[JPH]

Just a quick update here, I am in AIT now and have a bit more freedom to communicate with the outside world so I thought I would update this for whoever comes down the road next…

It was three weeks before I was allowed to go to the PX and buy additional personal hygiene items. This situation is company dependent, meaning it depends totally on where you go to BCT and then which company you are in. I know of soldiers in other companies, just down the road from me on Sand Hill, who were marched to the PX within 3-5 days. So pack light, but a full-size deodorant, extra travel size toothpaste, and a full-size bar of soap wont make you reach mussel failure any sooner than leaving them at home and you will be much better prepared (happier), because trust me you wont want to ask your dirty battle buddy if you can use his nasty bar of soap, but you will if you don’t have any left yourself.

On having your documents squared away… BE ADVISED, I am the product of three very complicated military paperwork SNAFUs… having hard copies AND digital scans of my documents saved my butt and kept me out of a holding company for 2-3 extra weeks… If you don’t own a scanner spend 1-2 hours at Kinkos and make a good quality scan of EVERYTHING you have been given or signed from your recruiter, MEPS, and School… Also get on to AKO if you can and download the PDF scans they have so you can see what they have and don’t… your record is your responsibility. If you get to keep your 201 file while you are at an AIT holding company get copies made and sent home, you can scan them the next time your home.

That’s it for now,
Hope this helps,
JPH