AROTC boots

Foxtrot

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Jan 29, 2017
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My son received a 3 year AROTC scholarship and will be leaving for school next month and starting ROTC. Should he purchase his own boots or go with the issued pair? They will wear sneakers for PT, but wear their boots for the one day they ruck every week. His ROO told him what type of boots they wear, so he knows what type to get.

My questions are: A. Are purchased boots needed/recommended or are issued boots fine? B. If we are to purchase boots, what brand/model is recommended? I am retired military and can take him to a local post to buy them.
 
My DS purchased the Nike. Less durable but much more comfortable. Not cheap though. Some cadets like the Oakley brand too.

He did not buy the boots until his MS-II year. The issued boots are fine if they are comfortable, but many cadets preferred to buy their own. Many cadets in my son's battalion just kept the issued boots knowing that eventually the color regs will change. (Desert sand to coyote brown).

Here are some prior threads on this topic with more good info:
https://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/rotc-uniform-requirements.26512/
https://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/first-boots-coyote-brown.49038/
https://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/boots-that-work-dont-work.22000/


Be sure you refer to Regulation AR 670-1 to make sure the model is listed and therefore compliant.
Here is a link to AR 670-1
http://www.apd.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/ARN3644_AR670-1_Web_FINAL.pdf
 
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If you are going to get boots then get them asap and break them in. He does not want to be breaking in new boots the first month of ROTC. My advise it to get an approved boot as DS said the issued ones were not super comfortable.
 
Thanks for the info.

Are AAFES Military Clothing stores likely to have several different types of boots available or do they need to be ordered online? I'd prefer he try them on before buying. Ft. Sheridan is the only Army post within a reasonable distance and I'm not sure what they'll have since it is now only a Reserve base. Great Lakes is also close, but I don't know if the Army and Marines use the same boots.

Everyone wore the same utility uniform when I retired-BDU's, so this stuff is all new to me.
 
Are AAFES Military Clothing stores likely to have several different types of boots available or do they need to be ordered online?

I would call the store and ask them if all their boots are AR-670-1 compliant and how many brands they sell.

My DS ordered his Nike's online and had no problems. If they didn't fit, they were refundable.

P.S. Congratulations to your DS on the 3 year AROTC scholarship! That is a big deal! :D
 
My DS got Nike. He loves them. The ones issued by battalion were heavy and gave him bad blisters. They also fell apart. Make sure you get the right color.
 
My son used the issued boots the first couple of months as a freshman. He asked around and got opinions from upperclassmen. I think he even tried some on. Then he ordered a pair of Rocky S2V's online.
 
My DS got Nike. He loves them. The ones issued by battalion were heavy and gave him bad blisters. They also fell apart. Make sure you get the right color.
Don't assume the Nike boots wont give him blisters. My son, who is a 2020 at West Point, bought the Nike boots because he thought they would be great for Air Assault. He loved the boots, but the last day of AA is a 12 mile ruck, and he got blisters on both feet so bad they bled through the boots. We notice the blood when we saw him during the AA graduation. The boots and socks were a bloody mess. He finished the ruck with a good time still; but it had to be miserable.
 
Don't assume the Nike boots wont give him blisters. My son, who is a 2020 at West Point, bought the Nike boots because he thought they would be great for Air Assault. He loved the boots, but the last day of AA is a 12 mile ruck, and he got blisters on both feet so bad they bled through the boots. We notice the blood when we saw him during the AA graduation. The boots and socks were a bloody mess. He finished the ruck with a good time still; but it had to be miserable.

Which brings up the subject of socks. Cheap socks in good boots can still mess you up. Better off to spring for a few pair of high quality socks like Darn Toughs or Fits Socks, or other merino wool blends. Expensive, to be sure, but they are worth it.

.
 
Which brings up the subject of socks. Cheap socks in good boots can still mess you up. Better off to spring for a few pair of high quality socks like Darn Toughs or Fits Socks, or other merino wool blends. Expensive, to be sure, but they are worth it.

.
I can't say for sure what he was wearing, but typically he has Fox River, and he said he was wearing"good" socks. He has been on a lot of rucks, and certainly knows to be in good socks. He didn't complain about the boots, but he did get the blisters. I think those boots are very comfortable right out of the box, and don't feel like boots. He said he wanted to go hard and fast the first several miles, as it was a timed ruck and he wanted to be able to coast the second half. I'm just saying, don't assume that the Nike boots are the perfect soldier footwear.
 
I think the myth of issued boots are bad is overrated and based mainly out of the more inflexible black leather boot era.

I say this as someone who needed significant moleskin 20 years ago after my first ruck. The issue for myself and most new cadets isn't boots it is feet accustomed to athletic shoes. The issue boots are not bad and with almost 17 years in combat units I have normally gone for whatever sock is on the rack at MCSS.
 
I know for my daughter's school, those that properly followed instructions and broke the issued boots in (wear them in the shower and wear them around wet I think is what she said she was told) did fine in them. My daughter did not do that, and therefore she was a blistered mess first ruck march. We have a family friend that works for Danner and got her a pair of high end boots complimentary, and she didn't need to break those in at all. She did say however that being on campus and seeing what the older cadets had would of helped if she had not had the Danner hook up. They also had coupons for the cadets too on some of the boot brands.
 
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