Question: 2. May I bring vitamins? Over-the-counter pain medication? Prescriptions? What vaccinations will I be getting? When you arrive at your basic training company, you will go through what is called a shake-down, where you will dump all your earthly goods on the floor (or ground). The items will all be inventoried. It is then that contraband is put back in your civilian bag, not to be seen again 'til graduation. Some posts will allow you to keep your vitamins, but everything else will be packed away. That includes things like Motrin, Ben-Gay, cold medicine, etc. Whether it was bought over the counter or prescribed, you will not be allowed to use it. If at any time you feel you need any of these items, you can go on sickcall and get them for free. As long as it was prescribed to you by someone at the military troop medical clinic, you may use it. Females who have birth control pills, shots, etc will be able to continue using these through a military prescription. Please be sure to bring your civilian prescription with you also. As far as vaccinations, I suggest that you bring your shot records with you. You may save yourself some unnecessary shots. When you arrive at your BT post and get inprocessed at the reception station, you will get your vaccinations. Expect to see: Adenovirus 4 & 7 Diphtheria Hepatitis A Influenza Measles Meningococcal disease Mumps Poliovirus Rubella Tetanus Varicella Yellow Fever Once out of the training environment and depending on where your unit is deploying, you could see: Anthrax Cholera Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Japanese encephalitis Meningococcal disease Plague Poliovirus Rabies Typhoid Yellow fever Small pox Also, if your job routinely exposes you to certain pathogens, you could be vaccinated against those as well. To read more in depth, you can see Army Regulation 40-562. |
