Male and Female Items Allowed at Recruit Training

Because storage space is extremely limited at Navy Recruit Training Command (RTC), you should limit the amount of personal effects you bring, and keep luggage to a maximum of one small gym or travel bag.

If you are reporting to RTC during winter months (October through April) wear warm outer clothing - it does get cold near the lake!

RTC will store clothing and items (cell phone, etc.) for recruits while they attend. The only items that will be sent home, thrown away, or donated are what will not fit in the box (or are, of course, unauthorized or illegal).

Here is a list of stuff you can (not required) bring to Navy boot camp:

Note: At a designated time, you will be sent to the dispensary at RTC for medical evaluation. Additional Items to Bring, if Applicable (Documents should already be a part of the paperwork MEPS will send with you to RTC):

Females - To expedite your medical processing, if you have had a PAP smear/pelvic examination during the six months prior to leaving for RTC bring the test results with you. Additionally, if you're currently using birth control pills, bring copies of exam records (in addition to the pills) specifying type(s) of birth control pills both presently and previously prescribed. You will receive a pregnancy test within three days of arrival at Recruit Training. If the test results are positive, you will be discharged.

Boot-Camp Hair Standards

Females are NO LONGER are required to have their hair cut upon arrival to RTC.

Highlights of the changes and guidelines include:

Male new recruits will have their head shaved to a stubble length upon arrival, and will receive two additional haircuts during training.

Items you should not bring to Boot-Camp

Items that will be stored at RTC (if can fit in the storage box supplied), sent home (at your expense), donated to charity, or otherwise disposed of:

To expound further about cell phones at Navy boot-camp: cell phones will be stored in a secure location or get sent home upon arrival (you will not have access to the cell phone while attending boot-camp); however, THU Sailors are authorized to have them. A THU Sailor is one that has graduated boot-camp and are part of a temporary housing unit (THU) they are awaiting clearances before they can go to their rating school (that is the most common reason), etc.

Non-prescription drugs/medications will be discarded and/or mailed home. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

Receiving mail from home. One of the most cherished times of day during recruit training is mail call. If you know someone in boot-camp, send them short notes of encouragement and/or small photos, but do not send them care packages. Recruits are NOT allowed to receive care packages of any kind. Any food items that are received are immediately discarded -- not allowed to be consumed.

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