BASIC TRAINING PACKING LIST REQUIRED ITEMS The following items must be purchased and brought with recruits to Basic Training. Many of these items may be purchased at reduced prices through the ALERT Store (these items are marked with an asterisk *). All items are required, regardless of season. Footwear q Outdoor Sleeping Bag* q Hiking Shoes* q Folding Knife* q High-quality Running Shoes* q Plastic Whistle* q High-top, Polishable Black Boots* q 550 Paracord (100 ft length)* q Shower Shoes q First Aid Kit* q 2 pairs Black Dress Socks q Personal “Mess“ Kit* q 8–10 pairs Ankle-High Athletic Socks* q Eating Utensils* q 8–10 pairs Wool Hiking Socks * q Backup Fire Starting Option* Clothing Items q Flashlight, Extra Bulbs, and Batteries* q 1Long Sleeve Thermal Top* q Water Purification Tablets or Water Filter* q 8–10 pairs of Underwear q Sewing Kit* q Work Gloves* q Black Shoe Polish* q Glove Liners* q Shoe Cloth Toiletries Miscellaneous Items q Toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss* q Pillow q Soap and Shampoo* q Bible (KJV)* q Deodorant* q Pens and Pencils* q Shaving Razor and Shaving Cream* q Envelopes and Stamps* q Medicated Lip Balm/Chapstick* q Laundry Detergent * q Nail Clippers q Starch* q Eyeglasses q White/Silver and Black Laundry Markers* q Safety Strap for Eyeglasses q 10 Clothes Hangers* q Sunscreen/Sunblock* Gear q Hand Sanitizer* q Multi-day Backpack (3,500 cubic inch minimum)* q Insect Repellent* q Day Pack (1,500 cubic inch minimum)* q Vitamin C, Potassium, and Garlic Tablets q Lightweight Tent* OptIONAL (Yet RECommeNded) ItemS The following items are not required for Basic Training; however, they may be useful during and after Basic Training. q Extra pair of Hiking Shoes * q 2nd Map Compass* q Compression Shorts q Headlamp* q Chafing Cream or Powder* q Large Zip-lock Bags* q Sleeping Pad or Inflatable Closed-cell Foam Pad* q Iron q Waterproof Pack Cover* q Folding Saw or Hatchet* q Small Toiletry Kit q Personal Payment Options Basic Training Packing List Page 1 BASIC TRAINING ISSued ItemS The following items will be issued to recruits and are included in the Basic Training Uniform Fee. The clothing items form the basis of the uniforms needed for all phases of ALERT training. Uniform Items Gear The following items are all issued for uniformity. q 1 Duffel Bag q 2 Short-Sleeve Chambrays Holds all issued gear and allows ease of packing on Permanently issued after the completion of Basic Training deployments. q 1 Long-Sleeve Chambray q 1 Locking Carabineer Permanently issued after the completion of Basic Training Issued to ensure proper safety specifications are met. This carabineer is used for various rope systems and q 1 Field Jackets high angle environments. q 8 Navy T-shirts q 1” Tubular Webbing (20-ft length) q 6 pairs BDU Pants Issued to prevent coming with wrong style of q 1 pair Dress Pants webbing. Webbing is used as a harness for rappelling q 1 pair Sweatpants and other rope systems. q 4 pairs Shorts q 2 One-quart Nalgenes (Water Bottles) q 1 3-in-1 Waterproof Jacket Issued for uniformity in size and durability which is necessary for certain activities. Used for proper q 2 Sweatshirts hydration during hikes, PT and other daily activities. q 1 Marine Cover q 1 Hydration System q 1 Boonie Hat Ensures that everyone has a proper hydration system q 1 Watch Cap while hiking. If you already own one, a backup is q 1 BDU Belt always good to have. q 1 Dress Belt q 1 Silva “Polaris” Map Compass Used for navigation, during both class and field q 1 pair Dress Shoes exercises. q 1 Tie q 1 “Light My Fire” Scout q Patches and Accessories for Uniforms Issued for uniformity during survival training. It is q 1 ALERT T-shirt required that you purchase a second reliable method Issued after the completion of Basic Training for starting fires (see Required Items). q 1 ALERT Polo Shirt q Grid Reader Issued after the completion of Basic Training Used for navigation, during both class and field exercises. q 2 Twin Sheet Sets Issued for uniformity in squad room. q 2 Towel Sets Includes hand towels and washcloths. Basic Training Packing List Page 2 BASIC TRAINING PACKING LIST EXPLANATION REQUIRED ITEMS Footwear q 2 pairs Black Dress Socks One of the most important gear purchases you will make For use with the dress uniform. will be your footwear. Be sure to break in all of your q 8–10 pairs Ankle-High Athletic Socks * footwear before the start of Basic Training. No neon colors; no crew cut or no-shows. q 1 pair Hiking Shoes * For use during PT. Also provides When buying hiking shoes, some suggested brands enough pairs to allow clean to look at are Vasque, Salomon, Teva, and Merrell. socks for the rest of the day. Low-cut or ankle high style are recommended. q 8–10 pairs Wool Hiking Socks * Some key points to consider are: Dark colors preferred. 