Running shoe question.

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Sandra614

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Apr 25, 2016
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So DS received appointment package yesterday and I was surprised to see that the running shoes have to be BLACK!! It's in parentheses on uniform form. Of course my son just bought a brand new pair of ASICS the day before which were not black! When we were at AIM last summer and I saw the SWABS running around campus, they did not have black running shoes on. Should I take them back and get black and therefore follow the instructions? Any comments appreciated.
 
DS is 2018. It is almost impossible to find all black running shoes these days. It is most important that they fit well and are already broken in as your swab will do lots of running. My advice is to find a good pair that aren't too loud color wise.
 
Sandra614. I saw what you are talking about but remembered reading in the cadet handbook of last year that they could be white, grey or dark blue. I thought it would change with this years handbook but it has not because that was not changed on the site. (last years book is still up on the 2021 page, not sure when it will change) I have posted a question on the 2021 parents Facebook page and will let you know the answer. Have you joined that yet?
 
RJB what are motivated socks? I must be missing something..
 
corescue59 said:
RJB what are motivated socks? I must be missing something..
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The knee high, white tube socks are also known as 'motivated socks'.

"6 pairs white athletic tube socks (moisture wicking without bulky seams recommended)"
 
Do you recommend a brand? The only ones i have found here in CO are at Kohls and they are gold toe thick socks that are really tall. They say gold toe ultra TEC over the calf socks.
 
corescue59 said:
Do you recommend a brand? The only ones i have found here in CO are at Kohls and they are gold toe thick socks that are really tall. They say gold toe ultra TEC over the calf socks.
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The "really tall" ones ARE the true motivated socks. :) The higher they are, the motivated they are. All jokes aside, it does need to be over the calf, not crew. Although you will see many kids on swearing in day with the wrong CREW SOCKS instead of the TUBE SOCKS, and they will not kill you for the crew socks, you should get the tube socks. First, because you will be carrying your pen, booklet in your socks and they won't stay put in loose/short crew socks while you're running around, and second, because cadre love motivated SWABS with really motivated socks! It's very difficult to find good tube socks in retail stores nowadays as most civilian people just don't wear them. You will get a better selection by searching online.

Don't worry too much about the color of your sneakers as long as they're somewhat conservative. It's nearly impossible to find all black... or all any color. No one will really care if it has pink trimmings or orange stripes. (It's definitely not recommended, but I've even seen bright red, neon green, really loud sneakers before. What color did you get?) They might get yelled at for two seconds, but thats it. As long as you stick to decent conservative sneakers, you'll be fine.
 
DS purchased 'Wigwam Men's Super 60 Tube Socks' on Amazon. As Blueman stated, the higher they are, the more motivated they are. And they make for great stowage for a pen and their copy of 'running lights', which they will carry everywhere. They will live in these socks for seven weeks, so get a quality brand.

It is all about conformity and running under the cadre radar. You don't want to be singled out for your un-motivated socks!
 
Tube socks are specified because they need to be folded a specific way. Over the calf is specified. Don't show up demonstrating the inability to follow directions. Get quality. But understand they will likely be discarded at the end of Swab Summer because they will be gray from repeated washing.
 
corescue59 said:
Sandra614. I saw what you are talking about but remembered reading in the cadet handbook of last year that they could be white, grey or dark blue. I thought it would change with this years handbook but it has not because that was not changed on the site. (last years book is still up on the 2021 page, not sure when it will change) I have posted a question on the 2021 parents Facebook page and will let you know the answer. Have you joined that yet?
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Yes I've joined the parents group for CGA 2021.
 
Hi there. Former swab, now rising 3/c. I don't particularly remember what my forms said (honestly this whole process will be a blur by this time next year to your cadet too) but honestly you can get away with any shoe. I don't recall there being a color specification, which is weird because the color of your running shoes is the one thing you can get away with having any color of (although one guy in my company was nicknamed Flash for his bright yellow shoes.) I wouldn't stress about it, as your swab should definitely invest in a nice, comfortable pair of running shoes (also some nice shock-absorbent inserts.) You will be issued shoes that they'll wear in their normal uniform, but for PT you will want nice shoes because you're waking up 6 out of 7 days a week to do a morning work out and you're running everywhere. In addition, these shoes will be worn when they do the O-Course.

I would also invest in a good pair of high-rise tube socks like said above because they will carry their running light and pen in them, and you do not want short socks or something your running light would fall out of -- trust me, the cadre will have a field day with your swab if they do! Good luck.
 
A parent in the FB Group confirmed with the academy that as of 2021 class running shoes MUST be BLACK
 
In previous years the Cadet Handbook read "white, gray or dark blue" athletic shoes. That has been changed this year to only "black."
 
Sandra614 said:
So DS received appointment package yesterday and I was surprised to see that the running shoes have to be BLACK!! It's in parentheses on uniform form. Of course my son just bought a brand new pair of ASICS the day before which were not black! When we were at AIM last summer and I saw the SWABS running around campus, they did not have black running shoes on. Should I take them back and get black and therefore follow the instructions? Any comments appreciated.
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There have been a lot of good comments on this thread, but we did follow up with the Commandant of Cadets' staff responsible for Swab Summer about the color change since last year and they said "gray or black" is good for the Class of 2021. I told them that we would share this update to the information provided in the Cadet Handbook, but they realistically know everyone (as in the past) will not report with correctly colored running shoes.
 
FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS...Nothing more, nothing less. A place called skater socks makes the 30" motivational white tube socks. Thinking that "I know it says this, but this "should" be ok" is not the answer. Please follow this years instructions and lists, because there are changes from last year.
 
Objee said:
but they realistically know everyone (as in the past) will not report with correctly colored running shoes.
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I am not in the CG nor do I have any kids applying to CGA, but I do have concerns about this statement. Obviously if a cadet shows up in the wrong color of running shoes but they fit him/her then they should continue to run in them for the summer. But to assume candidates/appointees will not report with the correct color shoes while it is clearly stated in the instructions? These are highly qualified individuals entering training to be an officer in US Coast Guard? Not asking for a fight, but I hope they are dealt with severely on the first day to hammer the importance of following instructions and orders.

Just my two cents.
 
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