<p>So should we shine our boots before I-day? Who here is going to?</p>
<p>I didn’t see this brought up anywhere else, and I’m pretty curious.</p>
<p>When I was at Summer Seminar, they told us that if you do that you will just draw attention to yourself which is bad.</p>
<p>Is there anything that your suppoosed to do to new boots before you shine them for the first time?</p>
<p>I once heard someone mention something about removing whatever the factory put on, so that a shine takes on more easily...but I have no idea if thats true</p>
<p>I would say that it would probably just be better to not really do much with them (aside from keeping them relatively clean) before I-day. I'm sure they'll tell us when we get there what we are supposed to do with our boots.</p>
<p>When I went to the appointee orientation, my cadet told me to put something, anything, on the boots when I get home. He said shoe polish or dressing would work. It helps preserve the boots. Yeah, I heard from many sourses that they strongly discourage shining the boots before I-day, for reason listed by soccer1458.</p>
<p>My cadets from orientation said its a good idea to put a couple coats on to make it easier later. Just make sure they don't look shiny on I-day.</p>
<p>Mine are getting a little scuffed. I will probably, polish them to an even black before I-day. (Something similiar to "out-of-the-box" condition)</p>
<p>Both our ALO and Head of the Parents Club said NOT to polish before you report to I-Day. Soft brushing any mud off would be fine.</p>
<p>Soccer, most people say to "strip" them (using any number of methods, with rubbing alcohol being the most preferred). It just means you rub them until no more black comes off.</p>
<p>Do NOT show up on inprocessing day with shined boots. They should be clean but I would not recommend shining them.</p>
<p>I intend to follow the advice of this thread, but why is that UN? Will it just single us out?</p>
<p>In one word: YES!</p>