First off, congrats!!! It's a tough selection and I'm sure you're very excited. I'm also a doolie right now, and wanted to provide another perspective. Not to discredit the OP, but I know that last year I wanted as much info as I could get from these forums.
- Not much to add here. Arrive with long hair and get it buzzed, you only have one I-Day and you want to experience all of it.
- BRING YOU OWN BOOTS. There's a reason they call the issued boots "the bricks", and I think I've worn them only twice, both for parts of Jack's Valley that were damaging to the footwear. I
highly recommend the
Garmont T8 NFS 670 boots, I've worn them for nearly everything at the academy (lots of wear and tear on the boots) and they are holding up marvelously. I've also found that other doolies in my squadron have recently been switching to these as well. However, the Nike boots are also a good choice, and Oakley is also known for its durability. Make sure you research what sounds right for you, since boots can be very expensive and you only have so much time before you have to start breaking them in.
- Follow the prep workout they give you exactly as it's written. It's designed to tailor your body for BCT and it will not fail you if you follow it. I followed it with about 80% effort, and wished I had given the full 100% to be more prepared for the physical challenges.
- I really, really, really want to recommend you study ahead of time, but this will give you an unfair advantage over your flight mates. There's plenty to learn in the packet, but knowing lots of things ahead of time only attracts negative attention. You'll grow with everyone else when you get your contrails and will do well
- Free time isn't something you should be concerning yourself with during BCT. There's PLENTY to do and you'll stay busy no matter what you do to prepare. Just arrive with a great attitude and you'll do well.
Something I wish I knew before I-Day is that packing light helps. That's the biggest tip of advice I can give you. Have everything in order for when you need to procure it, specifically paperwork, and pack minimally. I recommend a manilla envelope with each file labelled with sticky notes, but everyone has their own system. It can get hot, so I also advise you wear your running shoes and pack your boots (as I did). The boots can be a bit heavier to wear and don't breathe very well, and can also irritate your shins if you aren't wearing long enough socks.
BEST OF LUCK! It's an incredible privilege to attend this academy, and you deserve the opportunity! If you have ANY other questions, please reach out to myself or the other doolies who have replied to this thread. We are great resources for your preparation (since BCT is the closest in memory for any of the classes) and you can
never be too prepared. I'm excited for you to flourish!