Packing Up
If you look at the first page of the Surviving Air Force Basic Training article, you'll note a chart which lists the things you should bring to Air Force Basic Military Training. This is the official list produced by the folks at Lackland Air Force Base. The very first thing you should do with this chart is throw it away. This chart contains a list of things you will need at basic training, but is definitely not a good list of things you should bring with you.
Why not? Well, one of the very first things you're going to learn about your T.I. is that he/she likes "standardization." In other words, he/she wants every single member of your flight to look exactly the same, as much as possible. Therefore, even if you bring something on the list, the T.I. is going to want everyone to have the same color, or style as everyone else. In that case, the T.I. is going to "recommend" that you buy a certain color or style at the Base Exchange (BX) during your initial shopping trip there. (It's always wise to listen to a T.I.'s "recommendations" even if you don't agree -- it'll save you some "discomfort."
On your second day after arrival, you'll be issued a special "debit card." This debit card has $250 worth of credit on it (which, by the way, is deducted from your first paycheck), and is designed for you to purchase items as the "Troop Mall" (The Troop Mall is a small BX, located in the basic training area, designed specifically for new recruits to purchase needed items).
On the day after your arrival (probably Wednesday), your T.I. will take you by the hand (actually, not really -- T.I.s are not allowed to hold hands with trainees), and march you and your flight to the Troop Mall. There you will be instructed as to what you need to purchase.
In fact, you could show up at basic training with just your important papers and the clothes on your back, and survive just fine (I don't recommend this, because you won't get your uniforms issued until Thursday or Friday, and -- if you wear the same set of clothes for four days, I wouldn't want to be standing downwind of you).
Here's what I recommend you bring with you:
Paperwork
- College transcripts, Civil Air Patrol Certificates, and any JROTC Certificates. Actually, you won't need these at basic training, but you'll want them with you during your final trip to MEPS, because college credits and/or JROTC can give you advanced enlistment rank.
- Driver's license. You won't be driving while at Air Force Basic Training, but some Air Force jobs require a driver's license. If you can't prove that you have one, you will not be eligible for consideration for any of those AFSCs (jobs).
- Alien Card and/or Naturalization Certificates (if applicable).
- Marriage License and any birth certificates for your dependents. These are required to start your housing allowance, and to obtain/complete the necessary application for dependent ID Cards.
- Social Security Card.
- Enlistment Contract. This will be provided to you at MEPS after you take the final active duty oath (except Guard/Reserve, who do not take a "final oath."
- Banking Information. You'll need the name of your bank, the bank routing number, and the account number. If you bring a blank check or blank deposit slip, this will have the required information on it. This is required because the military requires your pay to be "direct-deposited" in a bank account. You'll also want to bring an ATM card for the account, so that you will have easy access to your money.
- Important Paperwork Relating to Any Prescriptions. You will not be allowed to continue to take any prescription medication that you may bring with you (this is because there is no way to tell if you've substituted a prescription for an illegal narcotic). However, your prescription will be examined by a military doctor after arrival, and -- if necessary -- you will be re-issued the medication from the military pharmacy. Ladies, this applies to birth control pills as well. You may continue to take birth control pills during basic, but your prescription will be re-issued by the military pharmacy.
Other Items to Bring
- Shampoo.
- Toothbrush, toothbrush tray, and toothpaste/powder. Your toothbrush tray should be the square kind. If you get the round kind, and it rolls when the T.I. opens your drawer to inspect it, it will be out of place, and you'll get a demerit. For toothpaste, get the "flip lid" kind. The "screw top" is almost impossible to keep clean.
