Leaving for BOLC-B soon... What do I need?

[jujin]

So I'm leaving for QMBOLC-B soon and our TAC Officer sent us a welcome email with instructions on how to get on post and all that good stuff... For the packing list he gave us this:

1. ACUs with beret and patrol cap
2. Full winter IPFU (no black fleece hat)
3. Army Service Uniform (ASU) or Class A (though I prefer you have the ASU)
4. Clothing to keep you warm during your field exercise. Please ensure that all articles are within regulation. A small amount of TA-50 will be issued at Fort Lee.

Now I know this is no LDAC where they give you an extensive packing list (I think) but I honestly have no idea what to bring... I don't even know where I'm going to be living he said that "MTSS has gone away so you may have to pay for lodging until you can be reimbursed". I sent my TAC Officer an email and he hasn't responded yet... Can someone help me out?

[Cerebroden]

Dude, your QUARTERMASTER!!! anything you need you should have no problems getting a hold of and I'm sure that there will be more guidance during the first week. Bring an extra pair of boots and shit to change in to when not at work.

p.s. sorry bout the QM thing.

[CombatCady]

p.s. sorry bout the QM thing.

No you're not.

Alright, Jujin, check it out. There should be a website for your BOLC-B, so take a look at the course schedule and/or packing list there. If there isn't a packing list on the website, use the schedule to extrapolate what kind of stuff you're going to need. On the surface it seems like what you're TAC told you will be all you need, and it may be. But things like "clothing to keep you warm in the field" is a bit general. Apparently, you can have whatever you want, so long as its in regulation.

[jujin]

Okay I think I have a basic idea of what to bring when it comes to Army related gear. I have a few pairs of ACUs, 2 patrol caps, 2 berets, 2 pairs of boots, a rucksack (prob not reg but I'm sure we'll get one), and some snivel gear for the field. Aside from that what other non Army related things should I bring though? How many pairs of civvies do I need, do I need a microwave and tv, etc. Should I be packing like I would for college? I'm not even sure how I'll be living out there... Sorry I probably sound like a total idiot.

[Jake the Skillet]

Don't worry about man. A few points that I have realized in my short time.

#1 Your not alone, everyone else in your situation with your experience will have the same questions

#2 If the TAC is being vague then one of two things is likely true
a). The TAC/cadre know you'll all be in the same boat and won't let all of you fail
b). The TAC doesn't know what the hell is going on either, in which case you're still good

#3 Although it seems as if you're starting to figure this out, you need to realize that if you're afraid that you are ate up because of a "lack of information" chances are you aren't (99%). The ones that are ate up are the ones that don't really care.

#4 If your BOLC-W (W for whatever it is this week) is anything like anyone else, bring everything to make yourself at home. Especially if you're single and you don't have a lot of shit. Plenty of civies, my place on post at Knox had a microwave..... Don't sweat it man, everything is good. How you'll be living out there? Ft. Lee man, you'll be livin pretty damn good.

Hope this helps

[CombatCady]

#4 If your BOLC-W (W for whatever it is this week)

Hahahah, nice!

Yeah, as for a microwave or mini-fridge or whatever, don't sweat that shit right now. You can buy a microwave for $30 at Wal-Mart, a mini-fridge for $50. That badass 2LT pay will come in handy. Check out the Ft. Lee website regarding the places they might have you stay (if you do end up staying on post), and see what kind of amenities there are. The intarweb is a great tool for this kind of stuff.

I would bring 5-7 sets of civilian clothes, assuming you get nights and weekends off. I mean, I wouldn't, necessarily, because I would come "home" and just hang out in my ACUs as long as they weren't dirty. But most folks aren't like me. So I would recommend that you bring 5-7 sets.

[Sassy05]

1. The cadre at Lee suck at life.
2. I would take more than 5-7 sets of civilian clothes. The stateside Army is like a regular job. You go to work, you go home. 99% of us take our ACUs off after work. If I'm not going anywhere, I usually just put on pajamas. However, your nights and weekends are yours.
3. Remember you are going to be 20 minutes away from Richmond. I don't think QM-BOLC is so strenuous to keep you working on the weekends, so enjoy it while you can.
4. As far as TA-50, they should issue you whatever you need.

[Sassy05]

Oh and you will probably be living in the BOQ, but apparently you may have to pay for it. I would call lodging to see if they know anything and to reserve you a space if you need to. http://www.leemwr.com/Comm/com_lodging_rates.htm

[kleinmi3]

1. Lee Sucks
2. Petersburg Sucks
3. BOQ sucks, so try to live in a half decent hotel off post...but not in the ghetto(which is like everywhere)
4. BOLC is a joke so enjoy college(part 2) while you can before you go to a high Op-tempo unit
5. Your TAC is giving you the flex to take what you really need....which shouldn't be much more than a few sets of ACUs, your PTs and the dress uniform(and of course civilians for the off time). That's pretty badass. I'd follow the above packing list. Were you expecting him to tell you to take a toothbrush and toothpaste too? Implied tasks

Sorry, today was rough. You got my blunt answer.

