Bringing ABUs to inprocessing

[TS_2020]

Recently, I got sized at a local AFB for ABUs. If I purchase them now, can I bring them to inprocessing?

 

[BlahuKahuna]

Unless you're a prior or preppie, just plan on getting the ABUs here. No need to try and reinvent the I-Day wheel on your own.

 

[TS_2020]

Unless you're a prior or preppie, just plan on getting the ABUs here. No need to try and reinvent the I-Day wheel on your own.

Alright thanks!

 

[ServiceBeforeSelf325]

I was told my a current cadet that you can bring your own boots and running shoes, but your cadre won't let you use them until after BCT. I still bought them just in case things have changes, especially since the Appointee packet recommended appointees to do so...

 

[UCONNhusk]

I was told my a current cadet that you can bring your own boots and running shoes, but your cadre won't let you use them until after BCT. I still bought them just in case things have changes, especially since the Appointee packet recommended appointees to do so...

I believe it really depends on your Cadres. Mine didn't let me wear the running shoes that I bought, but let others wear their ABU boots if you brought them.

 

[USAFA83GradWife]

The #1 thing you DON'T want to do is stand out on I-day. Be as "uniform" as possible & blend in. Think about what everyone else will be wearing: shorts and t-shirt (tucked in).

 

[LFry94]

Hey all. I'm going to be working first and second BCT so I can provide you with a little information.

1. Do not buy and bring your own ABUs. You will be issued ABUs here that you will be paying for regardless of whether you bought ABUs before you inprocessed or not. Might as well not pay twice. If you are a prior preppie, I would bring them to have on hand after basic training. You will also be issued new ABUs, but it will be nice to have a pair that are clean and fitted for after basic.

2. USAFA83GradWife is right. Don't stand out in basic. Having a different pair of boots will definitely make you stand out. It will not go unnoticed. Whether you can even wear them will be up to your cadre. I still wear the same boots I was issued in prep school basic in 2012.

 

[Kiowa19]

Don't bring extra ABUs for the reasons mentioned above. In my BCT flight, boots weren't a big deal as long as they meet the requirements. I personally didn't bring a pair but I have squadmates who came in with danners/rockies/etc and they were fine. Word of warning though, you never know what you are doing each day, and some days you aren't going to want to be wearing your fancy non-issued boots. Either way, you'll survive

 

[Pima]

I have to say when I read the title of this thread I immediately did the . As anyone can see I have been here for eons. I recall back when my DS1 was applying and there were 3 threads about sticking out and how that is such a bad idea.

1. Youtube. Some USAFA appointee gave out too much info and had too much bravado. Basically said no woman could scare him. Well he was on that bus for a few minutes before that BCT instructor picked him out and started screaming at him. It went viral. Problem with forums like this is you don't know who is who on here, and many just lurk.
2. Another poster did something like that, USMA. Posters kept trying to say to him knock it off, because it can come back to bite him. He did not heed the advice until a poster came on and said....how many identical Asian male twins from NY do you think we will have come I-Day? Now the problem is for your brother that is not a member here, we don't know which one of you is the poster, your brother may pay for your gung ho attitude. He quickly folded and the running joke was have your brother show up with a t-shirt saying it was my EVIL twin.
3. Old timers here will remember Mars boy. He decided to post his local newspaper article about his appointment, with a picture of him next to a 16 on a stick. In the article he pronounced that his goal was to go to Mars and he would get an F16 out of USAFA.

What all 3 of them had in common was a target on their back. It is great to be gung ho, but impo there is a fine line between gung ho and being one of those guys/gals. Buying ABUs is over the line.

Now with that said, what I would send him with is a letter of love. This will motivate him during the weeks where they have no real contact with the family. I get the idea you want him to have everything, but remember one adage...if the AF wants you to have it, they will give it to you. Have him show up in shorts and a t shirt.

 

[2018DAD]

Pima nails it again!!

Son is Cadre for 1st Beast. One of the things they discuss is "How the Appointees Arrive"! Can they follow the simple directions on what to bring and not to bring. This is not summer camp where you are the 'cool' one bringing in contraband, prohibited items or even unnecessary items that were not listed in the Appointee Packet. Here it is viewed as 'YOU CANNOT FOLLOW DIRECTIONS from the beginning! NOT a good way to start off.
Yes, NWP has their tropical shirts and they do get special attention for this and it is somewhat a tradition...but to intentionally try to make a statement with what you wear is a big mistake. Cadre's job is to take a divergent, diverse group of incoming basics and mold them into a uniform, consistent, trained, and compliant group of Basics that will be prepared for life as a Cadet. What a loud, obnoxious, proud, in-your-face shirt/attire immediately tells them is you are bringing your individuality into a time and place that it does NOT belong. I have counseled appointees and basics...you do NOT want to be a raised nail...Cadre will hammer you flat (!) it is their job! Simple, neutral tones are what you are looking for on I-day. Even small things such as boots, ABUs, and other small differences communicate a desire to maintain a uniqueness which is contrary to the goals of BCT. I am always amazed with the numbers of appointees that show up with clothing that screams LOOK AT ME. Trust me THAT is not what you want to be radiating on the footprints! If you are Gung-Ho let your performance communicate that to Cadre, they will see that for what it is and things will be fine. A shirt that screams out another school/college or WORLD'S Greatest "X" will cause you nothing but grief. Think plain, think boring, think "un-noticeable"!!

