<p>I just got that whole packet with the footwear memo. It appeared that we are meant to get two pairs of those hot weather acu boots. Two identical pairs of boots? Is that right?</p>
<p>harrison,</p>
<p>yeah i think that's what it means... I'm gonna buy two here soon.</p>
<p>Yes, that's right.</p>
<p>You'll need them. You'll usually have a garrison pair and a field pair. Also, when you're wearing boots every day, and especially when you're breaking them in, you should alternate between pairs so that the shoes have time to recover inbetween wearings. It makes them last longer, and your feet won't be as torn up because they'll crease slightly differently. Same with low quarters.</p>
<p>When I visited West Point I got my boots and low quarters and it was suggested to me to just get one set of boots. You will be given the second pair when you get there. I was told that it would just be a hassle to carry around both pairs of boots all day.</p>
<p>Hey guys am I missing something from my packet or does a second packet come after USMA receives my card accepting my appointment. I just got my appointment last week but my packet didnt have anything about boots.</p>
<p>Congratulations, Kevin!</p>
<p>And I wouldn't worry. There are many packets to come.</p>
<p>Kevon07: Check the candidate log-in. The "boot letter" will magically appear there along with a couple of other forms you'll need to print out and some on line things you'll need to fill out.</p>
<p>The only addition to my log-in screen is something about immunizations. I suspect the additional stuff might be added once USMA gets my acceptance card. Hopefully... heh</p>
<p>Yeah, it will show up when they get the card.</p>
<p>ok, I got some boots. bzzzt, from your post I take it that it's normal that the boots are scraping/rubbing my feet a lil?</p>
<p>and this is just griping, but why does USMA require air force shoes?! you gotta make two trips for the footwear :(</p>
<p>In the letter I got concerning the boots and the low quarters, it said it was highly recommended but not mandatory. Does this mean we'll be issued 2 pairs of boots and 1 pair of low quarter during Beast if we don't bring our own pair? Will being issued 2 pairs of boots and 1 pair low quarters result in less money being available in your cadet account?</p>
<p>I was just wondering because it said that purchasing boots and shoes would be at our expense and I was wondering if it would be "at our own expense" regardless of when one "buys" them. All the stuff I have to buy (senior trips, AP Tests, gas in California for an SUV, the deposit to West Point) is mounting and I don't know if I'll have the money to buy boots and shoes right now.</p>
<p>I don't know about anyone else, but breaking in my boots has been, uh, painful so far. I couldn't imagine starting Beast with unbroken boots. Low quaters maybe, but not boots. If you show up with nothing, yeah they will give you all three pairs, but I'm not sure how that will effect your cadet account.</p>
<p>I'll send an e-mail to USMA and ask what they think. I'll post the results here as soon as I get a response.</p>
<p>Try wearing a pair of liners under the bootsocks to make it easier to break in your boots. Liners can be purchased at sporting goods stores in the hiking section. The liners act as a wick and prevent rubbing. See page 6 of USMA's Fact Sheet: "How to Prepare Physically fo Cadet Basic Training". Sock liners are strongly endorsed by my son!</p>
<p>If you arrive on R-day without boots and/or low quarters they will be issued to you. If you arrive with boots and/or low quarters that do not fit correctly they will be issued. If you arrive with the incorrect boots/low quarters they will be issued. Your cadet account will be charged accordingly.
The new boots are much easier to break in than the old leather ones. If you do not have the boots/shoes you need make sure that you condition your feet anyway. Walk long distances with low quarter type shoes, and go on ruck marches with hiking boots. New cadets will walk a good few miles (11+ by some estimates) on R-day.</p>
<p>usservicemom,</p>
<p>I actually got sockliners last weekend, and they do help. I got a few pairs of SmartWool's. They are worth the $9 or so per pair if anyone is thinking about getting some.</p>
<p>Has anyone had any luck using the AAFES mail-order catalog? I tried the number the Boot letter gave me, they were very helpful, but the catalog they sent didn't even have any ACU stuff in it. No desert boots or anything! It seemed like a catalogue from 1995 or something. I need to call them back sometime, but has everyone been just going to a base PX and buying boots there? There aren't any military installations near where I live.</p>
<p>We made a trip to Scott Air Force base and came home with boots for my daughter, but no low quarters. I called one of the people listed on the boot letter and ordered the low quarters. We didn't get a catalog since there wasn't really any "shopping" to do, just ordering, and they knew exactly what we needed, the only question was size. Which, by the way, is still the question; the low quarters seem too big, so a re-order is in the works I guess.</p>
<p>My son bought the boots at a local Army base and tried on the shiny low quarters to get the size. THe AAFES point of contact (#10 in the letter) told us that the leather low quarters can only be purchased at Air Force base stores. We had no luck getting through to the AAFES catalog people (#9) or the 800 number. We called the closest Air Force base store, the wonderful manager found the low quarters at an ROTC store, and shipped the shoes to us. They fit! Both the low quarters and the boots are a half size smaller than he usually wears. The boots are Belleville and the low quarters are Addison.</p>