Yea, about 9 hours or so. Just wondering if I can bring my laptop for the flight, or a book? Will cape may just lock up that stuff for me, or kick them to the curb? 9 hours is a long time to twiddle my thumbs... Thx

Book, absolutely; IPOD, absolutely; hand held 10$ game at walmart, absolutely... Laptop, not a chance in hell! They don't throw anything out, it just gets locked up. However, do you want your laptop possibly damaged in 8 weeks and it is no one's responsibility but yours that it is damaged????? They wouldn't throw it out but they certainly won't treat it with kid gloves and make nicey to it. I'm just sayin.... you decide for yourself.

Cell phone? It is my book, iPod, and $10 games. I know it will be locked up but is it ok to arrive with it then get it back after graduation?

Cell phone sure to that too! There are a lot of last minute text messages as the bus rolls up to the gate. Yep, whatever you bring with you, will be safe & waiting to leave with you. Nothing gets thrown away, except if you are goofy enough to bring a bag of beef jerky and 2 oranges or something that will actually spoil!! LOL Hey, I'll bet it has happened and no, it wasn't Colin!

What if You offered your CC a beer though? They would still throw it away?! Party foul! Lol just kidding.

I think that is an excellent idea!!! Bring a 6 pack for all the CC's greeting you at the gate. I like the idea, that's good!

Heck of an idea...but I would make it a 5th of something real good...

im sure id be the recruit they would all remember hahaha

I'm sure they would be the CC's you would remember! LOL

Standing out and being remembered is all good!

I came from CA, It took 11 hours to get to Phili, (didn't even get to use the meal vouchers either and too nervous to eat at the USO). I brought my cell phone and ipod. You just have to claim them when you put your civilian stuff in a bag. You have to fill out a form saying how much it is worth, and people with the same phone say it's worth 600 and others say its worth 99$.

If you have to claim value I'll bet Colin wrote "How do I know, mom bought it, she'll replace it!" LOL I shouldn't say that... he is very good about buying stuff, NOW! Before boot camp I would get those "Mommy can't I have it?" puppy eyes from that boy & I would have to get it. Sheesh!

I came from the coast on New Jersey... went to MEPS at Fort Dix in Central Jersey... then was carted to the USO, Sat there for 6 hours indulging in my final civilian meals // about 4 Wawa iced teas (the Philly USO is awesome!), and then took the drive to South Jersey. What a hectic tuesday!

As for a laptop I would not bring that, it's not that it is intentionally thrown around or anything but for my company when we stowed our civi bags in this big room, we just had a chain of recruits handing them off and basically tossing them into this room on top of each other, plus do you want your laptop sitting in a bag collecting dust for 8 weeks? Just retrieve it after boot camp... I'm sure you'll have too much on your mind to wanna sit on the laptop anyway!!

Yeah-my daughter went to boot camp from Hawaii.  I think with the 4 different flights it was a total of about 16 hours.  Nothing like starting at a disadvantage!!   Once you get there though - I think that everyone is on an equal disadvantage!!!  Now that she is in the fleet ( almost 2 years) - that 16 hours of flight looks like easy street!!

To get out here to Petaluma I had 6 DAYS of driving! It was fun though... get to do it all over again in a month! Driving back home to Jersey and then driving down to Key West! so much driving... lol

dang... my motorycle is my #1 source of transportation. even in the winter. after a 6 day trip im sure my butt would be quite sore hahahaha!!