What NOT to Bring to Basic Training

When you join the Army and go into Boot Camp there are certain items you should not bring. Not bringing these items will make your transition from civilian life to military life easier. Ask your Recruiter for a more detailed list.

Do not bring:

  • Family
  • Pets
  • Privately owned vehicles
  • Cameras
  • Radios
  • Tape players
  • Jewelry
  • Costly watches are hard to safeguard during training
  • Nonprescription drugs or drug paraphernalia
  • Steel hair picks
  • Razor blades
  • Weapons of any type, including pocket knives
  • Lighters
  • Pornographic material
  • Obscene or pornographic material
  • Food stuffs
  • Magazines or newspapers
  • Medication not prescribed by military medical personnel
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Products containing alcohol
  • Playing cards/dice/dominoes
  • Cigarettes/tobacco products
  • Large bulky items
  • Batteries (except size "D")

Your Army Recruiter should give you a list of what you can and cannot bring. While it may be cool in high school to loosely interpret "can do" and "cannot do" rules, don't try this in boot camp. If it isn't on the list, don't bring it. Drill Sergeants have a way of using selective new recruits to demonstrate the failings of civilian society for the rest of the recruits.

Source: MilitarySpot.com