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nyMO17

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Nov 28, 2016
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Hey everyone. This time last year I was in your shoes worried about Beast and not knowing what to expect. I checked this forum religiously wanting to find out everything I could and making sure I knew as much as possible before starting. Obviously everyone's experience is different but a lot of my worries were swayed after hearing from others who had gone through it. Please ask any of your questions that have yet to be answered (especially my girls out there-we often worry more than we should)
 
Hello.
What are the weather conditions like there during Beast? Thanks.
 
It's hot. They will keep you hydrating and are always very aware of the weather, but it comes with the suck. Depending on where you're from, it can be a big change, or not really not at all. It will rarely go beyond 90 degrees
 
Ok to take the phone and store during Beast or have parents bring it on A Day?
 
What is your advice for 1) to prevent blisters (if that's even possible)? 2) How to survive rucking once you've developed some pretty nasty ones? Moleskin seems to rub off and wrapping didn't help either. Trying to break in Garmonts and getting some pretty nice blisters..........
 
What is your advice for 1) to prevent blisters (if that's even possible)? 2) How to survive rucking once you've developed some pretty nasty ones? Moleskin seems to rub off and wrapping didn't help either. Trying to break in Garmonts and getting some pretty nice blisters..........

Typically the boots require very little breaking in. It sounds like yours do not fit well and are rubbing up and down on your heels. Did you buy them online or were you fitted for them in person at a PX, clothing sales, etc.? My grad wore a completely different size in boots and low quarters than we expected and he would have ended up with the wrong size if we had ordered online without being able to try them on.

The low quarters need more breaking in than the boots.
 
We had to order them online for DD due to no PX within 3hrs of our house had her size. The boots only come in Male sizes and she is a female 8. Male 6 fits snugly but obviously there is some room in the heel area (where blisters occur). She is at a loos and doesn't want this to keep happening during BT.
 
We had to order them online for DD due to no PX within 3hrs of our house had her size. The boots only come in Male sizes and she is a female 8. Male 6 fits snugly but obviously there is some room in the heel area (where blisters occur). She is at a loos and doesn't want this to keep happening during BT.
I would contact Deb Dalton, the parent liaison. I believe for the last several years a female boot has been offered and she can tell you which brands they are if it wasn't readily apparent on her portal. Just my opinion, but I would make the drive to the PX that's 3 hours away to ensure a proper fit and a successful CBT.
 
It's hot. They will keep you hydrating and are always very aware of the weather, but it comes with the suck. Depending on where you're from, it can be a big change, or not really not at all. It will rarely go beyond 90 degrees

Not just hot - very humid given proximity to the coast and the river valley. The mountainous terrain in the Hudson Valley can make its own weather - can be damp and cool overnight and steamy hot the next day. If you are from parts of the country where you don't deal with humidity it can be an unpleasant introduction. Perspiration does not cool you since sweat does not evaporate; very easy to dehydrate. 83 deg and high humidity is extremely uncomfortable; don't need 90-95 deg to suffer. So yes - drink all the water that is available to you.
 
Ok to take the phone and store during Beast or have parents bring it on A Day?
I had my parents send it to me towards the end of the summer, and picked it up at the mail when we were turning in rifles. If you want to get your phone back soon, definitely bring it with you and have it packed away, or do what I did.
 
Ok to take the phone and store during Beast or have parents bring it on A Day?
I would take phone and store it, the week before A day is reorganization week and DD got phone back and was able to contact us. This way if you need something from home, parents can bring it on A day.
 
What is your advice for 1) to prevent blisters (if that's even possible)? 2) How to survive rucking once you've developed some pretty nasty ones? Moleskin seems to rub off and wrapping didn't help either. Trying to break in Garmonts and getting some pretty nice blisters..........
I would agree with Dixieland.
You could also try wearing a second pair of thin socks under fox river socks, this way socks are friction point not your foot. Also make sure boots are tight so foot cannot move. As surviving blisters I am no expert but have read they hurt less when popped. I think blisters could be in the embrace the suck category.
 
What is your advice for 1) to prevent blisters (if that's even possible)? 2) How to survive rucking once you've developed some pretty nasty ones? Moleskin seems to rub off and wrapping didn't help either. Trying to break in Garmonts and getting some pretty nice blisters..........
I would agree with Dixieland.
You could also try wearing a second pair of thin socks under fox river socks, this way socks are friction point not your foot. Also make sure boots are tight so foot cannot move. As surviving blisters I am no expert but have read they hurt less when popped. I think blisters could be in the embrace the suck category.
We had to order them online for DD due to no PX within 3hrs of our house had her size. The boots only come in Male sizes and she is a female 8. Male 6 fits snugly but obviously there is some room in the heel area (where blisters occur). She is at a loos and doesn't want this to keep happening during BT.
I would contact Deb Dalton, the parent liaison. I believe for the last several years a female boot has been offered and she can tell you which brands they are if it wasn't readily apparent on her portal. Just my opinion, but I would make the drive to the PX that's 3 hours away to ensure a proper fit and a successful CBT.

Thanks! DD told us that the rubbing doesn't occur until about mile 5 in her ruck. Her feet sweat and she was wearing cotton socks. From what we have researched cotton is not the way to go because it holds moisture, doesn't wick. Ordered her some fox river socks and will try those. She is convinced that her boots fit her properly and are very snug with no wiggle room in the heel or toe. Hopefully they will heal prior to "R" day and callous up a bit. We did see on her portal that the Bellville FC390 is a women cut boot. Missed that when shopping. Thanks again for all the advice.
 
DS swears by the 'blister gel' band aids; said they were a godsend in BCT. Just picked up another batch for his CFT next week.
Get assorted shapes and sizes for heel / toe etc; bring extras and make new friends by sharing. Minimal size and weight, could save yourself weeks of misery.
Any CVS etc will have these, Walmarts usually too.

DS bled thru the back of his boot during the 12 mile Air Assault pre-graduation ruck 2 weeks ago; even toughened up feet can use some TLC in those boots.
 
My husband does marathons and used to get blisters, tried many different combos and thinks that a thin dress sock and then a reg sock works the best. My oldest daughter just went to a wilderness medical training and they had a whole section on blisters. Said they swore by paper tape. The kind you get at pharmacies. Said if you want something a little stickier use KT tape.
 
22Dad - As a former backpacker, I would recommend wearing two pairs of socks. One thin, then the regulation sock. For the thin sock, polypropylene works best. It wicks the moisture from the foot. My DS took some with him to wear under the regulation boot socks. He has been wearing the double sock combination ever since and had no issues with his feet all 4 years he was there (2018 grad). He has stocked up on them again in preparation for his training at IBOLC and Ranger. We had to order them, as there aren't any stores around us that carry them. If you can't find them before Beast starts, it might be a good choice for an early care package. The key is to keep the feet dry. Mention to her to make sure that she changes socks every day, and dries her feet and keeps here boots dry whenever possible. Good luck and enjoy the ride!!
 
What did you worry about that turned out to be nothing?
What didn't you worry about that it turns out you should have?
What was the biggest surprise?
 
Are the cadets allowed any calls home during beast (similar to the USNA mids during plebe summer)?
 
Are you allowed to bring your own low quarters (I am in AFJROTC and we were given our own to shine and I have had them for a long time) or are you required to only use the ones given to you.
 
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