What to prepare to bring
- Thread starter Jagg
- Start date
The class of 2026 handbook should be almost identical to this years.
Thank you. Does appointee need to request all medical records from a Primary Doctor to bring it? Or just specific like vaccine and other documents?
Thank you so much
Protip: If you have any questions about "Do I need this", "Should I have access to this", "Might this document be important", etc. and you are okay storing the contents of said documents on a cloud-hosted service(i.e. OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox,etc.) I would highly recommend doing that. While it may not be great to not have what you want with you, being able to access it efficiently is of great utility.
Have you received the Appointee Booklet with the packing list yet? It was very clear for 2026 (depite FlyFalcon's unfortunate misunderstanding). My ds did not bring his passport because he didn't need it to prove citizenship (birth certificate did that) or a photo id (used driver's license). It is safe at home in our family's safe. He can grab it whenever he needs it.
The ONLY extras you should pack are more underwear than is listed. Leave everything else at home and pack a bag of school supplies for your mom/dad to mail to your or bring to Parent's Weekend. We did the latter.
Godspeed_13
Member
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- Mar 8, 2022
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- 17
Am I allowed to bring makeup for A-Day/Parents weekend after basic?
Makeup is authorized for female cadets after basic cadet training is accomplished. Recommend having brought to A-Day or shipped after BCT is complete. If you bring unauthorized items to BCT they may be taken, and depending on what it is you may or may not get it back(i.e. mouthwash with alcohol was not returned).
Start with just the packing list. Go on your fact finding mission - search this side and for parents the Facebook groups for threads on what else you might want for I-Day, A-Day, and later for the school year. I think there was a meme for a 14-in-1 bottle for the males. Hilarious! For extras, DD packed feet blister things, stamps/a few envelopes/paper/address list/passwords list, and a comfort grip for the backpack handle.
Candidates, clean your room and label stuff. This will make it easy for parents to find your shoes, Calc/Chem notes, favorite wubby(ies), school supplies. For parents not visiting on A-Day: One Medium Size Box. Don't be That Parent that sends 4 boxes o' stuff and clogs the mailroom. Your DD/DS should be buying stuff him/herself and learning to be resourceful - How to Get Stuff - Cadet store, older Cadets/teammates with cars, amazon, where and when to go for delivery services (Arnold Hall). Parents learn the options of Getting Stuff to my Cadet: delivery services (AOG and Cadet Delivery Service, for example), sponsor family, sometimes through the mail, make friends with local parents (ex. who's going up and can take a box!). And anytime you pack for your Cadet, save some precious space for community gifts - ie, so your Cadet can share with others, esp. those in his/her squadron with no family support, etc.
For parents, remember everything is squadron specific. Don't freak out when you see posts that My DD this, my DS that....tune out the noise and learn to respond to What Your Cadet Thinks is Important. Don't ask What about, I heard, Have you done/seen/heard...there will always be Those Parents Facebook Bragging. For example parents pontificating Look How Awesome My Cadet Is! And then later they bust themselves saying it's the first time their kid passed the PFT, got on an Honor roll, etc. If there is one thing I think is most important, it is to train your DD/DS to always think glass half full. Coping and delayed gratification work their way to the top of necessary skills to get through BCT. USAFA and life, for that matter.
Candidates, clean your room and label stuff. This will make it easy for parents to find your shoes, Calc/Chem notes, favorite wubby(ies), school supplies. For parents not visiting on A-Day: One Medium Size Box. Don't be That Parent that sends 4 boxes o' stuff and clogs the mailroom. Your DD/DS should be buying stuff him/herself and learning to be resourceful - How to Get Stuff - Cadet store, older Cadets/teammates with cars, amazon, where and when to go for delivery services (Arnold Hall). Parents learn the options of Getting Stuff to my Cadet: delivery services (AOG and Cadet Delivery Service, for example), sponsor family, sometimes through the mail, make friends with local parents (ex. who's going up and can take a box!). And anytime you pack for your Cadet, save some precious space for community gifts - ie, so your Cadet can share with others, esp. those in his/her squadron with no family support, etc.
For parents, remember everything is squadron specific. Don't freak out when you see posts that My DD this, my DS that....tune out the noise and learn to respond to What Your Cadet Thinks is Important. Don't ask What about, I heard, Have you done/seen/heard...there will always be Those Parents Facebook Bragging. For example parents pontificating Look How Awesome My Cadet Is! And then later they bust themselves saying it's the first time their kid passed the PFT, got on an Honor roll, etc. If there is one thing I think is most important, it is to train your DD/DS to always think glass half full. Coping and delayed gratification work their way to the top of necessary skills to get through BCT. USAFA and life, for that matter.
Oh, and also she didn't absolutely need to bring any extras, except that one sheet with passwords and addresses. Everything that was important to her she got through Cadet Store Thunderdome (hers was the Covid year, inprocessing Summer 2020; Class of 2024).
Yes, they go the the C-Store at least twice during the 1st half of BCT so no need to send a huge container of body wash and males don't need ANY shampoo. My DS forgot the charger for his shaver. Oops! He bought razors and shaving cream at the C-Store (never used them to shave before...LOL). Thankfully, that shaver battery lasted for all of BCT.
FlyFalcon
'26, FFS (NWP 2021)
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Also word of wise. If the cadre say something can't be sent. It can't be sent. They will go through your mail ( after you open it, mine went through my mail once without permission but that was once). Parents do not send something not allowed. They will take it. No doubt.
Godspeed_13
Member
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- Mar 8, 2022
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- 17
I have heard that it is recommended to rescind/decline other college acceptances before reporting to USAFA. I understand this is the moral thing to do anyway, however, was just curious as to whether USAFA had a requirement? I was worried that in the case something did not go right during BCT, I would have to attend by back-up school.
Sometimes, if you are upfront with your back-up college, they will allow you to keep your place there until after I-Day. Call the back-up's admissions department and ask. My ds did not feel that he needed a back up so he did not do that but many on here do. Worst case, they will say no. Make sure you take care of this before May 1st.
I will say that my ds was still getting emails from 2 colleges he declined saying that it wasn't too late to change him mind well into August.
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- Jul 20, 2006
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- 3,958
It is fine to keep a spot open at another college as long as you make the other college aware of it. Be upfront. You may need to ask several of your backup schools until you find one willing to agree.
Stealth_81
So it list WHITE boys underwear. Does it really have to be WHITE or can they just be neutral color like gray or black?
Theredbaron
Member
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2022
- Messages
- 100
Did not send a single pair of white underwear. Not a big deal, no one checks. White underwear will be brown by the end of bct. I bought some cheaper athletic boxer briefs that could be thrown away after bct if needed. Took his good underwear on A-Day
