Boot Camp Questions + Allowed to bring

[LT Guppy]

I want to say there are about 20 states that won't charge you state taxes (Arizona is another one). Like Haasino mentioned, DFAS will have the list (I ink it's on their website)

[blacktemplar]

Can I bring my own razor to boot?

[BonzerAsp]

Originally Posted by blacktemplar

Can I bring my own razor to boot?

Not that I know of. They supply you with a pretty good one in my opinion

[Matt]

Originally Posted by blacktemplar

Can I bring my own razor to boot?

Honestly you can bring anything you want to boot, they really don't check what you bring in during night of arrival. You should see some of the things an 800 division will bring into bootcamp... just make sure whatever it is will fit in your AB drawer.

[Auridan]

Originally Posted by Matt

Honestly you can bring anything you want to boot, they really don't check what you bring in during night of arrival. You should see some of the things an 800 division will bring into bootcamp... just make sure whatever it is will fit in your AB drawer.

Don't do it. Someone will eventually notice your razor doesn't match everyone else's, you'll be found out, and you will suffer for one of the stupidest reasons I've ever heard.

I was issued a Mach 5, which as multi-blade razors go is pretty much top of the line. (I preferred a Mach 3 for value and ease of cleaning, until I switched to an old-school safety razor.) But for the very short time you're there, the 5 will serve perfectly well, and you can throw it away the minute you leave RTC if you like.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Auridan

Don't do it. Someone will eventually notice your razor doesn't match everyone else's, you'll be found out, and you will suffer for one of the stupidest reasons I've ever heard.

I was issued a Mach 5, which as multi-blade razors go is pretty much top of the line. (I preferred a Mach 3 for value and ease of cleaning, until I switched to an old-school safety razor.) But for the very short time you're there, the 5 will serve perfectly well, and you can throw it away the minute you leave RTC if you like.

It doesn't have to match everyone elses, does it? When I was there we all bought different stuff the first time we went to the NEX anyways... guys bought boxers to wear instead of skivvies and all sorts of stuff (new toothpaste! new razors! new shampoo! new soap! etc...) and the rdc's didn't care at all.

[Auridan]

Not everyone's RDCs are so cavalier. I know mine would have lost their minds if anyone was caught trying to wear non-issued skivvies, much less keeping them in their rack for inspection.

It's a matter of integrity as well, however small. Don't smuggle shit. You aren't special.

Templar: Unless the razor you're already using is somehow necessary for you due to a medical condition (and I'm sure it's not, and you were just asking a simple question), no, don't bring it. You'll do fine with what's issued, or what you buy later at the NEX if you really need to, and you can have your own back in two months.

[BonzerAsp]

Oh god civilian skivies? My RDCs would have absolutely lost it. My RDCs were asmo happy too... Would have ended badly lol

[jzhaun]

Originally Posted by Matt

It doesn't have to match everyone elses, does it? When I was there we all bought different stuff the first time we went to the NEX anyways... guys bought boxers to wear instead of skivvies and all sorts of stuff (new toothpaste! new razors! new shampoo! new soap! etc...) and the rdc's didn't care at all.

It wasn't immediately apparent (mostly because 800 divs aren't supposed to talk to anyone else), but I was in Ship 4 while I was broken and y'all were coddled by bootcamp standards. Physically, I'm sure you guys were challenged more than the rest of us, but for the mundane things like meals and watch you had a lot more leeway and less bullshit.

For instance, during the time I was there all of Ship's Staff was RCU because the 3 800 divs in the ship were "too busy". Because putting the people on crutches on quarterdeck watch all night made more sense . . .

[FutureND]

Skivvies? Only time I wore skivvies at boot camp was for dress white inspection.

Not all 800 divisions were like that, my RDC's flipped on some guy for buying listerine at the NEX. The first trip or two to the NEX was pretty strict but towards the end they loosened up a lot. The last week we went almost everyday, there just wasn't anything else to do.

[Haasino]

Originally Posted by Guppy

I want to say there are about 20 states that won't charge you state taxes (Arizona is another one). Like Haasino mentioned, DFAS will have the list (I ink it's on their website)

Yup, Florida is one as well... a lot of guys changed residency to FL while I was at VP-30. The automation can be a pain in the ass though too... I went to SERE in San Diego on my way from VP-30 to my current command, so technically I had two week PCS orders in CA. I was taxed for about 3 months afterward until we could re certify that I was not longer stationed in CA.

[Just4Kixs]

Thanks for the info!!