That's a pretty good list. Here's some things I would recommend:
quote:
$600 in cash
That's a lot of cash, I wouldn't want to risk losing it. You really only need $20 for the first day, for haircut money. The next time you'll be able to spend money will be at the Navy Exchange, and they accept Credit Cards. There's also a cash machine right outside. I'd say bring no more than $100 that first day (if you have a credit card/atm card). Also bring some checks. You'll need one to give to the pay lady so she can set up direct deposit.
quote:
5+ ziplock bags
Stick one in your toiletry kit, like put your soap in it or something. That way the candio's won't take it away from you that first day. It will be very useful when you get your gouge book. You'd be surprised how sweaty it can be sticking that damned book inside your sock next to your skin. If you want to make a friend, sneak 3 or 4 in. Also, bring an extra razor cause some poor sap (ie, me on the first day) will only show up with an electric and will be SOL. Another good way to make a friend. Also, if the Candio's tell you that you can't have something and take it away, and you KNOW you are SUPPOSED to have it, don't be afraid to ask for it back. In my case, he told me to put my Toiletry kit bag in the contraband bag. It took me three days to work up the nerve to tell someone and get it back. You'll know if you're supposed to have it if all 59 of your classmates have it and you don't. (edited for clarity ~ jwn)
quote:Blanket
A good thing I saw were those fleece bedrolls that were like a small sleeping bag, go to Sports Authority by the sleeping bags and see if they sell them, they're pretty small and work very well. I talked Tahoe into getting one at the Pcola Sports Authority. He'll get it back when he finishes Black Saturday tomorrow (hehehhehe).
quote:
Watch (cheap one) you only ware a watch when you are section leader and in your last two weeks
I'd say a Timex with Indiglo (and no, that is NOT 'i' in the phonetic alphabet! hehehe gotta love RLP...) is a necessity. You'll be able to wear it when you sleep, it will get you up when you have to stand watch at 0200 on a Tuesday, and you can put it in your bookbag so you know what time it is when you are sitting through your 4th hour of Mil Law.
quote:
Two plane white bath towels
Bring some NICE plain white bath towels, preferably large. The one's they issue suck. Also, do not stencil the issued ones until you know exactly how the DI's measure the stencil. I now have like seven $4.00 bath towels with my name 1 cm off center. (They measure the stencil by folding it in half to find the center... they then push a pen through the last period in your stencil, ie SMITH J.A., and the pen tip better damn well be touching the first letter in your name).
Good luck,
jwn
Edited by - dawgfan on 11/02/2001 20:19:52
