<p>Ok, so what exactly can we bring to I-Day that we are actually allowed to keep? I know that cell phones are returned for the 3 phone calls and at the end of summer, and iPods just aren't allowed, but I would really like to bring my Bible, journal, and a few photos, rather than have my parents mail them. Would they be allowed? Thanks.</p>
<p>Yea but you don't want to carry all of that stuff around. I brought a very small backpack with my own glasses, contacts, etc. You get plenty of notebooks, and no matter how much you write, you will never find time to write in a journal, i tried it for like 2 days until I decided that I just wanted to sleep as opposed to write. They give USNA bibles at 11th hour, so get that one. If you have to have your own, just have it be sent. Same as pictures. It's such a hassle to carry everything around. I carried almost nothing and it made my life so much easier than those people that I saw with bags.</p>
<p>What is 11th hour?</p>
<p>i would suggest bringing a disposable camera...it's funny how you'll forget what happened over the summer. On I-day you'll get your bag with all of your stuff in it, cell phone, journal, bible, toothbrush, whatever...then you'll take out the stuff you need and leave the 'contraband' i.e. your civvies and cell in the bag and give it to your cadre. They don't to my knowledge ever actually search your bag...</p>
<p>besides the absolute necessities---they really do give you everything you need including stamps, envelopes, paper, you name it--you'll get it.</p>
<p>Seriously, all you really need are the clothes on your back and a cell phone. (My plebe summer we relied on calling cards and payphones on 0 deck. Usually it took about 2 of the 5 min that you had just to learn how to use the damn card</p>
<p>"and iPods just aren't allowed"</p>
<p>are they not allowed at all during plebe year or just during plebe summer?</p>
<p>No Ipod during plebe year.</p>
<p>Have your friends and parents grandparents or whoever is going to write to you send one or two pictures in each letter. Make letters really short as during Plebe Summer they have no time to read them. If it is a grandparent have them type or print - they have no time to decipher handwriting - mine actually wrote his grandmother and told her that.</p>
<p>Have the pictures be of things that remind them of home - friends, the dog, the cat, the yard, the house, the friends, NOT things that they have missed like family vacations etc. Mine looked so forward to the pictures. We had friends email pictures to me and I printed them. My Mid felt the pictures really made him feel still connected.</p>
<p>Disposable camera was taken away - Plebe Summer 2010. Did get to use one only for the trip to DC.</p>
<p>Even though in the permit to report package they will give a list - it will all come home at the end of Plebe summer as they will have been issued it all anyway - so really clothes on your back and the cell phone. Anything else can be sent later.</p>
<p>I would second profmom's advice- bring nothing but the clothes on your back, a copy of your vaccinations in your pocket, and a pair of broken-in running shoes on your feet.</p>
<p>Everything else can be - and should be- left at home.</p>
<p>Exception to the above:
-cell phone (and charger)- knowing it will be "taken away"
-medications (only if they are prescription- along with a note from your MD as to "why").... they may/may not be taken away at medical (usually BCP's can be kept)....</p>
<p>Everything else- will stress *everything else * can be mailed to you in care packages. Make sure the items sent in those are "allowed" ... be aware that anything other than that stands a good chance of being confiscated.</p>
<p>You need and want nothing extra to carry around with you on I-Day...unless you have been lifting substantial weights and are well equiped to lug all this stuff around. Even then, would strongly recommend you report with nothing but the items listed above. The list they send home will no doubt include "6 prs white tee shirts, briefs, athletic bras, etc, etc, etc"..... trust me when I say we sent all the items on the list, our mid lugged them around all day, and when it came to PPW, we got EVERYTHING right back.... never touched/used/needed... I don't think that backpack was opened even once!</p>
<p>They will even give u a toothbrush.... but if you absolutely need to pack "something," then pack one of those.... in your pocket. </p>
<p>Funny- we were told the same thing- and as most of you will do, we also "ignored" the intell..... so foolish in retrospect!!! We could have easily saved our mid from lugging about 10 lbs over 8 hours if we had listened!!! ;)</p>
