Living in a military dorm....what do they need?

[Sgt Mickey]

They need to be sent with supplies? My son went to his military dorm with only the uniforms he had accumulated during Navy boot camp. The only things he brought with him were his uniforms and his computer! The computer and his cell phone were given to him (by us) after his boot camp graduation.

His room has a microwave and a small fridge. Everything he has there he bought for himself.....things like deodorant, shampoo, shower slippers (I didn't even know he had those until he gave us a video tour of his room!).

We shipped him a "care package" with the bowl he always used at home to cook Top Ramen with in the microwave. Sent some snacks and things like that in the package.

Other than that, they pretty much have all they need!



Best of luck to your son!

Thank you. No he doesn't need to be sent with stuff but there are some items I want to be prepared with. I showed up with nothing at all. I felt unprepared. SO I will not be getting everything for his room just thinking of some immediate needs you won't have to worry about.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

Ramen. Ramen. And more Ramen.

Best thing about microwaves these days.. you can cook anything in them... I have a microwave steamer, a pasta boat, potato bag and egg thing... all meals covered.

This is what I am hoping the chow hall is for lol.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

In Boot camp, if you have anything it just weighs you down. If I remember the thing I needed was sleep and my hair back , and they wouldnt give me neither

 

[sonnyjane]

This is what I am hoping the chow hall is for lol.

My husband has been in for 12 years and still LOVES the chow hall lol!

 

[Sgt Mickey]

My husband has been in for 12 years and still LOVES the chow hall lol!

Some are not that bad. I haven't been to one in ages though.

 

[jsmith]

I'm a military contractor-DFAC (dining facility AKA chow hall) food on my installation is quiet good-and inexpensive if you have to pay for it. Between the DFAC and the fact that there s a commissary on post there is no reason for a soldier to eat ramen or any other starving college student food. I would suggest the young man will need a car-the army will feed and house him but they will only transport him for work. Some installations are quiet large-getting around can be an issue. Good pillows and bedding would be a good investment-and jeans and t-shirts lol. once out of basic and AIT or OSUT they don't wear uniforms all the time.

 

[Chim Chiminy]

Laughing about the chow hall issue.

We went to visit our son at AIT, he was there for six months, and were shocked that the soldiers did not seem to be utilizing the chow hall.
They were taking cabs off post to eat at the fast food joints around the base, or walking across the street from barracks to the PX to grab fast food there.
It was insane!

DS said it is pretty much the same way at his duty station now, everyone goes for fast food and those without cars, take cabs off post to eat.
He was doing that too, and came to realize it was very expensive, and very unhealthy.

Since he is saving for a wedding now, he started cooking what he could in his room using the fridge and microwave.

 

[iheartdisney]

TV, DVD player, Stereo, Good alarm clock.

Bathroom set (Shower curtain, rugs, towels, etc)

 

[Sgt Mickey]

I'm a military contractor-DFAC (dining facility AKA chow hall) food on my installation is quiet good-and inexpensive if you have to pay for it. Between the DFAC and the fact that there s a commissary on post there is no reason for a soldier to eat ramen or any other starving college student food. I would suggest the young man will need a car-the army will feed and house him but they will only transport him for work. Some installations are quiet large-getting around can be an issue. Good pillows and bedding would be a good investment-and jeans and t-shirts lol. once out of basic and AIT or OSUT they don't wear uniforms all the time.

He has clothes so I am not to worried about clothes. He has a used jeep that I am hoping will be fixed by his first duty station.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

Laughing about the chow hall issue.

We went to visit our son at AIT, he was there for six months, and were shocked that the soldiers did not seem to be utilizing the chow hall.
They were taking cabs off post to eat at the fast food joints around the base, or walking across the street from barracks to the PX to grab fast food there.
It was insane!

DS said it is pretty much the same way at his duty station now, everyone goes for fast food and those without cars, take cabs off post to eat.
He was doing that too, and came to realize it was very expensive, and very unhealthy.

Since he is saving for a wedding now, he started cooking what he could in his room using the fridge and microwave.

WOW can't believe they were taking cabs. Anything to avoid the chow hall

 

[Sgt Mickey]

TV, DVD player, Stereo, Good alarm clock.

Bathroom set (Shower curtain, rugs, towels, etc)

Thank goodness he has most of this. We bought him a really nice tv last year for Christmas so when he did move out he would have it. My only concern is that it is a plasma and he can't take it if he goes overseas.

 

[Chim Chiminy]

WOW can't believe they were taking cabs. Anything to avoid the chow hall

It was crazy!!! They all had the cab hotline saved in their phones!

We asked our son, exactly how often is he doing that, and at what cost?
And, do you guys split the cost of the cab ride at least?

How often? Every Sat. and Sun., if they had privileges.
And they did not split the cost every time.
AND they were eating at really junky places like McDs and Taco Bell! Every weekend.

 

[iheartdisney]

It was crazy!!! They all had the cab hotline saved in their phones!

We asked our son, exactly how often is he doing that, and at what cost?
And, do you guys split the cost of the cab ride at least?

How often? Every Sat. and Sun., if they had privileges.
And they did not split the cost every time.
AND they were eating at really junky places like McDs and Taco Bell! Every weekend.

In Pensacola at the A schools, the pizza delivery guys just show up outside the barracks with a full load, and walked around the buildings until they sold them all.

There is a definite difference between the traffic in the galley on the first and 15th of the month, versus the 13th and the 30th of the month.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

I believe it. I remember those days of living in the dorm. BUT I never took a cab anywhere. BUT thinking back they did have those cabs type drivers at Lackland which is where I went though training and was my first base. I do remember people taking them to get off base.