Basic training question (Army, boot camp, uniform, credit)

[Barbie2015]

My daughter's boyfriend is leaving this coming Sunday for the basic training in Georgia. Could you tell me if he needs to take some cash or his credit/banking cards with him? And also what are the most important items he should take, and what he is not allowed to have during the training?

[Balad1]

It could vary some what between the services. Considering he's going to Georgia I am guessing he's Army?

[Barbie2015]

Yes, he's Army. I would like to find as much information for him as I can.

[abrar2011]

Things to bring:
Underwear (they'll tell him how much)
Writing materials (good for note-taking and also writing letters to home)
Religious books/material
Good jogging shoes
Cheap wrist watch (with a light, he'll be training at night and early morning as well)
Checkbook, account information
Prescription medicine
Copy of written prescriptions

Don't bring:
a lot of civilian clothes
CD or cassette player or iPod (whatever he uses to listen to music/watch videos)
White socks with logos
Much jewelry (1 or 2 is okay)
Cameras
Computers

Maybe or Maybe not:
Transistor radios
small flashlights
nonreligious books
earrings for men
playing cards, dice
lighters

Banned:
Illegal drugs
Alcohol
Tobacco products
firearms
knives
pornography
things you wouldn't usually allow a 10 year old to have


These are all the things I know so far, I am not in the military or have not been to boot camp (basic training) YET, but I am considering joining the Army. So I am reading this book called "What to Expect in the Military" by P.J. Budahn
I think you should consider reading it. It is very informative and useful. It's a practical guide for Young People, Parents and Counselors. You could probably find it in a public library around your home or maybe on Amazon.

Please Tell him Good Luck from me!

[brubaker]

Make sure he eats any candy before the bus stops too!

[WestCobb]

Barbie, your intentions are great -- but he should get a packing list along with an explanation of what not to bring from his recruiter. If he hasn't gotten this, be sure he does ... the first few days of basic will be awkward for him if he doesn't pack just so.

[kygman]

Basic training in August in the south? Ouch! I remember my basic. We were told there's no need to bring money. Wouldn't have time to spend it in basic anyway.

[BryancBullock]

I am shipping to basic @ Ft Benning in September. I bought and have read by far the best preperation book I have been able to find (at Barnes and Noble).

Its called "Thr Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook" by Sgt. Michael Volkin and plan on getting "The Ultimate Survival Pack" by Sgt. Michael Volkin as well, which includes:

Since you can't have outside reading material in Army training (or any branch for that matter), The Ultimate Survival Pack looks like a regular notebook on the outside. On the inside it is a complete basic training survival system.
Now you can go to basic training and carry the advice of SGT Volkin in your cargo pocket! Inside the Ultimate Survival Pack are essentials that every recruit needs for basic training. Equipment such as:
• Sewing kit with clear thread to fix any uniform rips
• Stamps
• Black sharpie for labeling all your military issued items
• Envelopes for mailing
• Phone card for calling home (if you think you have access to a cell phone at boot camp, think again private)
The notepad is displayed in a journal format so you can log your daily activities at basic training, creating a keepsake when you graduate. Throughout the pages are tips from SGT Volkin and inspirational quotes. In the back of the journal is an address book so you can write the contact information of all your new friends. There is also a perforated section so you can tear pages out and write letters home.

I cant wait till basic, and look forwards to my career in the military.

HOOAH!

[jib88fer]

Basic? Take nothing but the clothes on your back. In AIT you can have some civy stuff, but still not much. Well, that's the way it was in 1982.

[lucky_double_d]

His recruiter should be giving him a packing list. I took about $10 in cash and my check card which was always stored in my wall locker. They give you a card with a cash advance of about $300 when you get to Basic but I went through that after buying all the extras they want you to get when at Basic so there were a few times our Drill SGTs marched us over to the mini-PX to get more supplies so I could use my check card there. Those that tried to use checks instead had a harder time and those that didn't have a check-card had to borrow money from people so I don't know if it's a requirement to have but it helps.

All I had was a backpack when I left for Basic 6 months ago. I had to stay overnight at the hotel the night before I went to MEPS so I had one change of civilian clothes and something to wear to bed as well as the civilian clothes I was wearing the day I checked into the hotel. That's all in the way of civilian clothes. No major electronics. Though you can have your cell phone because there are a lot of Drill SGTs who will let you use that instead of a pay phone now whenever they allow phone calls home (but get a phone card just in case...the ones on post, at least the places they took us, are more expensive than the one I got at Target before I left). However, the Drill SGTs will take your phone and keep it for you until, and if, they will allow you to use it. They lock it up somewhere (ours kept them in their office in a big locked trunk).

Besides the phone, check-card, paperwork from my recruiter's office, and one pair of civilian clothes, all I had in my backpack were pairs of underwear and socks and things to write home with (including an address book, stationary, pens, and stamps). I had a small toiletry bag with airport sized things in it and also two locks. Mine were key locks and I kept my key around my dog tag chain but some people had combo locks. I also had a pair of plain black shower shoes.

Everything else I bought with my advanced pay card they gave me which happens in reception. Going with that list that other poster put up, I had a pair of shoes that I wore there but they weren't the ones I used in Basic because they actually measured and tested our feet in Reception to check what kind of arches we needed and stuff like that. Then they required us to buy the shoes fitting what they found out during that foot check in the mini-store while still in Reception. You also don't have to worry about a flashlight or anything like that because that's another thing you'll get in that mini-store. Really you should only need a small backpack worth of stuff. Ask the recruiter to be sure but if it's anything like my Basic the majority of stuff will either be issued to you or you'll have to get new anyway at that mini-store.