Off to LDAC

It sounds odd, but I needed (but failed to bring) one gallon zip lock freezer bags. I used the bags to keep things like maps, notebooks, and whatnot dry when in the field enviroment. You'd be surprised how moist things carried for days / weeks in your ACU pockets can get in the heat of summer. I also went through baby wipes like they were, well, baby wipes. As for treats, a good care package might also include hard candy that won't melt.
 
ABF said:
It sounds odd, but I needed (but failed to bring) one gallon zip lock freezer bags. I used the bags to keep things like maps, notebooks, and whatnot dry when in the field enviroment. You'd be surprised how moist things carried for days / weeks in your ACU pockets can get in the heat of summer. I also went through baby wipes like they were, well, baby wipes. As for treats, a good care package might also include hard candy that won't melt.
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Agree^. Baby wipes are literally shower water for 4-6 days at a time, and ziplock bags can be used for everything.
 
Thanks Bull - but here's a real parent show of ignorance -- how many cadets in a platoon?:eek: Want to make sure there's enough! I take baby wipes(thinking Gold Bond too) would not be shared automatically(knowing mine he will share anyway).
 
Ohio2015Parent said:
Thanks Bull - but here's a real parent show of ignorance -- how many cadets in a platoon?:eek: Want to make sure there's enough! I take baby wipes(thinking Gold Bond too) would not be shared automatically(knowing mine he will share anyway).
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For ldac, the average platoon will have about 45 people.

Yes, sharing is usually a given, but 45 people can run through stuff pretty quickly.
 
Does anyone know how long it takes a package to find a cadet?

My cadet seems to think that any package I send won't find it's way to him.
 
SPM said:
Does anyone know how long it takes a package to find a cadet?

My cadet seems to think that any package I send won't find it's way to him.
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I don't know if I remember an exact timeline, and it seemed to depend somewhat on where the package was coming from, but I think there was a few days of delay (took time for it to arrive to JBLM and be sorted at LDAC). I would think that with LDAC now being more centrally located, it will be a bit shorter, maybe a couple of days at the shortest.

*occasionally a package did take longer to arrive, and we didn't get packages while in a bivouac site.
 
SPM said:
Does anyone know how long it takes a package to find a cadet?

My cadet seems to think that any package I send won't find it's way to him.
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I sent three or so packages to LDAC last year and all got there on a timely basis. Each package was sent by Priority Mail and arrived at JBLM when promised (which may be a record for the USPS). It usually took a day or two for the package to get sorted, picked up and delivered once it was at the base mail facility.

JBLM is a large base with a lot going on and Ft. Knox is just as busy. So make sure your mail is addressed correctly and in the format indicated on the Warrior Forge/LDAC website.

One more LDAC tip. We sent our cadet off with some pre-stamped, pre-addressed envelopes each containing a sheet or two of blank paper. The grandparents were overjoyed to get letters.
 
-Bull- said:
For ldac, the average platoon will have about 45 people.

Yes, sharing is usually a given, but 45 people can run through stuff pretty quickly.
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Thanks - snacks size bags, lots of them. Travel sized wipes and powder.

EDelahanty said:
One more LDAC tip. We sent our cadet off with some pre-stamped, pre-addressed envelopes each containing a sheet or two of blank paper. The grandparents were overjoyed to get letters.
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Love this tip! DS learned how important letters were while at BCT - took writing materials with him this time. More than sending "stuff" nothing makes a cadet feel great than receiving mail (even its print outs of stuff off Facebook or random odds and ends, they don't have time/energy to read novels....)
 
Son just arrived at LDAC today after his CTLT. He told me that they are now Land Nav in Buddy Teams because they have had so many heat casualties. It's a nice 73 degrees with a slight breeze here in the PNW, go figure.

Doing his CTLT at Ft. Bilss El Paso was a good way to get exposure to the heat. Those coming from colder climates make sure you start to hydrate a week before you go.
 
Jcleppe said:
Those coming from colder climates make sure you start to hydrate a week before you go.
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Great Advice, Heat Casulaties can be very dangerous and often include some significant hospital time. Fort Knox is a a very warm place. You really need to drink a lot of water on and off duty. Really need to take this one seriously.
 
