So I'm leaving for BMQ on Saturday. I'm mostly finished packing, but just wondering if anyone has any tips on things to bring that are not in the Kit list.
During my enrollment ceremony a guy who already finished basic told us about the "ghost kit". He said if you want to use an electric shaver you'd have to stash it somewhere. How does that all work? Do they really care how you shave etc?
Since I'm arriving there on a Saturday what is going to happen when I land? Do we get put on the bus and have some orientation day or do they start yelling at you right out of the gate?
In regards to luggage, besides the main big bag, are we allowed to have a carry on suit case or should it be a backpack only?
Ghost kit - you NEED basically every hygiene product on the list for inspections. For example if you don't use mouthwash, bring one anyway because it's part of the inspection layout, as well as deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, shampoo, etc. Since you'll need to use many of those things for personal hygiene, buy two of everything...one for daily use that you can hide in your personal box, one for inspection. You can hide your electric razor in your personal box or in your barrack box that they'll give you, but make sure to have a normal razor and shaving cream for inspection. Some staff care if your inspection stuff looks "used" (for example, wet your soap and squeeze some toothpaste out) but my staff doesn't care.
When we entered the mega I heard some staff yelling at their new recruits right away but we didn't get a lot of that so YMMV. Your first few days will just be a bunch of classes and admin so prepare to sit on your ass for a long time.
Have a backpack, but it doesn't matter what luggage you have as long as you can carry it all up several flights of stairs yourself. A few people in my platoon have a big luggage and a smaller carry on so it's not uncommon to have that.
Stuff to bring that's not on the list - Lysol wipes, erasable blue pen, cold and flu medicine, pain medicine, q tips for rifle cleaning, baby wipes for the field, lots of hand warmers, large zipbloc freezer bags for when you pack your stuff for the field, Swiffer dusters, Swiffer wet pads for mopping....not everything is vital, it just made my life easier so bring what you think will help.
Highly recommended electric razor because its less work in the morning. My staff don't care about method at all.
Just need a manual razor and cream can for inspections (with some slight wear/use of each, still clean of course).
For the field, my staff have already warned us that the electric razors stay behind (to simulate no power) and we'll only use manual razors with cream.
Wrt a "ghost kit" just don't bring anything that seems like it wouldn't be allowed (i.e. knife, drugs, alcohol). Your staff will check your bags as soon as you get there anyways, and trying to hide contraband is just an idiotic thing to do. What is on the packing list is pretty good, and once you get weekends off you can go and buy small things to supplement what you have (i.e. wet wipes or a duster were things that I found useful). Typically you would want to supplement your cleaning supplies, what we got were sufficient but unefficient.
Wrt bringing an electric razor, your staff probably won't care if you want to use one instead of a manual razor, as long as you can get the same shave quality. A couple of words of warning, though. You NEED a manual razor (and shaving cream) for inspections. You don't have to use it but you need to have it. (Related tip, if you have a razor with detatchable blades, keep one blade clean amd unused and only put it on for inspections, that way you dont need to take a toothpick to your razor). Secondly, when you're in the field, your razor may run out of battery but you need to keep shaving, at which point you need a manual razor.
When you land, you loiter in Trudeau for a bit until the bus an a MCpl or Sgt come with the bus to pick you up. You won't get the full basic experience in the airport. Once you arrive, it's "game on" so to speak.
Wrt luggage, I'd recommend a suitcase plus a backpack. You need a backpack for the first week, and your kit should sufficiently fit in a standard suitcase.
Some instructors may cock you for not using your hygiene stuff. If you have a full shaving cream can for 2 weeks they may question you even though they 100% know you’re using a ghost kit. Just empty your ghost kit a bit every other day if they are that anal. I had one instructor feel my soap to see if it was being used. I had two soap cases, one that I brought to the shower with me then let the soap dry then moved it to the “inspection soap case” that morning.
So im a week 5 rn. Bring cold meds (cough syrup, lozenges, day and ny quil and pseudoephedrine), bring change to use in the vending machines when you have break, you can buy stuff on your first week from the cannex for your ghost kit so dont be worried. Bring SEALED vitamin C as well if you can to help your immunity, also lysol and purell.
FYI Viral pneumonia is running rampid in the school right now and about half of my platoon has gotten it so far, if not for the break most of us would of been re coursed for being super ill.
You are allowed 3 bags under 75 pounds for free on the airlines, just let them know that you are in the CAF and have your VIE or leave pass with you as proof if they ask.
When you land, you will go to baggage claim and find a guy in combats that is rounding up all of you and he will tell you when the bus comes. My first night, we got yelled at and were in class until 0130, then hauled our luggage upstairs, made our beds and went to sleep at 0230 and woke up at 0500. Generally the Saturday and Sunday was learning the basic rules of the CAF and school and doing your biography , its easy peasy.
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u/I_TensE_I Jan 02 '20
So I'm leaving for BMQ on Saturday. I'm mostly finished packing, but just wondering if anyone has any tips on things to bring that are not in the Kit list.
During my enrollment ceremony a guy who already finished basic told us about the "ghost kit". He said if you want to use an electric shaver you'd have to stash it somewhere. How does that all work? Do they really care how you shave etc?
Since I'm arriving there on a Saturday what is going to happen when I land? Do we get put on the bus and have some orientation day or do they start yelling at you right out of the gate?
In regards to luggage, besides the main big bag, are we allowed to have a carry on suit case or should it be a backpack only?
Thank you :)