SNI Orientation in Charlotte, NC

For anyone researching orientation in Charlotte, NC. Hubby and I just went through there so I can try to help you out to know what to bring, not to bring, what to expect etc.

First of all, you do not need flashlights, your driver instructors will have them in their trucks. As far as boots, if they don't say oil resistant slip resisant on the SOLES, then forget about it. SNI will make you buy their $25 boots. So just bring and wear whatever you want, as long as they are not open toed sandals. You get the boots on the last day to take with you.

Food - they will feed you breakfast and lunch at the Operating Center. Dinner will be on your own. They have a decent cafeteria that you will get tired of by the end of the week. Breakfast choices are things like scrambled eggs, hashbrowns (mickeyD's style) sausage links sausage patties bacon biscuits and gravy. Lunch is whatever the special of the day is (zitti, fried chicken for example) or a nice hamburger and fries or a HUGE salad with ham and turkey. All meals come with a small drink. They have vending machines also, for coffee, soda, snacks, ice cream etc. The hotel has breakfast too and some mornings we would grab something from there because the shuttle to the OC sometimes did not leave you enough time to eat breakfast before the class start time of 7 am.

Dinner - there's a place within 3 minutes walking distance from the hotel called the Cookout, good food for cheap. You have to walk past/around the swimming pool of the hotel across the street to get to it.

Dont bring anything that you think you will need to go with a trainer. 99.9999% you will be sent home after orientation before going with your trainer. So only pack a bag with a few clothes and some toiletries as you will be put up in a nice cushy hotel for the week. Ladies: dress code states long hair must be pulled back so bring hair thingies.

They provide you with a pencil if you forgot to bring one but my advice: bring a good mechanical pencil and an eraser. You will be writing and erasing a LOT. I went through 2 and a half pencils in one week.

You do NOT need a laptop, they have enough computers for you to do what you gotta do.

Plan to arrive as early as you can on Friday and go to bed early. You need your rest, it's a long week. But so worth it.

Dress nice. This is a week long interview, after all.

If you get R Scott Leonard, you are blessed. He is an awesome instructor.