 

[Kiowa19]

All that is said above has merit. However, a guy in my class came to I-day in a top gun shirt and a mustache. Needless to say he got a little extra attention, but he is still here (and with a story to tell). Bringing extra stuff is not going to mark you for the rest of your cadet life. Odds are if the item you brought is such a serious no go, the cadre will just confiscate it and that will be that (with maybe a little bit of yelling to go along with it ) And with regards to wearing flashy clothes, wear them or don't, just be aware of the fact that you'll get a little extra attention if you do. No matter what you wear you will be told "YOU CANNOT FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE BEGINNING" so don't worry about it too much.

Cheers

 

[BlahuKahuna]

I'll never regret wearing a Hawaiian shirt to I-Day. A big lesson I've learned here is to own the decisions that you make. There's a HUGE difference between making sexist remarks before I-Day and the top gun kid from last year (I was working that day, cadre all found that one pretty funny, and it sounds like he's survived.)

 

[Badge250]

All that is said above has merit. However, a guy in my class came to I-day in a top gun shirt and a mustache. Needless to say he got a little extra attention, but he is still here (and with a story to tell). Bringing extra stuff is not going to mark you for the rest of your cadet life. Odds are if the item you brought is such a serious no go, the cadre will just confiscate it and that will be that (with maybe a little bit of yelling to go along with it ) And with regards to wearing flashy clothes, wear them or don't, just be aware of the fact that you'll get a little extra attention if you do. No matter what you wear you will be told "YOU CANNOT FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE BEGINNING" so don't worry about it too much.

Cheers

I saw a picture of the kid with the top gun shirt on. If I remember correctly, he had a mustache and looked a little like goose. The shirt had a picture of goose for the movie and it said "talk to me goose". Hilarious.

 

[Eagle8201]

Hey all. I'm going to be working first and second BCT so I can provide you with a little information.

1. Do not buy and bring your own ABUs. You will be issued ABUs here that you will be paying for regardless of whether you bought ABUs before you inprocessed or not. Might as well not pay twice. If you are a prior preppie, I would bring them to have on hand after basic training. You will also be issued new ABUs, but it will be nice to have a pair that are clean and fitted for after basic.

2. USAFA83GradWife is right. Don't stand out in basic. Having a different pair of boots will definitely make you stand out. It will not go unnoticed. Whether you can even wear them will be up to your cadre. I still wear the same boots I was issued in prep school basic in 2012.

When you state prior preppie are you specifying prior enlisted? If so, our instructions specifically state to bring our uniforms. Will we be issued another set uniforms or swap the old uniforms for new uniforms?

 

[LFry94]

When you state prior preppie are you specifying prior enlisted? If so, our instructions specifically state to bring our uniforms. Will we be issued another set uniforms or swap the old uniforms for new uniforms?

Prior/preppie or just a prior. If you bring your uniforms as a prior you will have to get your class year added to your name tape.

That's interesting you say that though. They did not tell us to bring our uniforms but highly suggested it.

You will be issued new uniforms during basic regardless.

 

[Blueblood1]

I saw a picture of the kid with the top gun shirt on. If I remember correctly, he had a mustache and looked a little like goose. The shirt had a picture of goose for the movie and it said "talk to me goose". Hilarious.

I understand that this was purposeful, by someone that knew what he was doing. In other words, he was a professional -- do not try this at home.

 

[2020Graduate]

Hey all. I'm going to be working first and second BCT so I can provide you with a little information.

1. Do not buy and bring your own ABUs. You will be issued ABUs here that you will be paying for regardless of whether you bought ABUs before you inprocessed or not. Might as well not pay twice. If you are a prior preppie, I would bring them to have on hand after basic training. You will also be issued new ABUs, but it will be nice to have a pair that are clean and fitted for after basic.

2. USAFA83GradWife is right. Don't stand out in basic. Having a different pair of boots will definitely make you stand out. It will not go unnoticed. Whether you can even wear them will be up to your cadre. I still wear the same boots I was issued in prep school basic in 2012.

Can you help us out, the appointment hand book stated that we should definitely bring a pair of ABU boots. If we don't want to stand out what pair should that be? What pair is the academy issuing on I-Day and will lightweight boots like the Nike and Belleville 693 stand out?

Also, it says to bring a pair of molded cleats, will bright pink soccer cleats get attention or do recommend to bring black or AF blue to draw less attention? Thanks

 

[LFry94]

Can you help us out, the appointment hand book stated that we should definitely bring a pair of ABU boots. If we don't want to stand out what pair should that be? What pair is the academy issuing on I-Day and will lightweight boots like the Nike and Belleville 693 stand out?

Also, it says to bring a pair of molded cleats, will bright pink soccer cleats get attention or do recommend to bring black or AF blue to draw less attention? Thanks

You will be issued boots, tennis shoes, and running shoes. You can bring boots if you want. They issue you Bellevilles. Cleats are also not required. I didn't get cleats until junior year. You can use them during intramurals and color won't matter then.