Would it be better to have personal items mailed to you at AIT, or have a loved one bring them to BCT graduation? The items I'm wondering about in particular would be a cell phone and MP3 player, nothing big.

The AITs I'm looking at doing are both 14-18 weeks in length. Any guess as to how long into it I would be allowed access to such items? Thanks...

my guess would be to just have them brought to you at graduation. That way you would have them right away just in case you are allowed to have them.

I was also wondering if something isn't allowed early on, if personal items are locked away when you get to AIT (the way the DSs lock up your personal bag in a closet at BCT)?

Yes. Personal electronics are not allowed in Phase 4. They will be loked and then given back to you when you hit Phase 5. I think the cell phone is allowed in Phase 4 though, but I'm not sure because my AIT is not normal...

At my AIT, the main thing you lost during Phase 4 was civilian clothes and certain personal electronics (personal DVD player, laptop, TV). We were allowed cel phones, though. After 4 weeks, when we hit Phase 5) we got it all back (except the TV, have to be 5A for that). I just waited and had mine shipped to me. It was easier that way and I didn't have a whole bunch of stuff with me when I got there.

I am guessing that you were not OSUT. As OSUT, our AIT was just an extension of basic. Cell phones, DVD players, TVs??? Damn, we could not even have candy. Los of us bought cough drops because we could have those, but not the cherry ones, only the nasty menthol ones. I think the only electronic thing that I got to play with during my "off time" was the washing machine and dryer. And even with those, we only had 5 for 160 people to do their clothes.

Now that I think about it. I don't even think that DVDs were around when I went basic. I think that they had some laser discs or something like that. they looked like shin records. Hmm, I am old.

well it is the New Army......friend in MP AIT right now just texted me from his phone....and he went on and on about his privledges...

our personal items other than clothing were placed in our personal bags and then inside of our duffel bags and left on top of our locker. Our DS's only rule was that they had to be locked up during duty hours.

Any chance that a personal vehicle might be allowed at some point in a longer AIT? I will be spending 20 weeks at Fort Gordon.

I think that it has to be longer than 20 weeks to get a POV

It depends on battalion/brigade policy.
According to TRADOC Reg 350-6, you'll be limited for ANYTHING until phase 5+ (20 weeks and afterwards). Of course, battalion/brigade policy.

Thanks. Guess I'll find out when I get to Fort Gordon. I was just thinking it might be easier when my husband flies down to visit later on in AIT, though I guess we can always rent one.

OK, now for a somewhat unimportant question but something I'm curious about: can you drink coffee again in AIT?

Yes. I could when I went to AIT. The only thing we weren't allowed to do was smoke or drink alcohol. Which people did anyway.