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Navy Boot Camp Packing List: What to Bring and What to Leave at Home

The official Recruit Training Command list in plain English — required documents, permitted items, and everything that gets boxed up and sent home.

By NavyMentor Editorial Team

Published 4 min read

New recruits in civilian clothes hurry off a bus at night as they arrive at boot camp
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Olympia O. Martin
In this guide

Packing for boot camp is the opposite of packing for a trip. The goal is to arrive with as little as possible, because anything outside the approved list is either stored until graduation or sent home. This guide follows the official reporting guidance published by Recruit Training Command (RTC), Great Lakes.

Prefer to tick things off? Use the interactive boot camp checklist.

Documents every recruit must bring

These are non-negotiable. Keep them together in one folder and do not pack them in a bag you might be separated from.

  • Social Security card
  • Immunization records
  • COVID-19 vaccination record card, if you were vaccinated
  • Two forms of valid identification. At least one must have a photo, and the name must match on all of them. If it does not, bring legal name-change documentation.

Forms of ID that RTC lists as acceptable include a U.S. or foreign passport, driver’s license, military dependent’s ID card, voter’s registration card, Certificate of U.S. Citizenship and Certificate of Naturalization.

Bring these if they apply to you

  • Marriage certificate
  • Divorce decree
  • Copies of dependents’ birth certificates
  • Permanent resident card, for non-citizens
  • Direct deposit information — your bank’s routing number and your account number

What you are allowed to bring

Item Notes
Wristwatch Keep it simple and inexpensive.
Wedding ring —
Religious medallion No larger than approximately 2 by 1 inches.
Pocket-sized religious text —
Writing material and a small address book Mail is your main contact with home.
Plastic hairbrush, pick or comb Metal ones are prohibited.
Pre-paid phone cards —
Glasses One pair of prescription or reading glasses.
Cash A small amount — the official guidance says less than $10.
Prescription medications Tell your recruiter about them in advance; medical staff review them on arrival.

Female recruits may also keep feminine sanitary items, barrettes that match their hair color, and conservative cosmetics — one each of face powder, blush, lipstick, eye shadow and mascara.

What not to bring

RTC’s prohibited list is long. The short version: if it is electronic, sharp, glass, aerosol, edible or tobacco, leave it behind.

  • Portable game players, MP3 players and cameras
  • Electric razors, hair dryers and curling irons
  • Razors of any type, blades and knives
  • Shaving cream, any aerosol container, after-shave and cologne
  • Anything in a glass container, including mirrors
  • Metal hairbrushes, picks or combs
  • Food of any kind — gum, candy, chips
  • All non-prescription drugs and medications
  • Cigarettes, cigars, vapes and all other tobacco products
  • Lighters and lighter fluid
  • Playing cards, dice and gambling items
  • Alcohol-based health and comfort items
  • Additional civilian clothing
  • Firearms, weapons, explosives, illegal drugs and paraphernalia

What happens to your phone

According to RTC, after recruits arrive all cell phones are boxed up with their personal belongings and stored locally, then returned the day before graduation. From that point the main way to communicate with a recruit is by mail, with a small number of scheduled phone calls during training. Memorise a mailing address or write it in your address book before you leave — you will not be able to look it up.

What to wear and how to arrive

  • Wear weather-appropriate clothing; trousers or shorts and a T-shirt are encouraged.
  • Wear closed-toe shoes and socks. No flip-flops or sandals.
  • Arrive clean-shaven, with hair in a natural color and within Navy grooming standards.
  • Nails must be clean and unpolished. Gel and acrylic nails are not authorized, and false eyelashes should be removed.

Before you leave home

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to buy anything for boot camp?

Very little. The Navy issues your uniforms and the gear you need during in-processing. Do not buy “boot camp kits” — most of the contents are not permitted.

How much money should I bring?

Recruit Training Command’s guidance is a small amount of cash, less than $10. You are paid by direct deposit during training.

Can I bring my own running shoes?

Follow your recruiter’s current instructions. Whatever you wear to arrive should be comfortable, closed-toe shoes with socks.

What if I bring something that is not allowed?

It is boxed up with your civilian belongings and either stored until graduation or sent home. Illegal items are a far more serious matter.

Sources

Facts last checked against these sources: October 2026.

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