Information

Packing List

The Welcome Letter below provides a packing list of required and recommended items. This section will be updated at the end of the course to verify what is necessary, nice to have, and not worth bringing.

1. TA-50 Gear. The Welcome Letter says to bring your TA-50 gear. Most JAG officers will not come with their gear and will pick this up at CIF. Due to possible shortages of sizes, consider bringing only the TA-50 clothing and get issued the rest here. Sometimes CIF is without specific sizes, and you must take what you get. Important. For Reservists and National Guard, you will return most items to CIF. For Active Duty, you will be returning some and keeping others. Except for long underwear and the long sleeve t-shirt, BRING EVERYTHING you were issued to CIF.

2. OCPs. Three are recommended, though you can probably get away with two. Get the hot weather OCPs. They are lighter and more comfortable. If you are at your current rank for a long time, get the name, rank, U.S. Army sewn onto your uniform and hat.

3. Laundry. Machines are on site and do not require coins. It is recommended to bring PODS or a small container of soap and then can purchase more later.

4. Shaving. Men have to shave their faces every 24 hours. If your face is sensitive, consider bringing an electric razor. This one is cheap, takes 2 AA batteries, and works well.

5. Room. You will share a room with one other person with a bathroom included.

6. Bedding. The beds are twin size. You will be issued a pillow, a set of two flat sheets, and a wool blanket that is too small. You are expected to make your bed each day with hospital corners. You will be issued two mummy sleeping bags at CIF around the first Friday. Before that, you will need to sleep with what is provided or bring your own. Many brought their bedding and pillow, while some either brought their sleeping bag or waited to use the issued sleeping bag later. If you bring your bedding, keep it plain with no patterns. Whatever option you choose, make your bed every day with hospital corners.

7. During the first week (Sun-Thurs), you will be wearing PT clothes until the JAG people receive their name tapes. Bring one set of the PT jacket and long pants, but also 6-7 sets of PT short sleeves and shorts. For cold weather, the PT uniform consists of the jacket/pants, shorts, and wearing BOTH short and long-sleeve shirts. If you think the weather will be cold during your DCC, bring 6-7 long sleeves. Otherwise, consider 1-2 long sleeves.

8. Bring 1-2 extra sets of Velcro name, army name, rank. Bring one set of slide on rank for wet weather jacket

9. Bring your own set of dog tags. These are not provided by the Army.

10. Two pairs of boots are a must. One might/will get wet. Hot weather boots will work just fine.

11. The sock liners are also a good option for long ruck marches. 6-8 pairs of boot socks are necessary. Two pair of sock liners is fine as rucks are infrequent. This is definitely optional.

12. Suggest bringing a small regular backpack to carry paperwork for the first week. You will not be issued a backpack until Day 4 or so.

13. Scissors, any small pair for cutting tape, are useful. You will be cutting white tape and stenciling your name on a lot of stuff.

14. The packing list asks to bring 100-mile-an-hour tape (i.e., duct tape). Find green color.

15. Bring an 8x12 or 10x10 tarp for Land Navigation. This will be used to as a makeshift tent or lean-to setup. Otherwise, you are using your poncho. Also, for Land Navigation, consider bringing something like this to hold your map and scorecard. This will keep these dry in case of rain. The Shopette here on base as these too.

16. Consider getting a prescription for Motrin. Any over-the-counter supplements or medications are not allowed. ALL prescriptions from personal physicians will also be confiscated but refilled by the Army doctors on base. You will get them back at the end of the six weeks.

Other Comments:

1. Personal Vehicle (POV). Do not expect to use your POV during most, if not all, six weeks. You will be allowed once a week to go to your vehicle to start it to keep the battery alive. You may have minimal POV usage after week 4, but this is a granted privilege and not a right.

2. Be physically fit. The instructors will expect you to be ready to perform all physical tasks. You do not want to repeat this course, so get active. Be able to run 6-8 miles at a time 2-3 times a week before arrival. For ruck marches, be prepared to run 2, 4, and 6 miles with 40-60 lbs on your back for men and women.

3. Bring a book(s) or two, as you will probably have a lot of downtime during the first week.

4. The mailing address for receiving mail is RANK FIRST LAST NAME, 6510 McVeigh Drive None Fort Benning, Georgia 31905. At the fourth week, do not have anything sent to Fort Benning. It may not come on time, and no one will forward it.

5.  If you fly into Columbus, GA, Yellow Taxi (706-322-1616) is the only option to get on. If you drive, you will not be able to use your car while in training.

6. Dining Facility (DFAC) and Meals Ready to Eat (MREs). Meals are cafeteria food. Breakfast is probably the best though repetitive. Food and snacks are not allowed in the rooms. They do have Halal and Kosher MREs upon request. MREs are high in carbs, some protein, and very little fiber. 

7. Vegetarians. Your options are limited and repetitive. In the DFAC, you will eat a lot of beans and salad, and the salad bar is pretty standard. When camping in the field, vegetarians should try and stock up on peanut butter packets in the DFAC. Some of the other students may give you some other their non-meat MRE portions as well. Consider bringing protein powder or other compact protein sources. The Cadre understands the limited options available and will give you some slack.

8. Caffeine/Energy Drinks. Energy drinks are not authorized at any time; only supplements prescribed by a medical provider are authorized. Caffeine (coffee only): Permitted after Rifle Marksmanship, Land Navigation, and the 6-Mile ruck march.

9. You will have 15 minutes to eat each DFAC meal once everyone sits at a table. A table sits together and leaves together.

10. You are going to eat a fair amount of MREs as well. Some are good, some not so much. Here is a list of MRE types. Expect to eat the 2019 Edition.

11. There are no quizzes or requirements for classes; sit and absorb what you think is relevant to you.

12. There are not many coordinated PT days. You will have to do most of it on your own.

13. Cell Phones. The use of cell phones during working hours is highly discouraged. The instructors have been known to take away everyone's cell phone for periods of time. Be very mindful of cell phone use.  

14. Sick Call. Beware, if you are feeling under the weather and decide to go to sick call. Per protocol, if you demonstrate or show signs of illness, the physician will likely quarantine you for five days. If this happens during Basic Rifle Markmanship (BMR), there is no chance for a make-up date. You will not receive a completion certificate from DCC. It is possible to make up other events, but BMR is definitely not one of them. Make sure you are certain you need medical attention before going to sick call.

15. Access off the footprint. Do not expect to be able to leave the 800-meter area of the barracks to wander around the base or travel off base. Access off the footprint is a privilege. Definitely to not expect to travel to the Shoppette or the main PX on the weekend very often.