Are there any items you need or could use for boot camp?

butterfliesRfree

My son was in bootcamp and even his belongings down to his socks were federal expressed back home. They are not ALLOWED to have anything. They are only permitted military clothes even - down to the underwear. The only thing he can take are pics in his wallet and not even too many of them. You may want to make out some self addressed stamped envelopes - as he will ONLY be able to contact you my US snail mail -- once he starts school, he'll have phone privileges and my son has to borrow a computer to get on up there. HANG IN there --- it's not going to be easy on anyone for a little while but you will be proud of him!! My son is almost a corpsman (he's 19) and has a 13 month old son and is taking care of him financially like a good father -- he's coming this week and we're planning a big party!!

ya_staff_sux

Everything you need will be provided for you.

greggblack0590

the only thing you can really do for him is to just keep sending him letters of support.

oh yeah be sure the letters smell good.

imthevoiceofgod

Anything not on the packing list provided to him at MEPs will not be allowed to go with him. Sorry.
Just ensure that the packing list is followed EXACTLY!!

Bobbi

Your drivers licenses, update of your shots,address you can write letters, and a phone card with a lot of minutes and a few clean pictures.

Lillian

In Texas?? Air Force Basic Training? Space in limited, he needs to take what is on the list and a few clothes and things for after basic at his tech school. All extra items will be stored. Give him a picture. The only thing I wish I would have brought were real good running shoes. The $5.00 pair of Keds about killed me. In regards to the smell good letter, he needs to get ready for some ribbing at mail call.

Waffles

support and loyalty

bribaker715

Congrats on the fact that your boyfriend joined military. However its going to be hard to understand this however the most valuable thing possible is a simple letter from home. A letter means everything in this world to a service member. Make sure to include some pictures.(Not too many!) Boots (depending on what branch and what they are aloud) are very restricted on what they can and cant have.

I joined the Army 5 years ago and brought a journal and sprayed my boyfriends cologne on the inside along with a picture. This helped me really get through some tough times of feeling empty and drained. My mother was the best, she would often sneak a stick of gum in an evelope just for me. She even sent a very thin nail file with a note attached that said..."Incase you ever think about escaping, this should help you." LOL! She really knew how to make me smile :) My fav. magazine in the world at the time was Cosmo, or Glamour, My sister would tear out the pages and send them frequently so I could read the important issues going on. Of course I knew that if I ever got caught that would be my hide! But it made me smile! It made me feel like my family was always there all along.

Its the small stuff that matters.... Just be there for him.

Ravin

There's plenty of things I wish I could've brought with me, but it wouldn't have mattered. Any and all personal belongings, unless they're of religious importance, are placed into storage and are locked up during Basic Training. All of the things you will need and you will use are provided, or you are given the chance to buy those things at the PX beforehand and during Basic, at intermittent times. The only other things he might be able to bring are toiletries--razors, shaving cream, nail clippers, a comb, toothpaste, a toothbrush, that sort of thing. He won't even be allowed to have cough drops... and don't bother trying to send cookies or candy. It's a nice gesture, but the drill sergeants intercept all food and eat it themselves or keep it.

It's only nine weeks. Once he's out of there and is going to AIT (Advanced Individual Training... I'm assuming that he's Army... the other services call their post-Basic schooling something else), he'll be able to have his personal belongings and can eat junk food again, although eating excessive amounts of it aren't recommended.

Tell him to bring or buy some stationery, too, so that he can write home during training. Having an AT&T phone card is a good idea, too, for when he's been in training for a few weeks and gains phone privileges.

greenvetter

They will most likely take it all away and store it until boot camp is over so don't bother. He may be able to have a camera. Give him a picture of you.

Dont get Infected

letters and support.

Anna J

I went to boot camp... they give you everything. I would suggest bring his own "whitey tightys" maybe a pack or something... but they will provide soap, razors, writing stuff, deodorant etc. I would tell him to bring... stamps, a little cash like 10 dollars, he will need his drivers license and whatever paperwork the recruiters tell him to. I would also have him bring a phone card with like 20 dollars on it etc. He is going into the air force? The air force has a much more relaxed bootcamp such as they can go to the PX on the weekends... after so many weeks where they can eat fast food, call home etc.... Umm... he will need to get used to shaving his face everyday. Any more questions... just ask.

They will give him boots to wear... and in the navy... only certain people could wear watches.... he shouldnt need that until after bootcamp... the drill instructors will keep pretty close watch on the time....

Barry auh2o

They issue everything he needs, except your love and support. That has to come from you.

jason

things have changed since i went away to basic but they will provide everything he will need. write him often and support him and all will work out

MarathonWomen

A letter writing kit and stamps

a_cowgurl_4_u

boot camp usually provides everything recruits need. just send a package with your picture and letter making stuff and stamps. don't send food and stuff like that. the army is stricter than the navy and in boot we weren't allowed anything like cookies and cake and stuff. make sure you write him plenty, too. there is nothing worse than two plus months with almost no word from home.

newpandaexpressawesome

Socks,

Knock It Down!

Give him a night to remember before his departure to bootcamp

ifyahaftas

lots of patience and self determination

anvil_tix

Clean underwear and money for snacks an food.. which they do give dinners an lunches an breakfast for free, but that spare change is often good to have....

they don't really like you bringing camera's or cell phones there.. cause it is distracting.. an you risk a chance of loosing it.. they allow you to buy white shirts an pants/sweat pants..

iateacookie33

a knife to shank the recruiter

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