bringing stuff to A School

[Maggie6523]

My son's PIR is 11/14 and since we are flying I am trying to put aside what we will need to bring him. Other than his phone, laptop and civilian undies (must be white???) he asked before he left for his sunglasses and watch but are those even allowed and if so, does he need to worry about theft? I saw the post about laundry being stolen. Also, once he gets some liberty and wants to visit his  brother who lives in Chicago can he have his civilian clothes like his winter coat, gym shorts and jeans or must he wear the uniform even on liberty??? If he gets to use that stuff after a few weeks I would love to bring it out to put in his brother's apt.

Does their locker for their belongings at GL actually lock?

Thanks for all your help. This site is great.

[Lisa]

I bought my son a set of comfy white boxers just to have if needed with his white dress uniform (which rarely gets worn). Otherwise, I brought all his favorite boxers because the rest of their uniforms are such that anything will work:-). They have to wear their uniforms at all times, in public, even on Liberty for Phase 1 which is basically the first 30 days or so. I went ahead and bright some civilian clothes for such a time as he will be able to wear them. He also needed some dark colored bath towels (white not recommended because staining will get them "hits" during inspections (I took him to Walmart after PIR and picked up the white boxers and navy towels. Also they are allowed to have sunglasses and watch. My son also requested a quiet Keurig single cup coffee maker and a speaker for playing music from his phone:-). The lockers do lock:-)

[Anti M]

The locker is more like a large wardrobe built against the wall.  Much bigger than a gym or school locker.  Some have a set of drawers inside.  I had to use my own lock, but they may issue them now.  

Yes, theft can be an issue, he will learn to lock things up. He has to do that anyway, as nothing can be left out during the day when they are away in class (or while they are at night school).  

[Maggie6523]

thanks for the responses. Great info. I have a few navy towels and he will be happy with his own boxer briefs. He hates boxers.  I will bring a a few civilian clothes not too much. Its awful cold out there though. Do they issue them a warm jacket? Gloves, hat???? He has a navy peacoat. Can I bring him that?

[Lisa]

They made my son buy the Navy winter gear (including a pea coat) for his wardrobe but I'm sure he would appreciate his own winter clothing for after phase 1:-)

[Anti M]

They do issue them full winter gear (hat, gloves, scarf and more), but there are additional pieces they buy for authorized uniform wear through the uniform shop.  He has a new Navy peacoat?  Not an older version, or one which is simply navy color?   I would be very careful, they can get in trouble for wearing uniform pieces with civilian clothes, and if the peacoat he has does not match the current design/issue for uniform wear, he can get in trouble for that.  He'll know if he can have it or not.   A ski parka is a better choice for civilian wear, get one at the NEX.

Thin long johns!  Underarmor!  If they can't wear something visible, bring them stuff which can go under.  

[Eva]

I'm assuming you'r son is staying in Great Lakes for A-school. If thats the case you can bring him quite a bit. My husband graduated in Feb. 2014. I had all of the same questions as you. PIR weekend, I brought my husband:

Cellphone, his favorite boxer briefs (they don't have to be white), normal socks, warm/comfy pants and hoodie, (chicago's cold in the winter), some of his favorite t-shirts and long sleeve shirts, his favorite jeans, running shoes, and his north face jacket. We bought him a new laptop at the NEX off base. I also brought him his body wash and shampoo. He'll want to take a LONG shower.

He'll have to wear his uniforms that entire weekend. They can't wear civilian clothes in public until they're phase 2, which could take anywhere from 1 month to a little over 3 depending on how quickly he gets everything he needs to do, done. It also depends on his ship and how often they move him. He can still wear them in the hotel room with you and the family though. It doesn't seem like much but my husband was so excited to put on one of HIS shirts with HIS boxers and HIS jeans and just relax. (I brought popcorn and some of his favorite movies to watch at night before we had to take him back) 

He'll have a little wardrobe in his room to keep his things in. Depending on how many people are in his room depends on which one he gets. They're assigned a rack, a wardrobe and a desk. there are 4 decent sized ones and one small one, there are also 4 desks, the 5th person doesn't get a desk. They do lock though and i think they have to keep them locked, so anything important can be kept in there. 

I ended up sending my husband a comforter for his rack a few weeks later. His roommates were all so jealous. 

Theres a really nice mall in Gurnee and a walmart really close to base, he'll probably want to buy some new things or at least get out and do normal things again. 

Let me know if you have any questions. I just had to do all of this not to long ago and now I live in great lakes and see people do it almost every weekend so, ask away! haha I don't know a whole lot but I can share my experience and what I know.

[Maggie6523]

Thanks so much Eva for the info. He will be at GL.   My son told me his jeans and khakis will probably be too big after boot camp so don't bother bringing but I guess he will tell me on his third call whether he wants them. I will definitely bring out his peacoat  and is their rack a twin xl like a college dorm? (for a comforter).

[Eva]

I haven't physically seen the racks, except during Skype calls. I got him a full-queen because i know he likes to cocoon himself up in the blankets. haha the twin xl should work too though. Im not sure what my husband does with it, if they're allowed to keep it out or if they have to put it away every day. So, I got him one of the cheap comforters at walmart, they're solid colors, black on one side grey on the other. You would have thought i bought him a $800 down comforter he was so excited. You could just take him to walmart or target and he can pick one out that he likes. 

[Anti M]

I've slept in those racks (very possibly the same ones, even decades later).  Most of the ships do make the put away their personal bedding when not in use.  They can get a LOT in that locker, but it is finite.  Yes, they are a twin.  I used the issue sheets because I had to.  Here is an ancient picture which shows my old rack:

[Maggie6523]

The peacoat is from LL Bean and says in label "made by Sterlingwear of Boston official supplier to the U S Navy" It was bought this year. I suppose it may not be the exact one they are to wear so maybe I'll wait. I can always ship it to him. Would be nice if he could wear it and not have to buy another. He loves the coat.

[Anti M]

He can wear it with his civilian clothes as is.  The problem with it for uniform wear is is has to be an exact match, and he'll have to sew his insignia on it.  Once it has the insignia on, he can't wear it with his civvies.  I did find the official link, so you can look at that.

http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/support/uniforms/uniformregul...

But honestly, he'll need two coats.

[Maggie6523]

I guess if they make them buy one he can use the one he has and put insignia on it to save the money and wear an older coat he has for civilian wear. It is an exact match. Well see.