Im cross-posting this here because this forum seems to house a lot of fresh Marines as well as old Marines anxious to answer questions, so here goes. Poolees might learn a thing or two by reading the questions as well.

Ill be on leave until reporting to ITB in a few weeks (PRASP permitting) and Im a little confused on some things pertaining to check-in and gear.

1) I was never issued an All Weather Coat in boot camp, but the SOI website says I must report with my AWC from initial issue. Do I need to quickly go buy one somewhere in Camp Lejeune before reporting in?

2) Also on the list it says "duffel bag". Does duffel bag = sea bag?

3) Are the "tactical" olive-green undershirts (under-armours) OK in place of cotton olive-green undershirts?

4) How many meritorious promotions are typically awarded at the end of the ITB cycle? What does it take to be awarded such? (in my platoon in boot camp promos went exclusively to the top three in PFT+range score, non-PFC contracts)

5) Ill be working out intensively in the coming weeks. What are your thoughts on using creatine and continuing it at SOI? What about just drinking protein shakes?

6) Is it OK to wear white boxer briefs instead of tighty-whities from here on out? What about white boxer briefs underneath my cammies instead of PT trunks?

7) Im going to get Dress Blues when I get to Camp Lejeune. What are your thoughts on simply getting a used set and saving a ton of money?

7b) On that note, the SOI report-in list has blue trousers and a white service crown, plus gold insignias listed. Not being the honor grad, I was of course never issued either of these. Do I need to go buy them before reporting in?

8) What kind of timepiece do you recommend? My parents will buy me one for my birthday, price not a factor (otherwise I would go to Walmart and spend $12)

9) Should I switch to Navy Fed or stay with FSNB? All I heard at the end of bootcamp was how FSBN sucked but I never really heard a reason why.

10) How and when can I start training for my gray MCMAP belt? Does that come after SOI?

10b) Same thing with MCI's. What MCI's do you recommend I start doing first, and when can I start knocking them out?

11) Does a yearly uniform allowance exist, and if so, how much is it? Does it go by fiscal year or calendar year, and if fiscal (Oct 1st to Oct 1st), what should I go exhaust the allowance on in the next month (i.o.w. what should I be prepared for since all my uni's are present,accounted for and perfect condition right now)?

12) A couple weeks ago my SDI told me I was "good to go" as far as my PFC status (paperwork was screwed up from the get-go and I was listed as E1 in the system all throughout bootcamp). I never had any chevrons sewn on or anything, but I went and bought them to have them ready. Before I go sewing anything on, how can I check if Im actually an E-2?

13) Should I dry clean all of my service uniforms here at home and take them to SOI in the body bag, or should I just stuff everything into the seabag and have them dry-cleaned down there?

Thanks for answering any or all of these questions. Semper Fi.

Question 1. No. When you get to Lejeune and report in, your records will show what you did and were not issued. Make it a point to address this issue to the NCOIC or Company Gunny.
Question 2. Duffel bag = Sea bag
Question 3. Wear what you were issued.
Question 4. I don't know the answer.
Question 5. I don't know the answer.
Question 6. No ones going to check what type of briefs your wearing underneath. Make sure you have the initial issue for junk on the bunk and wall locker.
Question 7. Make sure you know Marine Corps Regulation for fitting if you don't have them done on base.
Question 8. You don't want to buy a watch you wouldn't want to wear in the field, unless you want to wear it only on liberty.
Question 9. No matter which bank you decide, watch your account and don't overdraw. Marine Corps frowns on that.
Question 10a. I don't know.
Question 10b. I recommend your first one to be the one that pertains to your MOS.
Question 11. Go down to RedRTs post
Question 12. Don't put on anything you are not authorized to wear. Once you have your warrant in hand, go ahead.
Question 13. We used to call it a clothing bag, you don't want to be in a body bag. I would get a very durable clothing bag, large enough to hold your uniforms. I used my sea-bag for my civillians clothes, or you could get a flight bag. Just make sure you have all of your initial issue.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: airwing1,