We live about 2-3 hours north of Knox -- it has been unseasonably hot and humid this past week with a lot of afternoon pop up storms. Forecast for the upcoming week about the same. Cadets, please hydrate!! DS was at Benning a few summers ago for BCT and there were a huge number of heat issues(summer temps @100+ southern humidity....:thumbdown:). Glad to hear that they have modified training on LN to keep the cadets safe! Benning changed training schedules to overnights on some portions and let them sleep during the day to avoid unnecessary heat problems. Don't think its that bad right now, but its only the first official weekend of summer...
 
LDAC

Thanks for the post...This topic (LDAC) seems to be unusually quiet this year, compared to 2013...Perhaps because due to all the changes, no one quite knows what to expect?
 
DS has a friend there now. His friend texted him and said it's pretty much like what they did at LTC last year, but with more down time.

If you come prepared and not out of shape you should be fine.

Maybe it's just not quite as demanding this year with the changes made.
 
Glad to hear that they have modified training on LN to keep the cadets safe! Benning changed training schedules to overnights on some portions and let them sleep during the day to avoid unnecessary heat problems.

Didn't read this before. DS is at Air Assault at Benning now. They started at 3:30 this morning. PT, 2 mile run, PT, obstacle course, PT, PT. Done by Noon or so. The do a few evening things.

Heat and humidity are about the same as where we live so he is somewhat used to it. He'll go to Knox when he's done there so he will have the heat and humidity all summer long.
 
Son told us today that they said in a briefing that over 20 cadets have already been sent to the hospital for heat related issues. They are only allowed water when out training and not allowed any thing to eat in between meals, not that they need food but something with a greater salt content during the day would be a good idea to combat the loos of sodium through sweating in the high humidity.
 
no water???/communication

I was wondering if they were being offered gatorade or other products to replace the electrolytes?...Withholding fluids goes against all conventional medical advice. At BCT (Ft. jackson 3 yrs ago), they had to prove to the Drills that they drank X amount of water hourly, or they were set down...

On another note, Is anyone else disappointed in the official FB site this year? I read every post from last year, and felt that it would adequately keep me in the loop as to what was happening, when...Is the twitter/instagram site worth setting up an account in order to follow?

JCLEPPE,
Thank you for sharing your son's info...
 
I read Jclepps post to be that they only allow them water during training, no food....but I doubt they're getting gatorade or anything like that unless sent to medical with an issue.

Benning was the same with the sgts. following up on fluid intake, plus at times they were taking body temps during daytime trainings and if you were elevated you got stripped to boxers and wrapped in cold, wet sheets to bring temp down before there was a problem. Three years ago seems like a long, long time ago.....thank goodness this isn't 10 weeks, though for some with CTLT or other training it maybe close:thumb:
 
QA1517 said:
Glad to hear that they have modified training on LN to keep the cadets safe! Benning changed training schedules to overnights on some portions and let them sleep during the day to avoid unnecessary heat problems.

Didn't read this before. DS is at Air Assault at Benning now. They started at 3:30 this morning. PT, 2 mile run, PT, obstacle course, PT, PT. Done by Noon or so. The do a few evening things.

Heat and humidity are about the same as where we live so he is somewhat used to it. He'll go to Knox when he's done there so he will have the heat and humidity all summer long.
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Good to hear they are keeping the tradition and helping keep them safe. DS is also used to good old Ohio and southern US humidity, but its never a bad idea to be safe - change times or policies to protect the investments, so to speak:wink:
 
wildcatmom said:
On another note, Is anyone else disappointed in the official FB site this year? I read every post from last year, and felt that it would adequately keep me in the loop as to what was happening, when...Is the twitter/instagram site worth setting up an account in order to follow?
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I've been following on FB, Twitter, Instagram and their blog too just to get an idea of the training. I think the blog is the most comprehensive source. But one of the great things is the photo credits. Sometimes you can find the FB profile of the photographer, and find more photos (and chatter) that didn't end up on any of the CST social media areas.
 
Not sure if everyone is aware, but the best source for 2014 LDAC photos appears to be the separate AROTC SmugMug site. You can find it at armyrotc.smugmug.com. Once you get in you have to click on the gallery for LDAC (there is a separate gallery for LTC if that's what you want), then click on your cadet's regiment. Once there, they have separate galleries for the different training evolutions such as weapons training, land nav, APFT, confidence course, accessions brief, etc. My son is in 1st Regiment, so they have 9 or 10 galleries up now, averaging maybe 8 pictures per. Have only seen my son in two shots, but still nice to see. I always check for new galleries daily since there is so little content on FB, and the kid sure don't write...
 
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