Uniforms and Packing List

New Cadet Uniform Issue 2026-2027

Initial Issue

• 1 Blue Cover
• 1 White Cover
• 1 Black Windbreaker
• 1 Black Parka & Fleece Liner
• 2 White Shirts
• 2 White CNT Trousers
• 2 Gray Trousers
• 1 OCP Cover
• 2 OCP Shirts
• 2 OCP Trousers
• 1 PolyPro Shirt
• 1 Maroon Polo
• 1 Coyote T-Shirt
• 1 pair Combat Boots
• 1 pair Low Quarters, Leather
• 1 Maroon LS Shirt (Citizen-Leader Track only)
• 1 Sweatpants
• 1 Sweatshirt
• 3 Black PT Shorts
• 3 Black T-Shirts
• 3 OCP VTCC T-Shirts
• 1 Bathrobe
• 1 Gray Blanket
• 1 Blue Blouse
• 2 Gray Short-Sleeve Shirts (Highty-Tighties only)
• 1 Accessory Kit

Accessory Kit

• 2 Blouse Collar Insignia
• 1 Brass Waist Plate
• 1 Brass Breast Plate
• 1 Brass Cap Device
• 2 Windstraps
• 1 Black Tie
• 1 pair White Cotton Gloves
• 1 Coyote Web Belt with Buckle
• 2 Corps Crests
• 1 White Collar
• 1 Black Hydration Pack
• 1 pair Cross Belts
• 3 White Web Belts
• 2 Nametags
• 1 Laundry Bag
• 1 Reflective Belt
• 1 Watch Cap
• 2 pair Boot Blousers Company patches, pins OCP Nametapes/VTCCs

Second Issue

• 1 Black Belt & Buckle
• 1 pair Black Leather Gloves, Dress
• 1 pair Black PT Gloves
• 1 Pair Nitrile Palm Work Gloves
• 2 White Shirts
• 2 Gray Long-Sleeve Shirts
• 1 White CNT Paletot and Trouser
• 1 pair Shoulder Boards and Crests

Mess Dress Options:

• Paletot
• 1 White Skirt or White Trousers

VTCC New Cadet Packing List: 2026-2027

Items marked with an asterisk (*) are sold in the Cadet Box from the VT Bookstore.

When packing, less is better. You will have limited storage in your room. If an item is not on this list, don’t bring it.

For your convenience, an Amazon link is attached here that includes most cadet items that you may have questions about. Please reference the Amazon list when buying your new cadet items.

**Critical Day 1 Items**

You must have these items readily available to you following check in on M-Day:

• 1 Set White twin sheets (fitted, flat, and a pillowcase), must fit (tautly) a 38” W x 80” L x 7.5” mattress
• 1 Standard Pillow
• 1 White Towel
• Underwear
• 1 Pair of Shower Shoes
• Body Wash

Required Items for Fall Semester

Clothes

• 1 Each Belt, black
• 2 Pair Khaki trousers, tan (Docker style. No cargo pockets. Tan khaki.)
• 6 Pair Dress socks, black
• 1 Pair Black low quarters (issued during Corps Orientation; bring back to campus with you.)
• 1 Pair 67 0-1 compliant boots (issued by Tailor Shop; bring back to campus with you.)
• 8 Pairs Boot socks (black, olive green or coyote, midcalf or higher)
• 3 Pairs Boot socks (olive green or coyote, mid calf or higher; specific color requirement for Army and Air Force cadets)
• 6 Pair Athletic socks, white, no logos or color showing, cover ankle (between half calf and ankle)
• 12 Pair Underwear (at least 3 must be white, nude, or skin toned)
• 3 Pair Underwear, black (Air Force and Marine Option ROTC’s only)
• 6 Each T-shirts, white, V-neck
• 2 Each T-shirts, any color (for personal physical fitness)
• 3 Each T-Shirts, Tan 499, crew neck (Required for M-Day uniform). Reference Amazon packing list here.
• 3 Pair Black shorts
• 1 Pair Shoes, athletic/running (You will check in wearing these shoes)
• 1 Set Sleep wear/pajamas (personal preference)
• 1 Each Wrist watch, professional in style (conservative black band, smart watches allowed to track fitness after Forge Week)
• 1 to 2 Sets Civilian clothing for travel on pass/leave (that’s all you will need until spring semester)
• 2 to 3 Sets Civilian workout clothes for personal physical fitness (can use after Red Phase)
• 1 Each Swimsuit (Required for NROTC cadets)

