I will try and give you some of my best advice:
Take only what you NEED - nothing else.
Have a haircut already, but not a complete buzz. Short, respectable, non attention-getting.
Wear plain clothes: Comfortable jeans, a plain t-shirt.
It's been about 11 1/2 years since I entered AF BMT, and I can still remember much about it. I had a wallet with a chain and a button-up gas attendant type shirt. It did not get me any positive attention. Luckily there was a guy from San Jose, California who thought it would be smart to wear a pink t-shirt.
Follow the rules and blend in.
When you dump out your bags for the T.I.s to inspect for contraband, they will criticize anything you have. I remember they asked one guy about pictures he had in his wallet. They asked "Is that your girlfriend?"
"Ex girlfriend."
"Yeah, I can see why."
Oh, don't forget to use your reporting statement, and don't say it wrong.
"Reporting as ordered? What, are you a news reporter now?"
Watch your ass as you walk past the "snake pit" in the chow hall. This is where the T.I.s eat, and can watch your every move.
Don't talk to girls, in BMT or tech school. There will be plenty of time for that when you become permanent party at your first base. I don't know why I'm telling you this, because you are probably going to get distracted any way, even with the meager selection you will be given. Let it be known that it can get you in big trouble, and make you compromise any moral bearing you may have. I might tell you the story of the two kids in tech school who were caught fucking IN a dumpster, because they thought that was the one place they wouldn't get caught.
Once you get to tech school, don't take part in stupid parties. All it is going to be is a bunch of people, mostly underage guys, getting drunk. If you go and are of age, don't be the supplier.
Optional advice: Though it may be convenient to have some wheels, don't bring your Supra to tech school. Many people will go home and get their car, or heaven forbid, BUY a car from a lemon lot, to make life easier in tech school. Your treasured car will help your social life, but in doing so will become the ferry for you and your buddies. It will be another thing that will also get you attention, in a place where you really don't want it.
To sum it up, you want zero negative attention at all. You don't want to catch people's attention until you get to your first base, and then you want it to [of course] only be the good kind of attention.
Best of luck to you!
just in case I get PM'd, you'll know why I won't respond.