<p>Wouldn't you be reprimanded for not brining what you were instructed?</p>
<p>Son did what others have said. Copy of vaccinations in his pocket, and copy of his eyeglass prescription (he had it sent ahead of time so his BCGs we ready upon arrival), worn in running shoes on his feet, kept his hair short and spent time running in the sun with the short hair BEFORE plebe summer (avoided the scalp and neck sunburn) and had his wisdom teeth pulled and all healed again before arrival (oral surgeon sent the xrays after his wisdom teeth were gone). And a cell phone with charger in a ziplock baggie with it clearly labeled with his name and co.</p>
<p>He had tried different types of running shoes so when we found the ones he liked in the "right" colors he bought extra and I mail it to him as soon as the current pairs have holes (well, right before they have holes). Many plebes had care packages of food goodies but he did not want any sent. </p>
<p>What he did want sent were Tide pens, not the bleach ones (they make the white works yellow.) </p>
<p>So he did not have to lug his extra stuff around. He ended up without a summer sunburn and no shin splits, blisters, sprains or breaks. He was appreciative of the advice he received ahead of time.</p>
<p>He also set up his automatic deposit with Navy Federal CU (after he opened checking/savings and credit card with them) before the summer. They have a branch in Brancroft. We set up stuff online so we could also deposit funds into his account if he needed any.</p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>Kat</p>
<p>
[quote]
Wouldn't you be reprimanded for not brining what you were instructed?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>no- not at this point.
Remember, this happens almost immediately.
You go through the doors of alumni hall-
you give your name to the Cadre waiting behind the tables, who will then give you a nametag and paperwork
and then you will give up your "stuff."
With the exception of your cell phone, you will not see that "stuff" again until PPW- and you will get it back exactly like you hand it over! (well, hopefully.... our Mid lost his electric razor, and his flip-flops.... the former never used and never seen again, and the latter- well, that is another story entirely! :eek: )</p>
<p>The yelling only starts after that! ;)</p>
<p>my mid never had his watch returned. his company lost a box of them.
during plebe summer you aren't allowed to know what time it is until the last week or so.</p>
<p>Wow this really simiplifies everything, thanks everyone, Im gonna take the advice of the board, seems to always work...:)</p>
<p>As long as I get a bible and a toothbrush I'll be fine. </p>
<p>Katwkittens: It sounds like you mid was very prepared when I-day rolled around, I am going to try to do some of the same stuff (send in eyeglass perscription, set up account). Seems to me like it can only make life easier to do stuff before hectic I-day....</p>
<p>navypilot08:My plebe's roommate I stayed with for CVW did journal during Plebe Summer. He wasn't the type you'd think would journal either, a varsity star, ect...but he said it helped it get him through. He showed it to me, most of it had been written in the dark, literally, so it was quite a mess. But Im sure he will probablly be glad he did when he looks back years later.</p>
<p>So it can be done, though I am sure that Jack Traveler is very right that few find it important enough....</p>
<p>Wow, that sure made our pre-I-day packing easier!</p>
<p>At what point are plebes allowed a (digital/disposable) camera?</p>
<p>What are the most essential items for the first care package? At what point can plebes receive care packages?</p>
<p>My Mids company did not get a disposable camera until they went to DC which is about the last week of Plebe Summer. They were allowed to buy them at the MidStore.</p>
<p>LOL Lost the brand new never been used electric razor too!
Got the Tshirts and underware back still in the same folds as the packaging - after all had to send him with new stuff. ;)</p>
<p>We noticed on the zoomie page that some cadets were buying boots early so as to break them in before reporting in. Can USNA appointees do that? Broken in boots sure beat broken down feet....</p>
<p>Running shoes - you are allowed to keep your broken in running shoes. Mine never complained about the boots making his feet sore.</p>
<p>So, mids don't need to bring boots like they do for USMA and USAFA?</p>
<p>nope. no boots necessary. you dont wear them that much anyways.</p>