Okay, so here's the deal: I'll be shipping out to boot camp in September, and leaving everything at home with my folks. Chances are, they won't be able to make it up for graduation, and it's equally unlikely that I'll be able to fly back home before I'm assigned/ shipped to my duty station. My mom has asked me to put together a box of stuff in September that they can send to me, but I'm not sure what I'll need or what there will be restrictions on having. (If it helps, I'm planning on requesting a cutter on my dream sheet.) For example, I know I'll need some civvies for leave and liberty, but what kinds of electronics are permissible? I'm assuming that ships allow things like IPods and Nooks, but laptops? Will there be restrictions on sizes/weights of items allowed onboard? I know that we're working out of small quarters, but I'm otherwise not terribly familiar with ship regulations in general or the USCG in particular.

Any advice you could offer would be wonderful. Thanks.

First off, why do you think you won't be able to make it back home? You get 5 days of liberty. If your parents can't fly up due to monetary reasons, there is a CG Mom's group that has a fund just for that reason

Ya, where is your home in relation to cape may?

When you are at boot you get the option to drive or fly, so, if you drive you will get a advance in your paycheck for the drive. You could greyhound it or something to your house... get your stuff and then drive to your unit.

If you don't have a car, then I would fly, in that case, cape may may work with you on your flights, so say you lived in the best city of all time, Chicago, and you were being stationed in Oregon, They are likely to set up you flights so that you can stop in Chicago.

They will work with you a little bit,

But say you were being stationed in Maine, and your home is in Chicago... Then I would opt to drive and figure something out for transportation.

But if you want your mom to send stuff, yes, laptops are permissible. I would highly recommend comfy linens, a foam twin mattess topper, and all of your electronics. Most units have racks where they open and you put stuff in it, (you'll see in bootcamp), plus a locker inside your berthing, and if your lucky an additional locker outside your berthing.

When I got to my boat (by helicopter) I have a huge suitcase, my seabag, and garbage bags with linens. I was good for the patrol and then everything else i left on base and moved in and off the cutter as needed. When I moved to the barracks I accumulated more and more stuff, and when I finally made 3rd and got BAH I finally got all of my stuff from storage into an apartment.

Thanks for your quick responses. Home for me is down in good ole’ Tennessee. I actually haven’t brought up the subject of graduation with my folks—they might be planning to come, but it’s an awfully long way and I’m not sure whether or not they’ll be able to arrange time off work. That, and they’ve been spending a heck of a lot of money on me lately, between college, a recent tree going through my kitchen, and helping me get ready to move (again). We’ve been arguing about money a lot lately; I want them to quit spending it on me what with all their other expenses, but they know I’m poor and can’t help but need it sometimes. (Mom bought me a $60 pair of shoes today, a veritable fortune on my current paycheck).

It’s nice to know about the advance on 1st paycheck. Driving might be an option, although that brings up a new question. What’s available in terms of long term parking/storage during the longer at-sea assignments? Is there something available, or should I make my own arrangements? Is it even worth having a car while stationed on a cutter? When docked, we still live on board the ship, right?

Oh, lord. So many questions, and all of them starting with “But what if…?” I know it’s hard to plan for something this far out, but it’s awfully difficult for me to just hang around and go “Meh. It’ll work itself out.”

Feel free to have me re-thread this next question, but how strict are room checks and such? I understand that everything will have to be squared away, but as far as appearance of personal items? For example, I don’t really think that my amazing Elvis-print sheets are going to be considered permissible on board, but do I need to go with a plain white? Does anyone really care, or am I just getting too concerned with the little details?

And thanks again. Just having someone to talk to in general is calming a lot of my nerves. No Coasties in my region, minus my incredibly busy and far-away recruiter, whom I don’t have the nerve to call up just to chat or hear stories from.

Buffet (that's my new nickname for you), they are your parents. You will always be their baby. Best accept that now. You may not want them to "spend money" on you, but after 8 weeks, ain't nothing gunna keep them from seeing you graduate, I can damn well guarantee that.

It so hard to answer a lot of questions because we don't know where you are going! It varies from unit to unit, and ship to ship. Heck, if you even get a cutter. You could also get a small boat station and be getting BAH to live in an apartment. Then you can totally have your Elvis sheets

My son was on the Seneca, a 270 out of Boston. For a morale thing a bunch of the deck force guys decorated their racks. They all got crazy sheets and accessories. My son chose Harley Davidson... sheets, curtains, throw pillows, blanket and tricked out his rack on the ship. Someone had teenage mutant ninja turtles, someone had Michigan University... So even your Elvis sheets very well might be acceptable on your ship or station or wherever. I do have to agree with FG... Tennessee to NJ is nothing when your baby is graduating from boot camp. That is an amazing thing to see and moms and dads want to be there. I went from Texas and my ex-husband flew in from Juneau, Alaska. He is also a Commander in the CG and was dealing with an oil tank field shifting during a volcano... he found a way to get there. So they will find a way.

Also, if it is a matter of money, please send me a PM. There is a moms in need group and they will help get your mom to graduation. It is a moment in time that will never be repeated, your mom should be there.

I would bring a car if you have one... For patrols there is usually an arraignment available for long term parking. For us, (6 month patrols turning into 9 month patrols) we park at a navy base and they just let our cars sit.

Then we van pool back to the cutter and take off.

For room inspections, it depends on the cutter. I've heard of daily inspections, for us it is weekly.. which honestly, is kind of disgusting. A bunch of nonrates living in a room together and then only clean it once a week for inspection.. ew.

Petty Officers are a little bit better since they don't live on the boat while inport but still.. I think twice a week would be perfect.

And we only have 6 man berthing, I can't imagine 20 man berthing.

As far as choosing a cuter thats awesome cutter life is amazing.