If you take birth control, you don't go through cycles right? Does that also mean that the emotional problems are less too? If yes, then is it recommended that you go onto birth control when deploying? Or in your personal experience, do you find it helpful to take birth control? Because, honestly, I have problems with the emotions and mood swings.

And are women not allowed to put their hair up in ponytails or use headbands? I assume so since you can't have a bun or for a few weeks wear barrettes...

Every birth control will affect you differently. Some may lessen moodiness, others will intensify it. You'll have to experiment to find what works for you.

I'm not on birth control, and I don't have any issues - regular exercise does a lot as far as regulating goes.

Agreed. And not all birth controls stop your cycle, some will just regulate it more. As far as mood swings go, it depends on how your body reacts to it. My first 2 months on a new birth control had my emotions ALLLL out of wack. I'd recommend getting on one now so that your body can adjust to it.

How to tell my mom that? :/ Hmmm... I'm broke so I can't buy it (teen w/out a job) and my mom told me she's not buying me birth control.

Lol she might've said that because she thinks you're having sex?? Sit her down, talk to her like an adult and explain all the benefits of birth control (besides preventing pregnancy). Let her know that during the stressful enviornment at RTC you don't want your menstrual cycle to be one of them. But if you can convince your mom that birth control isn't "sex" related, she might change her mind & let you get on it.

Oh, goodness, no. She knows I'm not having sex. I don't even go hang out with friends more than once every few months. I've never even had a boyfriend. But she's just really strict. She won't buy my tampons either. If I want 'em, I have to buy 'em.
But that's a good idea about the stress at RTC. I'll have to do that when the time comes. Thanks a million. : )

You will have your hair cut while in boot camp. You can either get it cut before you leave or let them cut it when you get there. So no ponytails or anything.

From what I've read you may be allowed to have hair pins in boot camp but it is something that is earned. And not all RDC'S will let you have them, so it really depends.

Quick question on "faddish" hair...so from my understanding shaving head ie. GI Jane style is considered a little extreme. I was thinking about doing a very short pixie (not shaved, but very short...) for bootcamp/time in the Navy. While I was at MEPS, there was a poster explaining what to bring to boot camp for females etc. but it did not seem to indicate what branch. In the poster/sign, it stated that hair must be 1-2 (??can't quite remember which) inches in length at least. One inch I could probably do all around, but I don't know about two.. Is that true? What are they going to do, take a ruler to my hair??

Pixies are definitely authorized, I know a lot of female Sailors who have or have had them.

Navy regulations do not have a minimum length for hair. There's the part about no shaved patches - Hairstyles shall not be outrageously multicolored or faddish, to include shaved portions of the scalp (other than the neckline), or have designs cut or braided into the hair. - but other than that the only measurements in there are maximums (hair can fall a max of 1 1/2 inches below the jumper collar in whites, bulk of hair can stick out a max of 2" from head for buns) or the size for multiple braids (approx 1/4").

Source

Thanks jzhaun! :) Appreciate the details you put in to answer my question.

Am I allowed to have my engagement ring at bootcamp or should I leave it at home with my fiancé.

You should be able to keep it, but if it is any more elaborate than a single plain band, I would leave it with him.

Glad this post got linked from another one asking about female things. Thanks for being detailed and taking your time to explain everything!

So, the first time I read this thread, I didn't even think twice about the birth control section, because I'd had the Paragard for 5.5 years. But a few days ago, I discovered a cause behind some not very fun health problems (insignificant in terms of enlisting, but a nuisance nonetheless), and without going into too much detail, I removed the Paragard myself. Turns out the device was rusted, and now I am waiting for my body to recover.

My question... do you HAVE to be on birth control? My body reacts horribly to hormones, and obviously I refuse to insert/implant anything in my body. Shouldn't you NOT be having sex in bootcamp anyway?! :/ Maybe someone can explain more?!