I can't answer all your questions. But if you weren't issued something, like dress blue trousers, don't worry about it. You won't wear them in ITB anyway, I promise. As far as the under armour goes, bring it, but before you wear just ask an NCO in your company if it's ok to wear. They'll probably say yes, but better safe then sorry.
I didn't do any MCMAP in ITB. I remember seeing it on the training schedule, but we never did it. However, all grunts are going to be required to have green belts by the end of CY 08, so who knows...sh-t is always changing. I'd wait until you get to your duty station to order MCI's. In ITB you'll need your spare time to study a lot of knowledge, plus your MCI's might get to SOI after you leave there. Bring your Alphas in your body-bag, don't stuff them in a sea-bag, ever.
Oh and as far as a watch (yes, I called it a watch, not a time-piece) I'd recommend something that isn't too fancy. A decent digital watch is fine, try to stay away from shiny ones, and make sure its waterproof.

im only going to answer if i have something different to add, airwing pretty much hit it all on the head:

1) if you're "in the system" for having one, but never received one- plan on buying it. i know that stuff is hard to keep track of, but you should have a list somewhere of the things you signed for.

7) you can save a lot of money by going to the cleaners ( i suggest A-1 cleaners near new river air station ) they usually have racks of uniforms that no one picked up and sell them pretty cheap. they are also very knowledgable with uniform regulations. if you're buying in the "off season"- meaning, before everyones buying blues for the ball, you should have good luck finding a good set. you might get lucky with siagon sams, a friend of mine picked up a full set of alphas for like $25.00. but a lot of their stuff is older, and its hit or miss.

7b) you should have gotten the white cover and blue trousers as part of your initial issue. honor grads get the blues coat, but everyone is issued all the required uniforms, blue deltas, etc... its been 5 years since i was in boot, but i dont imagine the standard issue changing much.

9) i never dealt with fsnb or navy fed. i used marine federal, and usaa. my friends with navy fed were all happy, except that there was always huge lines at the bank. check out USAA for banking/insurance. they have good rates, and ive never had one complaint.

8) i always used just a standard timex you can find anywhere. you're going to destroy whatever you get over time, so dont spend too much.

10b) Fundamentals of Marine Corps Leadership should be done first. its a requirement for meritorious promotion (along with expert rifle, and 1st class pft). after that, most people do math for marines, spelling, grammar, personal finance, etc... but it would not be bad to get a jump on some MOS specific courses either.

10) probably when you get to your unit. when you check in, ask the training SNCOIC who the point of contact is. he'll probably be in the S-3 shop.

11) you will get a yearly allowance. whatever month you enlisted, every year on that anniversary youll get *i think* about 300-350 bones. if you have all your stuff, then keep it, if not- go buy it. the exact amount is listed in the pay charts.

13) if you dry clean your uniforms at home, make sure the cleaners know what they are doing.. how long the creases should be, etc... i had chevrons sewn on at home between duty stations once, and one chevron was 4"inches from the shoulder seam (as it should be) and the other was 3". i had a hell of a time having them fix it after they closed, because i was on my way out of there early the next morning.

12) do you have access to MOL (Marine On Line)? my account is still active, so if you want, email me your full name pete102580@gmail.com and ill see what you come up as. but like airwing said- unless you've got a warrant in hand, err on the side of caution and dont wear the chevrons. my stuff was screwed up once also, and i wasnt allowed to wear chevrons until i got pinned. every Marine gets a promotion ceromony. sometimes its in front of the entire command on the first of the month, or if your paperworks screwed up, it could be with whoever's in the room halfway through the month.

pete

quote:

11) you will get a yearly allowance. whatever month you enlisted, every year on that anniversary youll get *i think* about 300-350 bones. if you have all your stuff, then keep it, if not- go buy it. the exact amount is listed in the pay charts.