Personal Hygiene and Well Being

• 1 Each Toothbrush
• 1 Box Tissues
• 1 Each Toothpaste
• 1 Each Floss
• 1 Bottle Shampoo/Conditioner (Personal Preference)
• 1 Each Body wash
• 2 Each Hand soap
• 1 Pair Shower shoes
• 1 Each Deodorant
• 1 Each Lotion
• 1 Each Sunblock lotion or Sunscreen spray
• 1 Each Travel-sized sunblock (SPF 30 or higher; newly shaved heads sunburn easily)
• 1 Each Brush or comb
• 1 Box Q-tips (Required, for cleaning shoe edges)

Room

• 1 Each Pillow, white
• 12 Each Hangers, heavy duty (metal or wooden)
• 2 Sets White twin sheets (fitted, flat, and a pillowcase), must fit (tautly) a 38” W x 80” L x 7.5” mattress
• 2 Sets White towels (bath, hand, and washcloth)
• 1 Each Blanket or comforter (any color/type)
• 2 Each Surge protector (a longer cord is better, 6’ to 9’)
• 2 Each Large plastic storage bins/containers (lightweight, any color, stored on top of wardrobes) Space on top of cabinet: 32” across, 22.25” deep, cabinet top to ceiling: 45.5”)
• 1 Each Desk lamp (not halogen)
• 1-2 Sets Plates, bowls, utensils, mugs (microwaveable)
• 1 Each Plain alarm clock (no music capability: no radio/iPhone/iPad/other connections)
• 1 Each Water bottle (36 ounces +)
• 1 Each *Air freshener (cannot be a plugin)
• 1 Each Pool noodle (any color, to protect your head from the metal edge of the bed frame)

Cleaning Supplies

Communicate with your roommate(s) as you can choose to share these supplies in one room; however, you may want your own supply of some things to prevent running out.

• 1 Each 13 Gallon trash can with trash bags (one 13 gallon trash can permitted per room)
• 2 Rolls Paper towels
• 1 Each Sponge
• 1 Each Disinfectant spray (i.e. Lysol brand)
• 1 Each Disinfectant wipes (i.e. Clorox brand)
• 1 Set Dusting tools (Pledge, rags, Swiffer, etc.)
• 1 Each White laundry bag (one is issued, can also bring a second one if desired)
• 1 Bottle High efficiency (HE) laundry detergent or laundry pods
• 1 Bottle Spot stain remover (OxiClean, Shout, etc.)
• 1 Each Iron
• 1 Each Ironing board, full size
• 1 Bottle Ironing starch (i.e. Faultless Heavy Starch)
• 1 Bottle Multisurface cleaner
• 1 Bottle Dishwashing soap
• 1 Bottle Window/glass cleaner
• 1 Each Swiffer Wet Jet+ pads (per room)
• 1 Each Broom (per room)

Women

• 1 Kit Hair supplies for bun and ponytail, matching hair color (ties, pins, barrettes, spray, gel, etc.)
• 7 Each Mix, sports and regular bras (white, nude, or skin tone)
• 2 Each Nylons, skin tone (required with skirts; optional, if skirt use is not anticipated)
• 1 Supply Feminine hygiene products
• 1 Pair 1/8-inch gold, silver, or pearl ball earrings (optional)
• 1 Set Cosmetics, skin tone conservative (optional)

Other Cadet Items

Many of these items are sold together in a “Cadet Box” through the VT Bookstore (marked by an *). It is optional to purchase the box from the VT Bookstore ($225), or you can buy the items individually with guidance from the Amazon list Amazon.com. But make sure you have all these items.

• 1 Can Shoe polish, black (Kiwi, Saphir, etc. brand)
• 1 Kit *Shoeshine kit (brush, shine cloth, etc.)
• 1 Bottle Edge dressing (optional, Kiwi Brand is popular)
• 1 Set *Manicure set (tweezers, nail clipper, etc., also used for uniform maintenance)
• 1 Each *Doorstop, large (sturdy, wood or hard rubber)
• 1 Each *Portable stain remover (e.g., Tide to Go pen)
• 2 Each *Mini or regular size lint roller
• 1 Each *China marker/grease pen
• 1 Bottle *Metal polish (Brasso)
• 1 Each *Metal polish (Mothers Mag & Aluminum)
• 1 Each *Bic mini lighter
• 1 Each *Memo (fit in pocket) notebook, black, waterproof
• 1 Bag *Cotton balls
• 1 Bag *Safety pins
• 1 Pack *Markers, permanent, black (Sharpie is a popular brand)
• 1 Set *Shirt stays (for examples and where to buy, see Corps Pinterest boards)
• 4 Sheets *Hat plastic (available individually or in Cadet Box; sold exclusively at VT Bookstore)
• 2 Rolls *Light Tan Masking tape (1.88" or 2" x 30 yds), required for all cadets
• 1 Rolls *Light Tan Masking tape (1” x 54 to 60 yds), required for all cadets
• 1 Each Razor, electric or disposable (package of 5 or more for razors or replacement heads)
• 1 Bottle Shaving cream
• 1 Box Pens, retractable, black (Required for all cadets)
• 1 Each 3x5 index cards, ruled (Required for all cadets)
• 1 Each Black backpack, small or no visible logo (see Corps Amazon list for examples)
• 1 Each Professional business attire (optional for religious services; required for Citizen-Leader Track)

