<p>Please do NOT plan on just sending extra things. There have, in the past, been companies that allowed a NC to request that the parent mail a specific item or two. But don't do it unless your NC requests it. Some cadre will do this ................. others ........... No Way! This would be a terrible way for a NC to become a 'heat magnet'. In other words, getting too much negative attention. </p>
<p>Stick with the basics. Do NOT send anything else unless your new cadet requests it. Assume if they ask for it that they have gotten permission. If they have not, that is their call.</p>
<p>A small suitcase? They will not be authorized to have a small suitcase. Anything extra brought with them will be put into the storage rooms and not be accessible to the NC's till after they complete CBT.</p>
<p>Mom of 4: We did take her a few things on A-Day; khaki pants, shirt & sweater, jeans and shoes, but that was it. She packed the bag, we brought it with us. She did not store it there over the summer. </p>
<p>Over the year she has managed to accumulate more than I thought she would. She gets to come home tomorrow for a few days before Air Assault training and is brings a LARGE suitcase and her camping backpack home with her, both full I imagine.</p>
<p>As far as sending things, I do realize that although this was allowed last year it may not be this year. And when I did send things, it was exactly what she asked for; no more no less. Mostly it was bras, blister band-aids, duct tape.</p>
<p>Somewhere she started a thread, dated Feb. 13 titled "From a Plebe's Perspective...especially for girls." Try a search on that; it's under my screen name, but it's her thread. May have better information than I can offer.</p>
<p>Yeah - this whole thing about taking extra stuff (beyond the official list) to R-day is confusing. The instructions clearly say not to, the parents club says not to, the moderators on prospective.net say not to - but there is advice given here that says to bring certain things. Some say to bring a leatherman, q-tips, duct tape, flashlight, baby wipes, q-tips etc. Gear that will be used out in the field.
My daughter doesn't want to bring anything extra - I guess I will just be prepared for her to mail me a list.</p>
<p>The suitcase with civies to which I was referring was to bring her on A-Day. What I meant was can she have this when the academic year starts - apparantly the answer is yes.</p>
<p>No doubt it is confusing. My daughter started out with a large duffel bag but at the hotel the night before R-Day took 3/4 of the stuff out and took just a small bag. Your cadet candidate could, honestly, show up with the clothes on their back and be fine. Everything they need will be issued and everyone shares, so if you don't have something you can borrow it.</p>
<p>We had a couple of friends already there and their recommendations were the Sharpies, blister band-aids, extra bras, duct tape, and Q-tips. Do bear in mind that whatever is brought will be carried ALL DAY along with everything else issued, and by the end of the day they are lugging around quite a load of stuff.</p>
<p>My personal recommendation, if you take nothing else, take blister band-aids (blue & silver box). Get several boxes, take them out of the box and put them in a plastic zipper bag with your toothbrush, etc. She went through hundreds of them (held on with duct tape) and they were very popular with her team mates, which is why she went through so many. </p>
<p>I know several people have mentioned a leatherman; she actually took one, never used it. Some people swear by them, some not so much. But it gets back down to the fact that they all share; if someone needs one and doesn't have it, there will be one to borrow. </p>
<p>So don't sweat it. Take essentials, as you see them, and know that everything will be fine in the end.</p>
<p>It is worth noting that officially new cadets are not allowed to self medicate - that includes band aids for blisters....they like medics to know about all problems - infected blisters can cause big problems.
Prescription meds with the label attached are OK; they will check prescription meds during in-processing.</p>
<p>I was talking with my dad and reading the books i was sent and have a question...Lighters and Leatherman was said to be invaluable...if i bring these to R-Day, will they get taken away? is it ok to bring them or should i have them mailed? thanks</p>
<p>New cadets will be able to receive packages during Beast, at least they could last year. My son did not take his cleats on R-Day because they were not on the list. He asked for me to mail them about a week after Beast started and I did. He did not get in any trouble for the package and the cleats came in handy for sports tryouts. HOWEVER, all packages that are received during Beast are opened in front of an upperclassman or upperclasswoman. So, don't send any pink underwear or cookies. Your son or daughter would be humilitated if they received pink underwear and they would not be allowed to eat any goodies. Like most things at West Point, including Beast, just use your common sense...but remember other than letters from home there should not be much of an expectation of privacy and anything you can try to do to send food and the like has been tried before and won't work. On A Day you can indulge your cadet.</p>
<p>Do NOT operate under the 'expectation' of being able to send ANY packages during CBT.</p>
<p>If a NC needs something during CBT they must receive permission to have the item sent. Some cadre may allow some requests, others may not allow anything. </p>
<p>If your NC writes and requests you to send a specific item, I would assume they have asked. If they did not ask and get into some difficulty over it .... then it becomes a lesson well learned early. But likely they have asked and received permission.</p>
<p>I am dense - Sierra - what you explained is now my understanding. Thank you.
I am sure I/we are making way too much of this extra stuff.
We will get it figured out.</p>