What are some optional items i can bring to basic training ie. address book?

Question

for instance do i bring envelopes and paper to write letters home or can i get them at the px? and what about stamps do i need those or what?

Answer 1

Do not take anything except for a couple pairs of clothes, some hygene supplies, a phone book, and some writing materials. If you take anything else, it will just be in storage until you graduate. The less you take, the less you have to worry about when the Drill Sergeants go through your stuff. Also, Don't take an electric razor, you won't be allowed to use it. Also, think about bringing a phone card. You don't get a lot of time on the phone, and you can't use your cell phone, so a phone card will come in handy.

Good luck in Basic =) just remember, it's all a game

Answer 2

You will need to make time to write letters to begin with there isn't going to be a whole lot of free time at basic. If you plan on writing, bring enough stationary, envelopes, stamps to last about a week. Then make time to go to the PX (or BX if you are going AF) and you can pick up necessities. Just don't plan on a lot of free time. You will have enough to do to keep you busy pretty much around the clock so use your time wisely.

Other things you might want to consider before you get there: shoe inserts (my coroframs destroyed my instep), if you are a girl cut your hair short so you don't have to mess with it, if you are a guy, don't buzz your hair or shave your head before you get there (no matter how short it is, they WILL cut something and it makes you a target for the TOs), a phone card, a lot of patience. Just keep reminding yourself that a lot of what the TOs will do is a mind game and should NEVER (or nearly never) be taken personally.

Good Luck! Aim High!

Answer 3

Depends on the individual basic and where its at. My recruiter's list was ALL wrong, I bought towels, etc. The only thing I could keep was my toothbrush and holder. They made everyone buy the same stuff at the PX (it was such a racket!). Some people had huge suitcases full of stuff that they left there. This happend before you get to basic, it's sort of a pre-basic where you get stuck there till they have space for you. AND it's not counted towards your 8 week training either. You don't need stamps, when you write letters they get mailed and you don't have to stamp them. Few perks of being in hell, I mean basic. You can bring your address book though and pens. This one guy was getting his friend to send him cocaine through the mail (in a letter!). I asked him how the heck he did that, he just put the powder in the bottom of the envelope. No wonder he had all this energy.

I had my mom sneak me some chocolate candy bars by hiding them in a box of tampons. She re-glued the bottom. No DS checked either.

Also, BRING CALLING CARDS for the pay phones. Good luck, hope you don't get killed.

Answer 4

If it's Marine boot camp, I would take stamps because you might run out before you make your first PX stop. They will give you paper and envelopes. You don't really need much else, you probably won't get to see it until you graduate anyway.

Answer 5

Basic training. Say the word a hundred times and really thing about what it means before you go. If you do go, take enough stamps for a couple of weeks at least. Don't take anything else, just enjoy.

Answer 6

You can do either... I would buy what I can at the PX. Less to carry with you. You don't want to be carrying too much when you get to wherever your BCT is. You don't want to be the one the drill sergeant is yelling at for being slow etc.... Do bring address book if you want to write to people. What I brought with me.

change of civilian clothes, socks, underwear (female..male get theirs issued I think), sports bra...regular bra (if your male... you probably don't want to bring your bras ;) toiletries...

Bring at least one lock because when you are in reception you will want to keep your things locked. When you get to your actaul bct company...they'll send you to the px to purchase what you need.... actually I think that's all taken cared of in reception. Sorry it's been forever since I went through basic.

Answer 7

Bring only what is on the list, and buy cheap. Any thing not on the list can be / and will be considered contraband, plus it may send a message that you can't follow rules.

During BASIC and AIT, they will march you to the PX to purchase personal items that you may need, on a regular basis.

Answer 8

Talk to your recruiter, but basically the clothes on your back and some personal hygiene items (including: liquid soap, shaving cream, razor, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.) to hold you over until your first PX run. Do you really think you will have time to correspond while in basic?

Answer 9

you'll be able to buy all that there.
1st law of travelling in the military - always travel light, only ever take what you absolutely need.