<p>True. In the absence of instructions to do something, don’t do it. But I remember all too well our concerns and anxieties of a year ago. Is it a year ago already?!?</p>
<p>When I went for my overnight visit I remember seeing almost every single person with a wrist watch but I also remember the people I stayed with saying that during indoc they weren’t allowed to know what time it was. So should I bring a watch or wait and have it sent to me after indoc? And anyone have suggestions on a specific watch?</p>
<p>I got the casio g-shock. It’s nice has a different setting with all the world time zones in it which I thought would be beneficial while at sea and a bunch of other stuff. I’m planning to throw my watches in my swim team bag with a couple other stuff when i give it too the coach for indoc.</p>
<p>in any case, overpacking can be disasterous. speaking from experience, less is more. if it doesn’t say you need it and you don’t have any kind of special need for something, leave it at home. this goes not only for indoc, but for going to sea as well.
good luck to 2013</p>
<p>Welcome back is2day!!!</p>
<p>From earlier years, one great piece of info was SPACE BAGS. You can find them lots of places. (The huge ZipLoc-type of things you hook a vacuum cleaner to and it squishes things down / takes the air out).
They are great for Indoc packing (if stuff gets dumped out, you just have a few bags to collect…) Actual zip loc bags in bigger gallon-sized ziplocs for the little stuff / shaving /etc you’ll have.)
My S packed it all in a seabag, and looked like a turtle with his home on his back.
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By the way , start/keep running every day.
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Did we bring too much ? yes. Is2day/Less-is-more is correct.
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He also did the same thing packing for 1st Sea Year term. Everything fit in about 2/3 of his sea bag. He was trying to figure out what else to take along, to fill the bag up. Don’t know what he decided, but part of my DVD collection was ‘tactically obtained’. 
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Go down the list of items in your ReportingIn/Indoc packet.
Make copies of papers. HAVE a copy with you.
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(an aside) Make front/back copies of your IDs (Drivers License/Passport/Credit cards)… makes replacing them easier if you have the info. We haven’t (knock on wood).
Start/keep running, every day.
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Bring your A-game, and a CAN-DO attitude, and a sense of humor.
It’s short, but intense. You WILL survive it.
Bring your gritty determination as well… you will need it for stay focused on academics.
You have signed up for an incredible journey… All Service Academy kids have. It will NOT be the same as your other friends going to State U.
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BTW, your parents are in for an incredible journey as well 
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<h2>Hey, did I mention… start/keep running, every day ?!</h2>
<p>Congrats to all the incoming Plebe Candidates !</p>
<p>Zonker, nice to hear from you again. I had just commented to my wife it had been quite a while. We feared alien abduction. Welcome back.</p>
<p>BodyGlide is an advanced alternative to Gold Bond powder. It has the same purpose of preventing chafing given all the running and sweating during the heat and humidity of July. It is available over the counter at your pharmacy or online.<br>
Along the same lines, rather than bring boxers and undershirts made of cotton, UnderArmour or similar products do a better job of wicking away moisture. Some UnderArmour undershirts have the UA logo on the chest, so you may need to go with a similar product without the logo. These are available online as well.</p>
<p>Good advice Atlsmith, we did not go with all under armour as it got quite expensive, so we just got the all cotten with a few under armour things. The cotton can be thrown out at the end of indoc or 1st tri, or can be taken as “trash” underclothing to wear in the engine room (if engineering) under coveralls during sea term. guarantee if cadet is an engineer they will not want to bring the under garments home!</p>
<p>Oh yeah and not just the undergarments. I had a pair of pants in the garage that I needed to call the HAZMAT team for - I was afraid they would spontaneously combust.</p>