I remember INDOC. On the day of reporting, they have to wear thier white socks and tennis shoes so do not bring dress shoes. Many Candidates were changing in the parking lots.
As for hard drives, my DS is '14 and the USB ports have been dis-enabled. They will enable them when they go out to sea so hard drives will not work. They cannot download any programs such as skipe although I think some of the kids have managed to get around that. We normally just communicate through Facebook chat or messages. They will get an email address after INDOC but do NOT pass this around to anyone as this is how the school communicates with the student and they have many "Must Read" emails. I use his email address only when I do not want the info I am sending him to be out in the open like it would be when you are using Facebook messages or chat.
After they were given their whites, my DS asked me to order him another pair of white shoes which I did. Here is the website: BATESFOOTWEAR.COM and there is only one pair of Navy Whites listed. I asked him what size he was issued and ordered that size. He uses this pair for inspection only. The issued pair is for NY or when they have to wear them for parades and such.
I also had many people write notecards to him at his party and had these sent to him during Indoc and through out the year. In fact, I still have some that I need to send. LOL.
They did not receive mail everyday like we thought but he did get his mail eventually. He also told us when we could send him food, and when you send food during Indoc, you need to send enough for the whole company to share. Things like power bars and beef jerky are good. NO CANDY of any kind. The higher ups will just take those and eat them and your kid will not.
The first phone call by your Candidate will not be until the second Sunday of Indoc. They will take up the cell phones and hand them out for phone calls.
My DS never asked for anything during Indoc so I read this forum daily for news. Anytime someone said that their DS/DD asked for something, I would send it to my DS; iron, ironing board, swiffer dusters, duct tape, safety pins, etc. One thing he did do was he took a small notebook with him and wrote daily or as often as possible, what happened that day. After Indoc, he sent this to us and it was enlightening and we enjoyed reading it.
Since then, we have sent him power bars, Boost, Crystal Light packets (especially the Sweet Tea), and Conditioning Books to stay in shape after his sports was over.
Also, Physics and Calculus are one of the hardest subjects offered even if you have taken AP Physics or AP Calculus. Study Aids are good, old AP notes are worth saving and sending after school starts and GA Parent Association will be there during Indoc selling some very popular study aids for these subjects that were used by many of the Plebes this last year.
Anything that is not on the list and is extra that you take, may be taken away from you while in Indoc so that is why it is best to have them sent to the Candidate at the end of Indoc.
If I can think of anything else, I will post it later. Hope this helps others.