Nope. No requirement to be on birth control on or at any point in your career. Just be smart.

This is a great thread, very informative. Thanks for posting it.

Awesome! Appreciate the fast response :)

I have naturally curly hair and when I eventually cut it, it will look like an afro. Is it possible to have one single french braid from the front to the back secured by a small clear rubber band? I just really don't want to get crap from anybody because my hair is out of control.

Once you're in A school/the fleet, french braids are fine. I wear them pretty often myself.

But they're not authorized in bootcamp. There was a girl in my division who used to try it and the RDCs came down on her hard. The only thing you can do with your hair in bootcamp (besides having it loose with bobby pins to keep it out of your face) is corn rows.

I never really understood the logic of it, but that's the way it was.

Thanks for the answer about the french braid. I was really hoping that would be an option. Is there any way we could have some sort of product? Like a leave in conditioner or mousse? Do The RDC's come down hard on females who have out of control hair?

Being allowed to use any type of hair products is going to depend heavily on your RDCs. Some might allow it, others might not. Mine would have allowed the conditioner for sure, not positive about the mousse. But I also met people from another division that couldn't buy shampoo at all ( they had to use the body wash they were issued to wash their hair). It's hard to say.

It also depends on whether or not the nex has whatever you're looking for. It's a kind of small store and you'll have to consider whether or not your a and b drawer has room for a bottle of that size.

If your hair is out of control, the RDCs will probably tell you to corn row it. They're only going to come down on you if you don't follow their instructions.

Question about the wallet. I read somewhere, thought it was here but can't find it, that if it fits in the wallet you can keep it. Is this true? Like could I keep a couple bandaids in there and my addresses on an index card?

Okay so Im trying my luck on this thread...

Im a shaver- meaning I am squeeky clean down under and I prefer to shave every day LoL Am I going to have to let it "grow out" for a week, every week?!?! I havent had hair in 17 years and Im freaking out that I wont be able to do my quick shave.

No, you won't be able to shave everyday. On Sundays, certainly. But any other day we'd get like 40 minutes get 80 females through the 5 working showerheads and get the whole head cleaned up and dried off afterwards - there simply wasn't enough time.

Getting pap smear before or during boot
 

I am glad someone asked this question because I also want to know

If you have insurance it wouldn't hurt to get a PAP beforehand. But it really won't make that much of a difference to get it done there. The medical process is pretty streamlined.

Thank you for your quick response! ! Really appreciate it :)

I was told that if I went to the doctors for my PAP prior to leaving it could push it back, is that not true? Should I talk to my recruiter cause I'd rather get it before I leave.

Technically, yes. Because it will have to go into your medical record and so meps will have to review it as a change to your medical history. However, assuming there's nothing weird on your pap, and you have enough time before you ship, it shouldn't matter.
That being said, like I said in my earlier post, it is not a big deal to just have the navy do it for you. They have the system streamlined enough that it won't cause you any hardship during boot camp.

Okay cool, I didn't see that. I'll probably just wait. Thank you so much.:High Five:

2017-2018 updates
 

I ship out in May of 2018 and according to the start guide that I received at MEPS some things have changed based on what I've read on this thread especially since some of these posts are very old.
In a female specific items it says that we're still allowed to bring makeup as long as there are no glass items and it tells us to bring sanitary items sufficient for 1 week.
It also goes on to note that female recruits May travel to RTC with their hair styled as desired the standard hair length for females May touch but not fall below a horizontal line level with the lower edge of the back of the uniform collar females will have the option of having their hair cut to military standards after reporting to RTC for a nominal fee, females who do not get their haircut will be instructed on how to wear their hair with in military standards . From my Understanding means that you no longer have to cut your hair in basic as long as you're keeping it up in a bun.
It does also mention medical processing for females who have had a pap smear during the six months prior to shipping should bring your test results recruiter who are currently using birth control should bring copy of exam records in addition to the pills both presently and previously prescribed