<p>My son is determined to only bring a school-size backpack with nothing that isn’t on the ‘list’ to R-day, but I have a couple of questions. He says he needs 6 pair of socks, but last summer at AIM he went through a couple pair a day. Wouldn’t more be wise? Also, I’m pretty sure I read that he needs two pair of white sheets, do we have to bring these to R-day?</p>
<p>If he is able to fit everything, a backpack seems to work really well when I have seen the swabs running up the stairs with their luggage. He may need a larger backpack than he has for school but it is hard to say. I don’t recall that we had to send sheets. I believe they were issued when he got there. Obviously things change over the years, but I would caution you not to send or take anything that is not on the list. I hope that helps 
Best of luck to your family.</p>
<p>The “two pair of sheets” was only a requirement for AIM, not for swabs on R-Day.</p>
<p>The Cadet Handbook, along with the Parent’s Association website, stresses emphatically to only bring what is listed.</p>
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<p>If it says 6 pairs of white athletic tube socks, I would bring 6 pairs of white athletic tube socks. </p>
<p>No need to demonstrate to cadre that you cannot follow written directions.</p>
<p>:cool:</p>
<p>My D went to Academy Experience 4/7-8. In parent “Q&A” session cadet suggested bring EXTRA socks and underwear – because they go ‘through them’ - but otherwise STICK TO THE LIST. The cadet that hosted my D, however, said don’t bring anything except what’s on the list. So draw your own conclusion </p>
<p>Other advice - underwear - And be sure it’s white - nothing frilly or from “Victoria’s Secret” (quote from cadet class of 2011!). If you have a S - it goes ‘double’ on the nothing frilly ;)!</p>
<p>defintely bring more socks and underwear. i wouldnt worry about too much about the size of the bag, the first thing you do is put it away in the trunk room.</p>
<p>These are not very helpful suggestions because they are leaving me confused. The packing list says to bring only what they say to bring nothing less or nothing more. If you need more socks and underwear, wouldn’t they tell you to bring more? I would not take the risk of packing more gear, when it cleary says not to.</p>
<p>i did it a year ago, you want more socks and underwear. you are sweating constantly and will want to change socks and underwear after each of the 3-4 showers you take per day. </p>
<p>dont get too caught up in the “bring only whats on the list” thing. the order of events for R-day is literally get off the bus, put on some CGA clothing, go up to the trunk room and put away your bag. you wont get any extra attention for bringing anything extra.</p>
<p>Wow, 3-4 showers a day? I was thinking we’d be lucky if we get one a day. Do they do strict time limits, like one or 2 minutes?</p>
<p>How often to we get to wash our clothes?</p>
<p>Is Swab Summer located on the campus, and do we dorm in Chase Hall like we will when the academic year begins?</p>
<p>Thanks for the response br2011. This helps clear the air a bit. So if I am understanding you… they do not inspect your luggage that you bring? You just put your gear in a trunk on R-Day and have access to it later when you need it?</p>
<p>i think they worst we got was 8 minutes which was pretty much impossible. the cadre will do laundry for you and i think they took a load down for us once or twice a week. you’ll have to wear previously sweaty shirts a few times to avoid running out but other than that you should have enough clean clothes. </p>
<p>and yes swab summer is on campus in chase</p>
<p>yah tman they just tell you to bring all contraband with you to store for the summer (make sure you bring it all!). you get to go back up and get it when you pack for Eagle.</p>
<p>I think you misinterpreted me br2011. I was trying to say that I understood that if you bring a few socks and underwear that you will be fine, or won’t take too much heat for it (according to the information that you said). My idea is not to bring a bunch of stuff that is considered contraband! I am sorry. I think my last message sounded like an insult. I did not intend that at all! I was just trying to reconfirm what you said, and not in a negative way!</p>
<p>ya, nothing bad will happen if you bring extra socks and underwear</p>
<p>Thanks br2011. =) Sorry for the confusion. That was my fault.</p>
<p>haha, no problem</p>
<p>we get at least 8 minutes for a shower? That seems like a lot of time. At NY CAP Emcampment last summer, we got 1 1/2 minutes every day for a shower. It really sucked…</p>
<p>well maybe 30 seconds in the shower. its 8 minutes to square around eachother to your room, change into a robe, get 25 guys in and out of a 10ft X 10ft shower, then back to your room to change and hit the bulkhead. if you really hustle you can do around 9 or 10 min</p>
<p>Do swabs bring a robe or is one provided? It wasn’t on the list…</p>
<p>sweetness, this is the best advice from the Parent’s Association SWAB-FAQ,
and from reading some of the prior posts here on bringing stuff:</p>
<p>“If it’s not on the list, don’t bring it.” Translation: don’t even think about bringing it, no way, no how. Take the bare minimum on R-Day.</p>
<p>My husband was talking to a friend last night who has 2 sons, one at the Merchant Marine Academy and one at CGA. This is what he told him, “Follow the instructions exactly about the packing list. It’s the first test.”</p>
<p>You’ll get issued a robe (along with everything else you want to bring, but isn’t on the packing list) on R-Day…</p>
<p>“Originally Posted by Parent’s Association FAQ
If its not on the list don’t bring it. Translation: Don’t even THINK about bringing it, no way, no how. DO NOT go there. If it’s NOT on the What to Bring list DON’T bring it! Take the bare minimum on R-Day”
hahaha i need to get my mom to read this…she keeps coming up with crazy ideas of things to bring and i keep shutting them down, trying to explain that i’m pretty sure this list is the first and most obvious test of the summer…aka did you follow the instructions you had two months to read and follow?? We actually have a 5$ bet going on because she is convinced i need to bring sheets, but hey if she reads this thread then i guess i win! haha. Looks like its a toss up between bringing extra socks and underwear, i think i’ll bring the amount it says. But just a little tip from last summer at AIM, putting your socks and shirt directly in front of your fan at night gets them all nice and dry for the morning!! another useful idea (at least for those not from the east coast), i’m gonna be dropping off my stuff (a bag or two of whatever a pair or two of clothes, my nice camera, some sports stuff i might need later on etc…) with relatives in the area NY, CT whatever…that way they can send me what i need, faster and cheaper then my parents sending stuff across the US.</p>