1. Weight—Go light! Approximately 2 to 3 lbs. Wool is good to wear all year long. Get different 2. Durability—Sometimes thicknesses for warm and cold environments. it is better to sacrifice a Wool helps wick the moisture away from the little durability for less skin and retains its insulating qualities even weight, but remember when wet. Wool is also less abrasive to the these have to last at least skin than other products and thus helps through Basic Training. minimize blisters on the feet. 3. Sole—These must be a little stiffer than regular running shoes otherwise your feet will hate you. Clothing Items 4. Foot Shape—Not every shoe will fit your foot. q 1 Long-Sleeved Thermal Top * Some brands are made for a narrower foot while Navy or black only; no turtlenecks; no cotton. others cater to a wider foot, etc. To be worn during cold hiking/camping 5. Fit—Be sure to try them on before you purchase environments. Use polypropylene or other high-tech them. Your shoes should be snug but not too wicking material. tight, and you need to have the socks you will be q 8–10 pairs of Underwear wearing during Basic in order to get an accurate Due to the rigors of Basic Training it may not be fit. Also be aware of any rub spots around the possible to do laundry often enough to get by with ankle, heel, or toes. These will not go away later fewer pairs. May be boxers or boxer/briefs. and will become a major irritation! q 1 pair Work Gloves * 6. Cost—You will probably spend $80.00 to $130.00 Must have leather palms. q 1 pair High-quality Running Shoes * To be worn during work projects, deployments, and Used for PT every morning. Cross Trainers may be when repelling. Leather palms provide necessary brought in addition. protection against most surfaces. It is very important to have good running shoes, so q 1 Pair Glove Liners * don’t settle for the ones you have been wearing for Used for cold weather PT and hiking. Glove liners are the last year. If your runners are more than 6 months knit, tight fitting gloves. old, you need new ones. Be sure to try on a new pair before you purchase them. Toiletries q 1 pair High-top, Polishable Boots * Bring enough of the following items to get you through Must be black and 8” from ground to all 9 weeks of Basic Training. top of boot. q Toothbrushes, Toothpaste, and Floss * Needed for Saturday inspection and q Soap and Shampoo * uniformity. Keep in mind that these q Deodorant * boots will be worn every day q Shaving Razor and Shaving Cream * after the completion of Electric razors are an option, but they are bulkier to Basic Training. pack when hiking. q 1 pair Shower Shoes q Medicated Lip Balm/Chapstick * Must be worn while taking showers to prevent the Important to prevent sunburn and windburn when spread of fungus and bacteria. out in the field. Basic Training Packing List Page 3 q Nail Clippers q Plastic Whistle * To provide needed foot care and grooming. Being Loud emergency whistle for if you get lost or need to able to trim toenails can be essential in preventing signal someone far away. Metal whistles are allowed toe injuries during hikes. but usually not recommended because they weigh q Eyeglasses more than plastic ones, rust, and usually don’t work if If you wear contact lenses, you must bring a backup they get wet. pair of eyeglasses because you may not always have q 550 Paracord (100 ft. length) * time to put your contacts in. Used for tying and lashing as needed. 550 q Safety Strap for Eyeglasses Paracord is extremely strong and made Many activities require you to be upside down. Straps of a core and outer sheath. will help you prevent losing your glasses during q First Aid Kit * rigorous activities. Small/travel size. Commercial and homemade kits are acceptable. Gear Things to include are: Band-Aids, moleskin, needle, q Multi-day Backpack * alcohol wipes, medical tape, gauze, safety pins, 3,500 cubic inch minimum. triangular bandage, elastic bandage, tweezers, etc. Internal frame packs are We do not allow any medication to be kept in the kit. more suitable for the type q Personal “Mess” Kit * of hiking done during Metal and silicone type products allowed. A metal Basic and they tend to squad pot will be issued to the squad to cook with, so be more comfortable to carry.