Boots and socks
The quote below came around this morning on prospective-net, the listserv for 2014 parents. For you others, this is why we are obsessing about books and socks.
A member asked about blister care. Candidates can bring along some band-aids to assist with blisters, but the cadre will be constantly checking feet during Beast (or should be - keep in mind, the cadre are learning right along with the New Cadets). Every summer we hear about a New Cadet who tried to hide blister problems and ended up on profile unable to train with their classmates or worse, with feet so bad they were sent home to return the following summer with the next class. The best blister care can occur right now: candidates should be conditioning their feet to the combat boot and low quarters. The purpose of the authorization to purchase boots/low quarters prior to R Day, is not to break in the boots/shoes, but to CONDITION the feet. For young people who live in athlete shoes and flip-flops, a sudden change to very long days standing/walking/running can result in blisters, foot, ankle, knee pain, etc. Even if a candidate is unable to find the issue low quarter, spending time in a "dress shoe" this spring will help condition the feet to that type of shoe (spending time meaning walking for significant periods of time). A candidate should never run in the combat boot. They will run in athletic shoes. It is recommended candidates report with a good quality running shoe with low mileage on the shoe. If our daughters could have done one thing differently during the weeks leading up to their Beast summers, it would have been to spend more time in the low quarters to condition their feet to that style shoe....oh, and run more (in athletic shoes). ;-)
The quote below came around this morning on prospective-net, the listserv for 2014 parents. For you others, this is why we are obsessing about books and socks.
A member asked about blister care. Candidates can bring along some band-aids to assist with blisters, but the cadre will be constantly checking feet during Beast (or should be - keep in mind, the cadre are learning right along with the New Cadets). Every summer we hear about a New Cadet who tried to hide blister problems and ended up on profile unable to train with their classmates or worse, with feet so bad they were sent home to return the following summer with the next class. The best blister care can occur right now: candidates should be conditioning their feet to the combat boot and low quarters. The purpose of the authorization to purchase boots/low quarters prior to R Day, is not to break in the boots/shoes, but to CONDITION the feet. For young people who live in athlete shoes and flip-flops, a sudden change to very long days standing/walking/running can result in blisters, foot, ankle, knee pain, etc. Even if a candidate is unable to find the issue low quarter, spending time in a "dress shoe" this spring will help condition the feet to that type of shoe (spending time meaning walking for significant periods of time). A candidate should never run in the combat boot. They will run in athletic shoes. It is recommended candidates report with a good quality running shoe with low mileage on the shoe. If our daughters could have done one thing differently during the weeks leading up to their Beast summers, it would have been to spend more time in the low quarters to condition their feet to that style shoe....oh, and run more (in athletic shoes). ;-)