What I Wish I'd Know: BCT Edition

We always included a self addressed stamped envelope with our letters to make it easier. I think most of his friends did the same when they wrote. I also had blank paper at his going away party for everyone to write him notes & then I mailed them bulk at a time during BCT so he has mail daily coming in.
 
I saw some people recommended bringing hair gel. I’m coming from AFROTC where fly aways aren’t a big deal and we only got extra brownie points if our hair was gelled. Is it different at USAFA? Females still have to slick back their hair there?
 
DomerDad said:
I have a dumb question (yet again). I see the value in bringing extra underwear/bras, blister tape, stamps, envelopes, paper, hair gel etc. My question is what happens to all of this stuff? @shiner says you will only carry your own bag the first few hours of the first day. I have also read in the past that your personal items (civies etc) get put into storage. Would my DD have the ability to bring most of these extra things to her room on the first day (I know the policy on civies)? Does the Cadre take them from her? If so, how does she get them back?
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On the first night, our cadre had us put all contraband (civilian clothes, phone chargers, scissors, etc) in our backpacks, and then they take those bags and lock them in a room. Phones are labeled and taken and put in a box. The rest of your stuff is dumped on your bed and they check to make sure you don't have any remaining contraband.
 
flygirl2025 said:
I saw some people recommended bringing hair gel. I’m coming from AFROTC where fly aways aren’t a big deal and we only got extra brownie points if our hair was gelled. Is it different at USAFA? Females still have to slick back their hair there?
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In my flight, we got yelled at a few times for them, and were told to fix it.
 
2025Cadet said:
On the first night, our cadre had us put all contraband (civilian clothes, phone chargers, scissors, etc) in our backpacks, and then they take those bags and lock them in a room. Phones are labeled and taken and put in a box. The rest of your stuff is dumped on your bed and they check to make sure you don't have any remaining contraband.
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Thank you!
 
Peter2025 said:
A guy in my flight cursed and rolled his eyes at our cadre on I-day.... similar attention to the slides for the rest of the day
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Oh, boy. That's one way to do it. Bet they reconsidered the wisdom of that.

The only response I've heard of (if true) that got a cadre to shut up in stunned silence was (supposedly) when an over-eager cadet tried to lecture a prior-enlisted (battlefield airman) on the "real AF" and war. The story goes that the prior-E basic cadet stared him in the eye and said, "Sir, I've killed better men than you."

...which brings a good lesson in leadership and humility. 1. Know your audience. 2. Don't "teach" that which you don't know. 3. Be transparent about your knowledge base and experience (aka, people who have been there say this is the best way, so I'm passing on their hard-earned knowledge).
 
nw2003 said:
How conditioned should we be for BCT? Distance-running-wise
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As much as possible! At 7,258 feet of altitude, the "air is rare" at USAFA. And as a Basic and Freshman, you will run everywhere. Investing time in cardio conditioning before you arrive will make those first few weeks of physically demanding training that much easier.
 
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