<p>Ok. Whats the final verdict on the permit to report asking us to pack so many pair of tube socks and underwear? I've heard:</p>
<p> Don't bring them, you will never use them</p>
<p> Bring them for sure</p>
<p> Bring them for good measure but yeah, you won't use them</p>
<p>Opinions?</p>
<p>Also how about bringing a Bible? Maybe limit it to a mini New Testament? </p>
<p>My passport? Leave it at home?</p>
<p>I’m sure I’ll collect many more last minute thoughts as the week progresses…</p>
<p>DD (now a firstie) told me she did not need any of the items listed in the permit to report packet. She had boxes of everything she could ever need stacked up in her room when she got there. If you want to bring a few items, feel free, but I would not go crazy. You will be issued plenty.</p>
<p>I would recommend leaving the passport home. You won’t be leaving the country any time soon and your parents can always send it to you later. Just make sure you have an ID with you when you report.</p>
<p>re: the socks.
my son is now a 2/c. he did not bring any socks or underwear from the packing list. he was issued more than enough. i talked to a new 3/c parent who said that issue is being decreased as far as number of socks and underwear. it may be safer to bring some just in case.
re: the Bible. yes bring it. it is the only non issue book you will be allowed to have. hold it in your hand as you walk into Alumni Hall, as all gear was taken away from my son almost right away (including his retainers!) you may tuck a photo or two in your Bible if you wish, but don’t lace every other page like a photo album.
re: passport. yes, leave it at home. my son didn’t need his until he applied for overseas assignments.</p>
<p>Kathie, u say ur son’s retainers were taken away? Did he get them back during the summer? I would hate to see my teeth after a summer of no retainers… On the list it says to bring 2 weeks worth of toiletries, would I be safe if my retainers were with my toiletries? And thanks for the advice on the Bible. I will certainly be bringing that.</p>
<p>yes, he did get them back. as i was waiting in line for the bus to leave the Yard at the end of I-Day, i told the Cadre, who was there to answer parents’ questions, that his retainers were taken away accidently. he took down my son’s name and company info. the Cadre made sure that he got them back within a couple of days. i knew my son didn’t want the “extra” attention, but i had paid $$$ for that smile, and didn’t want it ruined. he only wore them at night, that’s why they weren’t in his mouth. </p>
<p>i’d recommend that you keep your retainers in your mouth, not in your bag or pocket, for processing. if they are inadvertantly removed from your person, there will be a time within the first week where you will have the chance to bring that up.</p>
<p>also make sure that anything you bring is labeled with your name. my son’s watch was taken along with watches from other company plebes and placed into a box. the box was lost and he never got his watch back. had he left it in his bag with his civilian clothes, it would not have been lost. you can either leave your watch at home or place it with your civilian clothes when you change into your whiteworks.</p>
<p>so label your cell phone and charger with your name. some go to the effort to bubble wrap and ziploc bag their phones and chargers.</p>
<p>so i have a question regarding underwear. for the men what do they issue us? ive always felt at home with boxer briefs so i hope they keep it that way. i also heard we could bring compression shorts then itd be up to the companies if we could wear them. how does this work? </p>
<p>also in the PTR it said we could bring one or two textbooks to study with before the validation tests, could we slip one or two photos between the several hundred paged books?</p>
<p>underwear: issue is tighty-whitey. you heard correctly on the compression shorts. bring or wear a pair and have your parents include some in your first care package which can be sent on I-Day from DTA (Down Town Annapolis). If your company allows them, you will be able to use them right away. If not, they will be set aside and you can claim them at the end of the summer.
textbooks: sure, bring them if you like, but don’t press your luck by including too many photos. Parents can also include a couple of photos in your care packages; again, not too many.</p>
<p>ugh - tighty-whiteys may be the worst things ever. i can only imagine the chafing that will occur</p>
<p>You might want to recheck the men’s underwear in the PTR packet. </p>
<p>My son’s year the issue was definitely boxer briefs, but the legs were rather short. On first inspection they could be mistaken for tighty-whiteys, but closer inspection revealed that they were not; they were actually short boxer briefs, made, I believe, by Hanes.
CM</p>
<p>That’s definitely good to here CM. My mom has a question, when stuff does get taken away is it done on the company level or once you arrive in one big group? For instance when I take compression shorts will I get a chance to talk to my company leader or will the induction people just take them?</p>
<p>The safest thing is to have Mom send them in your first care package. </p>
<p>Company rules vary widely. If you bring them they might go with your gym bag and phone into storage; if Mom (or Dad) sends them, you have a greater chance of keeping them. I believe that your gym bag gets taken as you enter Alumni Hall, tagged with your name and company, and transported to storage. YOu don’t get your gym bag stuff back until Plebe Parents’ Weekend, except for using your phone for the 3 calls home during the summer.</p>
<p>Best of Luck and Keep a low profile!
CM</p>
<p>Get “Body Glide” or any other runners slick stick for chafing & Compression Shorts for under PEP Gear sent in first CARE Package. They will really help for the running in the heat and humidity.</p>
<p>when you get into bancroft, the first table you hit will be for your name tag and paperwork. Second stop: about 3 minutes to get whatever it is you need out of your knapsack for any items you may need. Put the items you need on the top in a zip lock bag that you can get to quickly; include in that your calculator (if you are bringing one), your phone and charger - labled and in a seperate bag, and any immediate toiletries you need. Keep it to a small quantity. </p>
<p>As for “speaking” to someone as to what you can keep- forget it. They do not want to hear about your special needs, desires, wants, or anything else for that matter, other than your name and 5 plebe responses. Unless it fits into your last name, “sir, yes sir,” “sir, no sir,” “Sir, I will find out, sir,” “mam, I do not understand,” or “Sir, aye aye, sir,” they don’t want to hear it. So forget about discussing anything- not going to happen.</p>
<p>Bible-
you can have one, but would suggest your parents send it in your first care package, unless you don’t mind adding those ounces to your seabag. As you move from issue station to issue station, your bag will fill up quickly - 90 lbs, give or take. Add in all the extra ounces of stuff from home and you may regret it. There is nothing that can’t be mailed to you- including bibles, socks, underware, toiletries- anything. Mom and dad can set up a few care packages for those items and mail them right out on I-Day or in the days following.</p>
<p>Passport-leave it at home. You will not need it plebe summer and it can always be sent to you later.</p>
<p>Leave any valuables at home. Watches, etc. Parents can bring them PPW, or mail them to you when you rate them. Better than risking losing them in the bowels of Mother B, never to be seen again.</p>
<p>What you DO want to bring- in YOUR pocket, is a copy of your vaccination record. DON’T FORGET THAT, and DON’T GIVE IT TO MOM AND DAD TO HOLD. They will not be in Alumni Hall with you, so make sure it is in YOUR pocket- and not in your knapsack. And as long as you are packing that into your wallet, put a small American Flag in there as well, and unpack that and put it on display on your desk as soon as you hit your room. The rationale for doing that will become clear to you in the days ahead, but for now just do it.</p>
<p>Again, the stuff you bring from home gets taken away almost immediately, and long before you see your company area. But rest assured, you are going to get so much other “stuff” you will think it is Christmas in July! </p>
<p>Best of luck everyone! Keep your eyes in the boat, your ears tunned to every word, your mouth shut and your chin tucked in. Take lots of spirit, fly low, blend in, and leave your ego at the gate. Each year 1430+ manage to survive, and so will you!</p>