What happens between the day I "leave" for boot camp and the date I "start" boot camp?

You will be at your Basic Training base. However, those 6 days from show to "start" are the days you will be in Reception. This will be where you will be issued uniforms, your ID, shots, glasses (if needed), and your SSN memorized....if you don't already. Once all your in-processing is done, then you will be picked up and taken to your Basic Training company.........where you will have a fun filled and glorious intro to your Drill Sergeants.

Don't make the mistake of calling it "Boot Camp" to start. You'll be at reception until you start Basic. It is mostly administrative and in-processing. You're in limbo until you start BCT, so don't do anything to prolong your time there.

Strictly speaking, your training will begin the moment you arrive. You just won't be in "basic training" until you are assigned to a training unit. The first few days of the dead time will mainly consist of a bunch of classes, paperwork, and getting your initial issue of gear. You will also have various immunizations and exams. Plus a haircut. Most of all, you will be introduced to the military's favorite game called "hurry up and wait."

Jordan Durland Listen closely to what you are instructed to do, and then follow these orders to the best of your abilities. You will have many adventures and challenges to look forward to. Good Luck.

http://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/boot-camp-success-tips.html

Everyone has given you excellent answers but they all have stopped short of telling you what I feel is very important, what My father who was a Navy Chief told me before I went to my basic training. Remember its all a big Mind F*ck! Your DI's primary Job is to break you from doing stupid sh*t the way a Civilian does things, and teach you to do things the MILITARY way so when you get out to your ultimate destination you have a basic foundation to build on and can get acclimated to the new way of walking, talking and acting and ensuring you do not get killed! LISTEN and HEED what you are told and taught. there are reasons for everything and you can bet your BVD's that those reasons are written in blood! It does not matter if you will have a technical MOS or be infantry in a rifle company. If you let your head venture into the rectal canal at the wrong time, it may be the last thing you ever experience and it will really be a sh*tty sight.

You are about to embark on the greatest adventure you could ever imagine. If you play your cards right you can see places of the world that Civilians only dream of. Develop friendships and bond relationships that will last your whole life. Understand what it is to fight for and love the Republic in which you and your parents and grandparents were born, and possibly your relatives also served. You become part of a Brotherhood that is second to none, whether you stay in for 3 years or thirty, you will be a Veteran, and every other Veteran; Army, Navy, Marine, Air Force, Coast Guard or Merchant Marine will be your Brother or Sister.

God Speed Jordan!

You're lucky, Jordan Durland! I reported to the reception station at Fort Jackson on 28 October and I didn't start BCT until 11 November! Of course, that was in 1969, so I guess in processing has been significantly streamlined since then.

Congrats on deciding to serve. Good luck.

It has probably changed a lot since I got to Fort Benning a week before the main part of our OSUT class arrived (1978). I became intimately acquainted with the dutiful application of fluid-based pigmented suspensions to igneous and sedimentary masses used to delineate permissible walking paths. When we finished them, there were old barracks that needed similar application of said fluid. After that, there were bleachers that no longer matched the color of the igneous and sedimentary masses and barracks, so they received a coating as well.

On the plus side, our drill sergeants had an extra week to get to know us so they had an idea who would work hard and who would just do the minimum. Three of the first five leadership positions went to early birds. That week didn't "count" for course credit, but we still benefited from it.

Man that week at reception was the longest week of my life....and then finding out I haven't even started the real first week of BCT ha-ha the memories.

Jordan Durland I went to reception and basic training at Ft Jackson! Like others have said, it's a big game of hurry up and wait. It's like an assembly line of soldiers- wait in this long line to get 15 shots, wait in this long line to update your dependents and personnel records, another line for uniforms/PTs/boots, a trip to the PX to buy essential toiletries (they'll give you an allowance from your paycheck to cover it)... they'll issue glasses if you need them and do a bunch of medical and dental screening.
You'll wake up at 4am or earlier and not go to bed until 10pm. You'll spend a lot of time standing in formations, learning about facing movements and how to speak to your drill sergeants.
It sucks, but just like in basic training, remember they are messing with your head on purpose. Don't let them get to you and you'll be fine.