For all the woman please! I really need to know this answer.

[kimbob699]

I am on birth control for my periods and im about to go to boot camp. Do I keep taking it or how does that work when I get in there?

[Aliott1200 (Ship 10, Div 256)]

The following is a list of authorized personal items that you may want to bring to training, but are not required. Any unauthorized or unnecessary items (including your civilian clothes) will be boxed up and shipped home at your expense.

OK to bring:

1. Wrist watch, wedding ring.
2. Religious medallion (No larger than the size of a dog tag).
3. Writing material (NO bottled ink).
4. Pocket dictionary.
5. Pocket bible.
6. Small address book.
7. Hairbrush and comb.
8. Pre-paid phone cards.
9. One pair of prescription glasses, reading glasses or contacts (with one week of cleaning solution).
10. A small amount of cash (i.e. less than $10).

Female recruits may retain the following personal items:

1. Feminine sanitary items.
2. Conservative cosmetics. Female/one of each: face powder, blush, lipstick, eye shadow and mascara (non-aerosol or glass). Make-up will be authorized for division photos and graduation weekend only.
3. Barrettes (Female/must match hair color).
4. Birth control medications.

Note: Female recruits are not authorized to bring a swimsuit, underwear or bras. All will be issued upon arrival.

THIS CAME RIGHT FROM THE NAVY RECRUIT WEBSITE AS FOLLOWS:

http://bootcamp.navy.mil/what_to_bring.asp

Good luck to you kimbo. You should be very proud of yourself.

[kimbob699]

Thank you so much I leave next week so that really helped =]

[Aliott1200 (Ship 10, Div 256)]

Oh you are more than welcome hun. Good luck to you.

[Arwen]

It says you can take all those things, but some of it will be sent back. Writing material is usually sent back, they provide it for you. Hairbrushes may be sent back if they are too large. They will also make you send your cosmetics back, but you will be allowed to purchase more right before your portrait is done.

The watch has to be silvertone in color, no fancy diver watches (mostly a problem with guys, not girls).

When you pack your box to send your stuff home they will give you a sock. It is a "security sock." If it doesn't fit in the sock, you have to send it home.

I recommend you fit stamps, your phone card and whatever else will fit in your wallet, because sometimes recruits get flustered and send their stamps and phone cards home with the stationery.

As for the birth control meds, they do not want you coming off birth control for boot camp. The stress of boot camp really screws with cycles, and the meds help to keep things relatively "normal."

[Aliott1200 (Ship 10, Div 256)]

Arwen, it would have made life easier if they let my son take stationery with him. I had to send him some at like week 5, he said he used his all up. I guess they get a certain allotment and then they have to get their own?

[Anti M]

That's one of the best moves the Nay has made, to allow women to stay on their birth control. Back then, I had to go off, when I went through we couldn't have any meds at all. No wonder those first four weeks were hell. LOL.

Be sure to take enough BC to get through eight weeks. Be sure to take your favorite pads or tampons too, in case the NEX doesn't carry your preferred brand. That doesn't have to fit in the sock, I bet! Do NOT take Midol or Pamprin, you can't have those.

[Arwen]

Feminine supplies is one of the few packages I have heard recruits are allowed to receive in boot camp, but usually not until the fourth week or later. However, I also heard (unverified) that female recruits are not allowed to use tampons at all and, for the first few weeks. have to use whatever pads are supplied/carried in the NEX.

It's been a long time for me, but I remember our CCs (RDCs) telling us how sorry they felt for us having to use the "mattress pads." LOL.

[Arwen]

Several moms in my son's group were notified at about week 3 or 4 that they were allowed to receive feminine products, and ONLY feminine products.

This may have been an RDC choice, but I have heard the same from other groups.

Recruits were also allowed to receive packages containing their contacts and contact solution in the weeks just before PIR.

My son's division received a LARGE package of chocolates from a high school team during week 6, and the recruits were allowed to eat them. Again, though, this was probably RDC choice and may not apply to all divisions.

[shana1]

What kind of BC are you taking? If you are on one that prolongs your periods, take it after your last period. It can take up to 2 weeks to be effective but it should work during BC. Good luck to you....

[Sandy's_sailor son]

Hello kimbob699. I heard that it is ok to bring Birth Control Medications but make sure that you don't tell the doctor at MEPS that you need it to regulate your periods. Other wise, you will have to get a note from your doctor. Just tell the doc at MEPS that you are using it for Birth Control.