I just finished my BMQ and SQ and as i promised in another thread here are some of the tricks i learned on my courses that helped and a few "tricks" that didn't go over so well. Reading other posts i couldn't always tell if someone was talking about weekend bmq or full time summer bmq so to clarify i did my BMQ/SQ as two back to back 1 month courses starting July and finishing at the end August. Remember each course is different and some things that worked for me might not be such a great idea on your course.
First here's what my dad (A PO1 or a warrent for us army types) said to me. I can remember them all because at one point or another while being jacked up about something i would silently curse myself and think "if only I had remembered that -before- I ...".
1. Ensure your brain is working before you open your mouth
2. Ears open mouth closed, if you have a valid question raise your hand but remember rule #1
3.You know nothing
4.Be the "Grey man", blend in with the crowd, if your not blending you're wrong!
5.There are 3 things that will control your life: Timings Timings and Timings
6.Don't take it personal
7.Work with buddy / Help buddy out, it's not a competition, there is no winner, but there can be a whole bunch of losers
I can recall several times where before doing something i remembered these rules and stopped myself only to witness someone else do what i was about to and get jacked up for it.
Civi kit:
Most of this is gravy that you could do without but it will make things easier on you as a whole.
-as said many times before 2 shaving kits, this isn't just 2 razors its also: 2 Shaving creams, 2 soaps (with plastic soap boxes) 2 toothbrushes, 2 toothpastes 2 deodorants also on my course we needed to bring razor holders, the kind that come with non disposable razors like a mach 3. Use one set for the first day or two and then leave it out for inspection, if they start doing hygiene inspections put the inspection soap in the wet box you used (dry off the wet box as much as you can, use common sense and didn't leave it half full with water).
-a waterproof electric razor for use in the shower. Use the sound of a running shower to cover the sound of the razor, if you shave in the shower it gives you an extra few minutes in the shower and believe me i would kill for every second of a hot shower i could get. (don't be a buddy f***er and make sure you don't hog the shower if they need it) I never got picked up for shaving badly with an electric but during the first few days and for the major inspections i would use a new razor and some shaving cream over my electric.
- two pairs runners, I was issued a pair of runners before i left so i brought 2 and used the issued ones all laced up and clean for inspection and my civi runners for pt as they would collect all kinds of "bird squirrel rat cat bat droppings". As for this whole wet foam idea that's floating around i have no clue i did however change up once or twice after stepping knee deep into a puddle but that's just for comfort.
-Powdered Gatorade, Bring lots, once other people know you have it they will want some too and its always a good thing to help buddy out. We were allowed to keep this stuff but its clearly up to your NCO's on this one because we weren't allowed any other foodstuff. (that isn't to say we didn't sneak in chocolate or cookies but that's clearly contraban so do so at your own risk)
-Small first aid kit. I'm enlisting as a Medic (med A) so i thought i should prob bring along some basics and then i picked up a few other things that we needed as the course progressed. Don't bother with tensor bandages and alike, the MIR will have that for you if you need it. Things that helped were: Polysporin, Bandaids, tweezers, Isopropanol (rubbing alcohol but get a london drugs one that says Isopropanol and if your Sgt asks say it's isopropanol since the word alcohol seems to get it confiscated). Q-tips (also good for cleaning your rifle so bring lots and keep a few in your kit) Afterbite/stingstop, Solarcaine with aloe (its sunburn lotion, the aloe is extra gravy or poutine if you like that stuff)
-those little blue hospital booties, you only really need two pairs per room for the guys running around doing the mirrors and hallways but if everyone had them then you don't need to be extra careful when you walk around. (don't wear them for inspection, don't laugh, it happened)
-Pipe cleaners and Q-tips, Great for cleaning your rifle, they are supposed to give you pipe cleaners but we never got any.
-two more extra toothbrushes, use your old ones here, one is for boot polish, the other for cleaning your rifle
-a nail brush, the stiffer the better, also for your rifle (butt plate/flash suppressor) but our room had 2 so we used one for the bottom of our boots
-lint brush, Again you only really need one per room but if you bring one then you are sure to have one in your room and if you have a spare help buddy downstairs out
-Steel wool, For help getting the last verges crap out of your BFA and about 1000 other uses especially if your doing sq and get to play with the c6 and the c9.
-swiffer duster, We just bought the refills for the dam thing and used our hand, also that way you can split them up so people can do last second dusting.
-laundry bag, Its a green or white (or cadpat if you raid your local can-ex) mesh bag that holds all your dirty crap. Then come laundry time you just throw it in the washing machine all inside the bag, then pull it out and drop it all in the dryer (you may want to take it out of the bag if your pressed for time as it drys slower in the middle). Much much much faster than using clothes pins to pin everything together, that just sounds like a huge waste of time to me.
-A535, or any other warming muscle rub. I used the sport ultra heat (orange thing that looks like deodorant) which worked well but smells, we didn't mind it but some people might so you may want to consider getting an orderless one like bengay or something
-sport socks, made out of poly-something-something i cant remember off the top of my head but i had 2 pairs of cool max and 1 pair of Nike sport socks, look for socks that don't absorb sweat to wear under your woolies
-Gold bond, Amazing, i had 3 by the end of it one of them the extra strength one for ruck marches. Apply inside the boot,, then in your first layer of sock (careful it gets messy if you screw it up). It also works great in the field for keeping your balls off of your leg and to keep feeling clean (might seem weird but hey its "personal body powder" not foot powder) I think you can figure out on your own how to apply it.
-glade plug-in, This was extra super poutine with a glass beer on the side, not needed at all but nice to have in a room with 6 sweaty smelly guys each with wet smelling shoes and pt gear, you could also argue that a clean smelling room gets a better inspection.
This is a lot of crap to bring with you and i would be amazed if you found space for it all. Most of it is stuff we picked up as the course progressed and by the end of it we had to throw stuff out because we had no room for some of it.
I'm sure ill remember other things as time goes on and ill post them as i remember or modify this one. Good luck to all of you who still have yet to do their bmq and i hope this helps.
P.S. "If it goes fizz it does not go in your f'n Face!!!" (stay away from pop)
