE-Orgy Week.
 
DrMom said:
Pack what is on the packing list. All of it. Do not pack light. Bring what is required. (Stick all of your stuff in big Ziplock baggies inside of your civilian duffelbag for easy transfer to your 'real' Army bag...you will thank me.....) You can receive things during Beast but mostly you will want letters. Bring the packing list. You don't need to bring giant hygiene stuff (like the bottle to last you a year) because you will have the chance to buy more during Beasts although it may not be what you love & you don't know when you will get to the C-store but you will get to the C-store. Do not count on your parents mailing you things. BRING THE PACKING LIST. Plan on carrying everything on the packing list. Don't want to carry the optional small fan--your parents can mail that to you. Underwear and socks? Carry them. Razors & multitool, carry it!
Click to expand...
Speaking of optional fan- I’m assuming that would need to be battery operated??
 
Hale1776 said:
Bring what's on the packing list. I brought more socks and underwear than most others and knew I made the right decision when they were doing sink laundry after week 1 while I still had a week's clean supply. It's only an inconvenience on R-Day when you'll be hauling it around all day until you get to your barracks. After that, it'll be in your trunk and it'll never be an issue again. The C-Store covers most necessities but I'd say don't rely on it because it's platoon dependent on when you go. I didn't go until week 2 which wasn't that bad for me because I had good moleskin, enough toothpaste/shaving cream to last, extra razors etc... Some people didn't but we shared. Conversely, my platoon was really good with taking us to the mail room almost every day where we'd get our highly anticipated and ever-so-appreciated letters and packages. Some platoons weren't though. Bring extra of what you'll need and don't plan on relying on the C-Store or having things mailed to you. You'll go to both just don't rely on it. I recommend buying a head net mesh-it'll save you from getting chewed up by bugs while sleeping in the field. Get a simple G-Shock and multitool, break in your boots/ low quarters, and come with the right attitude and you'll be good to go.
Click to expand...
How about laundry soap, and towel do they need to bring on R-Day?
 
There is a packing list @lion2...it is best to stick to the packing list.
 
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