1. Here is a partial list of Do's and Don'ts to follow on post while your soldier is in Uniform~
Do:
Walk on your husband’s left side so he can salute others.
Refer to your spouse by his first name or nickname, or as “my husband.” Do not refer to your husband as “Capt. Smith” or “the Captain.”
Offer your husband an umbrella in the rain, but only if it’s black. He’s not allowed to carry any other color.
Push the baby carriage or stroller so your spouse doesn’t have to. It’s considered “unmilitary” to do so while in uniform.
Help your spouse carry any packages or bundles to make it easier for him to salute. (Are you wondering if a man made up these rules so that wives would have to do all the heavy lifting?)
Don’t:
Show public displays of affection, except at homecomings and goodbyes. This includes kissing and holding hands, this is especially important After you have left the field and are walking around post.
Offer your spouse a piece of gum. It is not “military” for him to chew it. The same goes for smoking while in uniform.
Allow him to put his hands in his pockets unless he is placing or retrieving an item.
Offer him food or drink while he’s walking. He should not be eating, drinking or using a cell phone while walking in uniform.
Headgear is not to be worn inside... remind them to take it off as they walk inside and then put it back on when going back outside!
2. Phone Calls: The Soldiers are generally given one phone call a week, if they have earned it. I see some of you have stated that you have not received phone calls from your Soldiers. When they use the phone we cannot control who they call or if they choose not to call you. We cannot make them. Every Soldier goes thru Basic Training with their own internal mental preparedness and at their own internal pace. For some, making a phone call is physiologically challenging because they want to stay focused on the enormous challenge they are in. Also take what they tell you with a grain of salt, they tend to make things out worse than they are. I have seen letters written home saying they just rappelled off a 40 story building and walked 10 miles with 100 pounds of gear. When in reality it was a 30 foot building and a 1 mile march with 30 pounds. Lastly, remember your sons/daughters are in Basic Combat Training. We are training them to survive in Combat, so while you might not be able to talk to them weekly, see pictures of them, or you hear "horror stories" of what happens just know that it is a necessary evil that must happen in order to turn civilians to Soldiers.
3. Here is a list of contraband items. Please refer to this before sending items and keep in mind that just about anything that they would need while they here is available to them at the PX. In all cases, family members are discouraged from sending large boxes. Soldiers are taken to the PX about every two weeks to buy items such as toiletries, shampoo, and shaving cream. There is no need to send these basic items as the Soldiers have the opportunity to buy them and they are affordably priced (and tax free). Companies are well stocked in toilet paper. There is absolutely no need to buy toilet paper.
This is a general list and it is possible that an individual company may have additional items.
1. Cameras
2. Cologne/Body Spray
3. Tobacco Products
4. Food Items (All)
5. Cosmetics (All)
6. Cassettes (All)
7. Any MRE item (applies to Soldiers in the barracks)
8. Weapons of any type
9. Newspaper Clippings
10. CDs (All)
11. Wrist or Ankle Braces (unless issued by Army Medical Personnel)
12. Hair Dye
13. Alcohol (drinking)
14. DVDs (All)
15. Contact Lenses
16. Martial Arts Items
17. Perfume/Body Spray
18. CD/DVD Player
19. Cash over $50
20. Knives
21. Items Valued over $50
22. Bathing Sponges
23. Hair Clippers
24.Cell Phones/Beepers (Only while supervised by Cadre; no personal strage/possession)
25. iPods/MP3 Players
26. Straight Edge Razors
27. Flavored Lip Balm
28. Civilian Clothing
29. Electric Razors (unless prescribed by doctor)
30. Tape Player/Recorders
31. Civilian Glasses
32. Curling Irons
33. More than 1 ID Card
34. Playing Cards
35. Health Supplements
36. Radios
37. Flavored Cough Drops
38. Nude Photos
39. Hair Dryer
40. Scissors
41. Jewelry (exception is wedding ring/band; IAW safety/training guidelines)
42. Over the counter medication
43. Civilian reading material
44. Brass and ammunition
The following items are approved for use in the Basic Training environment:
1. Sewing Kits
2. Personal Photos (no more than five in your wall locker)(tasteful)
3. Religious medallions
4. Finger and toe nail clippers
5. Carmex
6. Cocoa Butter Lotion
7. Irons
I had to send my husband deodorant while he was in BCT. He gets hives from some, so he sticks to one type (women's powder scented Degree!!), and they didn't carry it at the PX. He got picked on by everyone because he smelled like a woman!! I sent him probably 20+ pictures while he was there, but nobody said a thing because they were all (tasteful) belly pictures and ultrasound pictures. (he was gone while I was 4-7mnths pregnant)
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