Could anyone tell me if I'd be allowed to bring my battery shaver for my legs to Basic Training?
Thank you!

You're going to basic training. Who you tryin to impress?

A simple YES or NO answer would do it. No need for sarcasm.

I know for males when I went through 3 years ago nothing battery operated was allowed. They will give you a $250 pay advance to buy all the essentials when you get to your BCT

Maybe it's allowed, maybe not. Your drill sergeants will tell you what is and is not allowed when you get there. Anything not allowed will be put in your personal bag and stored for the duration of training.

That being said, you will probably find that you won't have time to shave your legs religiously. And meinsla is right, nobody will know or care whether or not you shaved your legs either way.

Thanks!

From recent accounts ( one of my pals just finished BCT)

There is not one shaved leg in the entire area.
There was not one person who said a thing.
and absolutely not one person who had time to care My Female pal stated " I kept wondering if it would get long enough to braid it, but I dont think 8 weeks is enough. I kinda felt like a guy after about the 6th week. I made me feel tougher"


needless to say she has a great sense of humor

quote:

[LIST]8 pr. "Granny" white underwear
6 white sports bras (no logo)
1 white 'regular' bra

I have two gray sports bras, would it be best if I have plain white ones? I do believe that they have a small 'Champion' logo on the back or front of them; would that be fine? I spent a nice amount on them and don't want to have them locked away and have to buy different ones.
As far as the regular bras, do they have to be a neutral color as well or can they be ones that I already have now?
Also, the panties I bought are brief 'hipsters', not bikini cut; do they really -have- to be the 'granny pantie' style? It's just really uncomfortable to have skivvies up to my natural waist.

I'm well aware that we get our shopping lists when we get to BCT, but I'd like to get my undergarments beforehand. There's nothing like that special pair of fresh new skivvies that you put your own special thought into.....
Ridiculous, I know. But if it helps me keep my 'sanity', then it's worth it.

I will say, whether or not you have your own stuff (at least when I went through basic, granted that was a few years ago), you will most likely be required to purchase ALL items on your list during reception. This is to ensure you have everything. Everyone starts with all the same stuff. If you don't have it halfway through basic, it's your fault then, not the fault of the reception drill sergeant.

quote:

Originally posted by SSG Prophet:
I will say, whether or not you have your own stuff (at least when I went through basic, granted that was a few years ago), you will most likely be required to purchase ALL items on your list during reception. This is to ensure you have everything. Everyone starts with all the same stuff. If you don't have it halfway through basic, it's your fault then, not the fault of the reception drill sergeant.

Thanks! I definitely am not going over board with my purchases before BCT. There are a few items I'd like to put some thought into, just for comfort though. Like skivvies, bras, socks, shower shoes and sneakers. I've been told to purchase some good running shoes before BCT, because the ones that you can purchase at the PX at basic are really expensive.

Would anyone happen to know if my gray sports bras are a bad idea or not though? Should they be white or nude colored instead? Thanks again!

Well, it's probably going to depend on your DS. Some don't really care (at least about the logo on the bra or the color or your regular bra) but to be on the safe side, just get one white underwire bra. You only need it for your Class A's. As far as the logo on your bra, I don't think there is any bras (besides the cheap Walmart) that don't have a logo. I would just find one with the smallest logo you can. Personally, it doesn't matter for me which kind I get as long as it fits the right way around. But of course, bigger women have to have very supportive ones which are more expensive.
As far as the running shoes, if you want to try, you can wear the ones you have to MEPS but the DS will most likely (99%) make you do the proper footware test and buy the right ones for your feet in the PX. They are not super expensive, generally the same price in the civilian world. I have to get Asics because I'm an 'over-pronator' and I pay $80 for mine. For the most part, they DO know what they are doing when it comes to that so trust that you are getting the right ones for all the running you will be doing. Don't worry about what they look like or if you "always wear such and such brand". Trust the test.

Bottom line:
White calf length socks
White underwear (granny style-or the normal kind should be fine. As long as they aren't thongs)
White sports bras
Cheap black flip flops (you can even wait until you get there...they sell them for literally about $1 at the px)
A sharpie to label ALL of your stuff. Yes, even your underwear. Despite the nastiness of stealing someones skivvies, it DOES happen. It happened to my battle buddy and hers were dirty at the time. Blech.
Good luck! Any more questions, feel free to ask. :-)

quote:

Originally posted by Eureeka8:
A sharpie to label ALL of your stuff.

Good point- even at AIT stuff gets stolen daily. Put your last 4 SSN or initials on EVERYTHING.

"If it ain't locked up, it's stolen!"

What if you got a foot test before you go to meps and bought the right running shoes from lets say Nike. They are the right kind for my foot.. can I keep them?

my only advice is to pack light... you will have to lug all of your stuff around for a while, so why add more to it. I brought me, a change of clothes and a personal hygene kit, and I was happy that it was all that I brought, because we all had to buy everything anyway. Plus, the army made us wear their nice brown underwear... pack light..

quote:

Originally posted by PrivateJackson:
What if you got a foot test before you go to meps and bought the right running shoes from lets say Nike. They are the right kind for my foot.. can I keep them?

You can keep them, you just might not be able to wear them.

The Drill SGTs don't have time to lookup (or look AT) every type of shoe. So to save time they just make everyone buy an 'approved' pair.

Don't worry, you'll lock up your "personal clothing" during Basic Training and be able to use them at AIT and in the "real" Army.

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Make sure you pack light though- I had ONLY a light jacket, jeans, shirt, and tennis shoes going to Basic.

They give you so much Army Gear though I had to ditch the shoes on the way to AIT. (I guess I could have tied them to my bags, but I was lazy..)