Thanks for your correction RedRt, much appreciated, also good advice on the MCI.

quote:

7) Im going to get Dress Blues when I get to Camp Lejeune. What are your thoughts on simply getting a used set and saving a ton of money?

Go to Cash Sales at LeJeune. You can find used dress blouses and trousers there.

Make sure that, if you buy used uniforms of any type, that you have it noted in your SRB. All articles of clothing are marked with the owner's name. You remark used clothing with your name. This change of names and the types of clothing need to be entered into your SRB.

You will have to get an entire set of brass. Get anaodized - no need to polish.

quote:

Originally posted by DeepRecon:
Make sure that, if you buy used uniforms of any type, that you have it noted in your SRB. All articles of clothing are marked with the owner's name. You remark used clothing with your name. This change of names and the types of clothing need to be entered into your SRB.

Unnecessary.

quote:

Unnecessary.

I did it.

How does one explain someone else's name marked on clothing during an inspection?

Save the receipts of the sales?

quote:

Originally posted by DeepRecon:

quote:

Unnecessary.

I did it.

How does one explain someone else's name marked on clothing during an inspection?

Save the receipts of the sales?

Deep, I might be showing your age man, but I have had one uniform inspection in two years and 7 months of being in the Marine Corps. This is war time MC, we don't have time for that Garrison BS.

Well...

IT'S A GOOD IDEA...

...just in case...



Show my age...

I got yo age...

quote:

Originally posted by DeepRecon:

quote:

Unnecessary.

I did it.

How does one explain someone else's name marked on clothing during an inspection?

Save the receipts of the sales?

Per the order, you are right. Since I am the one always quoting orders, I will retract what I said.

quote:

Per the order, you are right.

...guess that makes it a... really good idea.

Question 9. I would recommend that you change over to Navy Fed. I have been with them since I graduated Boot Camp. Dad took me down to the branch at Henderson Hall while on Boot leave. That was 23 years ago. There will more than likely be a branch wherever you are stationed, including if you are ever statioed at a Naval Base or overseas. What happens if you stay with the other bank and you get transferred to Hawaii or Okinawa? Between Direct Deposit, paying bills by computer, and access to branches and ATMs, they should cover you for the rest of your life.

Ditto on the Navy Fed. I've had them since 1986 and haven't had any problems. Only thing I would consider is starting some kind of account with USAA, as well if you have the chance - if for nothing other than the auto insurance later on (top notch and great customer service, in my opinion).

I have USAA after switching from Navy Fed. I love it!

quote:

Originally posted by DeepRecon:

quote:

Unnecessary.

I did it.

How does one explain someone else's name marked on clothing during an inspection?

Save the receipts of the sales?

for the one uniform inspection I had in the fleet everyone was running around the barracks going "s**t where the hell do you mark your belt, and who has a damn marking kit, I got rid of mine after boot camp" ahhhh the joys of being in the new, lazy MC

quote:

for the one uniform inspection I had in the fleet everyone was running around the barracks going "s**t where the hell do you mark your belt, and who has a damn marking kit, I got rid of mine after boot camp" ahhhh the joys of being in the new, lazy MC

Hill, it doesn't matter, no matter when, there are always those that don't have the shiat or have marked gear. I'm sure if you stay in, all the Carrison BS and spit shine boots will return, if USMC go back to jungle environment.

The SUC is the same, old Corps or New Crotch, same same.

Also to answer the question about FSNB, aka Fort Steal National Bank, I would suggest you get rid of it immediately. I had my own problems with that bank and their customer service is very poor.

quote:

and who has a damn marking kit, I got rid of mine after boot camp

I still have mine.

Platoon 1071 MCRDSD Graduated Sep 1976

I have mine, too, but I was never able to mark anything that didn't consist of the first letter of my last name, then an unintelligible smear immediately afterwards .

I chalk it up to "Operator Error," though.