[NoleCDT]

My buddy just finished QMBOLC there not too long ago. He said he was put in on post lodging and had to pay for it, but he was given a per diem to cover it. He also said they weren't allowed to be in the areas where the AIT privates predominantly were, whatever that entails, Overall he said it wasn't that strenuous.

[pbrereton]

I've got a buddy who just started down there this monday. He's on TDY so he's getting put up in a nice hotel with all the amenities. He described the training as not being too hard (they're not doing PT for the first 4 weeks and he was doen by 1300 yesterday). I wouldn't worry too much.

[CombatCady]

I wouldn't worry too much.

It's QMBOLC. Who would?

[kleinmi3]

I wouldn't worry too much.

It's QMBOLC. Who would?

you see, that is easy for us to say because we can read...however I know a number of folks that the Army has handed out commissions too in the recent years who can barely do that...I think they are the ones that worry. Dislike this post if you want, but it is true.

[CombatCady]

You do raise a valid point there, Klein.

[Sassy05]

I wouldn't worry too much.

It's QMBOLC. Who would?

you see, that is easy for us to say because we can read...however I know a number of folks that the Army has handed out commissions too in the recent years who can barely do that...I think they are the ones that worry. Dislike this post if you want, but it is true.

Apparently the correct procedure at Fort Lee to alleviate cheating to not allow people to have cell phones or use the bathroom during tests. Most of us prefer the solution of kicking out the Captain who can't manage to study, because logistics is oh so difficult. No. It's easier just to punish everyone. It's not like we're charged with Soldiers' lives or anything once we leave the career course.

[Jake the Skillet]

We had some gems at the MCCC. Like telling the CG to his face at the CG Reception AT HIS HOUSE, that it was a waste of time to be there, and that the PT on your own days was stupid and that we needed a program to do during the course......

Awesome, the consequences of that.....

[CombatCady]

Jake, wow. Did nobody punch that dude in the jewels for that remark?

[Skull6]

Jake, that wouldn't rank up there with a code-red, but definitely should have dictated some sort of blanket party...imho.

Hopefully the CG took it with a grain of salt--I mean, the input was from a junior company-grade.

But I'm betting dollars to doughnuts that he didn't. Such is the way of the Army anymore.

[jujin]

Thanks for the replies everyone, you've all been very helpful. I've been looking forward to and training for this the past few months so I'm not too worried about it (although it's been a while since I've done land nav). I was just worried about arriving there, getting holed up in a dingy apartment or whatever living quarters and not having the essentials I'll need to live off or forgetting something important. This is the first time I'm doing any kind of army training not as a cadet... I'm used to the long packing lists down to the color towel I'm allowed to have and living in WW2 style open bay barracks...

[Un4given]

Hopefully the CG took it with a grain of salt--I mean, the input was from a junior company-grade.

Actually, if this was at CCC, this would be a senior company grade.

Thanks for the replies everyone, you've all been very helpful. I've been looking forward to and training for this the past few months so I'm not too worried about it (although it's been a while since I've done land nav). I was just worried about arriving there, getting holed up in a dingy apartment or whatever living quarters and not having the essentials I'll need to live off or forgetting something important. This is the first time I'm doing any kind of army training not as a cadet... I'm used to the long packing lists down to the color towel I'm allowed to have and living in WW2 style open bay barracks...

Yup, you're no longer in the minor leagues. There will still be times when you're not treated as a big boy, but they wont be nearly as bad as when you were a cadidiot.

[Boilermaker387211]

QMBOLC apparently has an initial four week field period now that does not include weekends. And the students in the current phase did not have to pay for lodging, but also do not receive BAH.

[jujin]

QMBOLC apparently has an initial four week field period now that does not include weekends. And the students in the current phase did not have to pay for lodging, but also do not receive BAH.

That sounds credible because we're one of the first classes to go through BOLC-B and when I talked to my branch manager when they were first introducing it they said they were adding an extra three to four weeks onto BOLC-III to make up for getting rid of BOLC-II.

[CombatCady]

And the students in the current phase did not have to pay for lodging, but also do not receive BAH.

I bet they do if they're married. I know I did with BOLC 2 and MBOLC.

[Jake the Skillet]

Yup, Indianapolis BAH for me

[Sassy05]

QMBOLC apparently has an initial four week field period now that does not include weekends.