Now hold up- "barracks" seems to be an evokative and nominal term for many people, evoking glorious pictures of parades, men in fresh, starched uniforms and the Greatest Generation diligently preparing to invade the borders of the Axis of Evil.
When I say barracks, imagine a slum tenement from the 1920s getting a visit from the "convincable" health inspector. "Heya, Phil, y'know 3 toilets work in the entire building? And there's one roll of toilet paper to share between all 3- I saw cockroaches marching in formatiown down'th corridor earlier, too. Yah, I'll sign off on it, becuz' we're buds, but this is some jacked up shit you got going on hur, bud." 200 dollars of renovations later, you have something akin to Ft. Knox barracks- oddly cold during the day, furiously arctic at night, impenetrable layers of dust and grime with cadets wandering through halls, searching for purpose and escape from days to come and flooding portajohns in their near future.
Maybe not quite that bad, but if you go in with low expectations, you'll be pleasantly surprised, though I've heard enough stories about Densberges and Pickett to make me wary of any and all Army AOs. Anyway, here's some packing tips I've learned over lots of solo trips driving, hitchhiking, flying around, and talking to LDAC cadets from years past. Words of advice: Bring everything on your packing list you were told to bring by cadre, that should go without saying. Bring most of the optional stuff (sewing kit? Seriously? any aspiring seamstresses going to be around?...) and some more of this optional stuff that might just make the month crawl by with more gusto and see you return with a touch less of Lyme's disease.
Note: traveling on your own, you want to travel light. At Knox, you want to have your equipment prepared and ahead of time (that you were given by your detachment) and keep track of it (I sharpied just about all clothes, towels, equipment that could be sharpied on any oblong surface available- 500+cadets having identical gear? What can go wrong?) in order to expedite the shakedown and unpacking there. A bit of preparation on the front end saves lots of trouble on the backend. Anyways, here's some things that should be useful:
Anti mosquito arsenal
Army uniforms are treated with permethrin, an industrial pesticide. After an unauthorized procedure called "washing," ACUs begin to lose this potent deterrent to flying malarials. In your best dermal interests, consider-
1+oz of 98.11% DEET. I'm bringing a 4oz spray bottle and 1 oz pen for FOB days. Mosquito net: I read in an ArmyTimes interview with an LT, said he wished he brought a mosquito net... so this one's a nobrainer.
Bracelet, etc: I bought two "rechargeable" anti bug bracelets that I'll loop onto my assault pack and dab some DEET on to give me some additional protection from ticks, chiggers, leopard mosquitoes, and tiger lice that surely roam Knox and wait to pounce and bloody hapless cadets.
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| For the love of God, bring DEET. |
Apparel
On the packing list are 2 sets of casual clothing- remember, Kentucky is HOT. HOT. And unless you're there for 4th of July, chances are you'll only need this stuff on family day- just think smart.
Extra PTs- I wasn't issued ANY extra because the QM has a permanent shortage of PTs, aka they look nicer in shelves than on cadets. Hopefully I'll be able to purchase another 2 complete sets at the mini shopette there.
Extra tan Tshirts- somehow I ended up with nearly a dozen of these... and I'm taking 9 over the recommended 4. Will extra ones be issued?... Does it matter? If you've heard nightmares of their laundry service, of confused cadets winding up with bags of nothing but socks and the knickers of the CG, you'll be wise to bring extra anything you can wear and MARK IT SOMEHOW. Sharpie on the bottom of the hem where it's not visible when tucked so you can ID your own stuff among thousands of identical shirts.
Extra socks- seriously, 2 pairs of green and/or black socks? For a month? I don't care how many they issue us, there's few better feelings than slipping off sweaty boots, powdering your feet and having fresh, clean socks hug your feet and whisper, "I'll never let you go." If you bring too much of something, you'll be able to stash it somewhere when we're not in the field (most likely... I mean, logic is a rare beast in the jungles of Knox). Helmet padding- I have a few small pads in my kevlar to distribute the weight better than the sweaty, wonderful suspension system that crowns you with pain and 3lbs of neck crushing goodness!
Cadet Stuff
Some of this gear was noted "As required" on the supply sheet. Bring it because you're screwing yourself otherwise, things like: Notebooks- y'know, for writing OPORDs and writing letters? Rite in the rain notebook- I'm bringing one of these because the moment you don't think you need one... boom. Thunderstorm just as you're finishing a PLT combat OPORD and you're soaked, along with your precious OPORD skeleton that you just filled out and is now dribbling down onto your TMK in sodden paper bits. Remember- Fort Knox hates you, and once you accept that it's still uphill, but, uh, yeah. There's no upside, it's just nice realizing. Pens and pencils- laugh now and regret not having them when your TAC is making you cry over not having anything to write with and you whittle a pencil out of a branch and ashes. Folder- you'd think it's a no brainer... Keep papers, pamphlets, travel orders in here. Books/Kindle- even if they take this away during the shakedown, I'd rather take my chances. Without cadets being pressured to do retarded hip pocket training during all down time, there's the occasional lull in training (or waiting) and open opportunity to read... or play/bring playing cards! Worth their weight in gold during long days in the barracks, AKA every day in the barracks.
3x5 notecards- good for to-do lists, assigning positions and tasks to other cadets in garrison, jotting down notes when a notebook isn't suitable. Laundry- I'm bringing little pods, a cadet last year had laundry detergent explode in one of his duffel bags- equal parts hilarious and horrifying. Colored duct tape/sharpie- As mentioned earlier, there'll be plenty of times where 200+ duffel bags are being lobbed out of the back of a truck and guess what? They're identical! Label as much gear as you can, and duct tape your duffel bag or at least your locks so they're distinguishable in a sea of OD green and cadet sadness.
Attitude- leave your baditude at home. CST will have lots of terrible, terrible moments where you haven't showered for a few days and your PLT smells like Beelzebub's sphincter gone rogue and your tent was flooded and somehow alligators are patrolling the AO between tents. Come in with low expectations but high hopes for learning and developing as a leader. You're the 1%< of people in the USA that will ever be an officer, and that's a privilege; being able to serve our country and lead its finest. You'll butt heads with pants on head retarded cadets, that's normal anywhere you go. Suck it up and have fun with your battle buddies, make sure you know your OPORDs and TLPs and basic Mil Sci stuff and it won't be as bad as it could be!
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| Not a viable leadership strategy. |
Hope you found this helpful as someone related to a CLC cadet, cadre, or just wondering about how great training is- so great! Have fun @ the Fort of Hard Knox, I know I will!.... hopefully.
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