As Needed and Desired

Emergency Self-Care Bag

• Copy Home doctor and dentist contact information
• 1 Copy Insurance card
• 1 Each Prescription and dose of EpiPen (if applicable)
• 1 Supply Contacts, case, solution, and extra glasses (if applicable)
• 1 Supply 4-5 months of long-term medications, with prescription
• 1 Supply Other personal medications, with prescription (if applicable)
• 2 Packages *Mole foam/Moleskin Padding (Dr. Scholl’s is popular)
• 1 Tube Antibiotic ointment/cream
• 1 Box Bandages/gauze pads
• 1 Bottle Antacid
• 1 Bottle Seasonal allergy medicine (i.e. Benadryl, if you suffer from seasonal allergies)
• 1 Bottle Acetaminophen, ibuprofen or naproxen sodium (your preference)
• 1 Each Bug bite remedy
• 1 Each Antiseptic
• 1 Bottle Cough syrup and/or lozenges
• 2 Packages Cold medicine
• 1 Each Digital thermometer
• 1 Each Lip balm

Professional Materials

• 1 Each Computer (see compreq.vt.edu for specifications by major)
• 1 Each Printer with a scanner (It is not recommended to share with roommate)
• 1 Set Printer ink
• 2 Reams Printer paper
• 1 Set Software (As required by your college or major)
• 1 Set General school supplies (notebooks, binders, folders, pens, pencils, highlighters, calculator, stapler, post it notes, etc.)
• 1 Each *7-inch pointed scissors

Optional Items

• 1 Each Small fan
• 1 Each Air purifier (for desk, small, optional)
• 1 Each Small, foot pedal deskside wastebasket, with lid and bags (for underneath desk)
• 1 Each *Portable first aid kit, basic
• 1 Each *Sewing kit (small)
• 1 Each USB drive
• 1 Each Baby powder (for chafing)
• 1 Each *Hand Sanitizer
• 1 Each Dry erase eraser
• 1 Bottle Dry erase cleaning spray
• 2 Each Compression shorts, black

Items Not Authorized

The decor of a cadet’s room is limited within the privileges of each class. First-year cadets are not allowed to move furniture or add significant items to the room. Specific items that first-year cadets are NOT authorized include, but are not limited to:

• A desk chair (other than the chair provided by the university)
• Towels any other color than white
• Twin sheets any other color than white
• Posters or wall flags
• Floor lamps
• A personal bathrobe (other than the robe issued by the Tailor Shop)
• Rugs
• Alarm clocks that play music
• Extension cords (surge protectors are used instead)
• Televisions
• Shoe racks (that hang outside of cabinet)
• Hammocks
• Candles (no open flames)

Footwear Guide

You will be issued one pair of lightweight 670-1 compliant boots and one pair black leather low quarters by the Tailor Shop. If you decide to drop the Corps of Cadets, understand that you will be billed by the Virginia Tech Accounts Receivable Department for the boots and shoes. Virginia sales tax will be added.

Important notes:

1. DO NOT ATTEMPT to shine your low quarters. You will receive proper training when you arrive on campus.
2. Once boots and shoes have been worn, it is not feasible to swap sizes. Therefore, it is important that the sizes you have selected fit correctly. Replacements will be charged as described above.
3. Proper fit and break in are required to prevent blisters. Choosing quality socks will help. Ensure proper fit in the heel and toe area when trying on your boots and shoes. You will sign a form stating this when you are issued the footwear.
4. Do not forget to pack your boots and low quarters for your arrival on campus.

Uniform Shoes & Boots

You will be issued 670-1 compliant boots. This style boot will help reduce foot problems from the start. The low quarters you will be issued are black leather dress shoes. If you follow the suggestions below, you will reduce your chances of major problems.

Find the style of socks that you are most comfortable wearing. These should provide cushioning between your foot and the boot while keeping your foot snug inside the boot. The heel is a common problem area for blisters, and you should ensure that you have a proper fit here. Boot socks can be black or olive drab. Dress socks must be black.

As a precaution, bring moleskin/mole foam. This will help relieve some of the discomforts of blisters in the event they occur. You will receive instructions on care and maintenance during Forge Week. Wear the shoes as much as possible but take caution to not scuff or scratch the leather.

Packing List FAQs

For more examples and access to purchase items on the packing list, check out the Corps Amazon List.