Every boy was given three sets of labor clothes: a short sleeved cotton shirt and denim trousers. They also received two pairs of boots; one to wear for labors and in the field, the second as dress. When the labor boots were worn down, they would switch to their dress boots and receive a new pair of boots to become their new pair of dress boots. Along with these they also received a wool jacket for mildly cold weather and a visored cap to cover their eyes during a sunny day.

Throughout the day, boys were crowded into an amphitheater, sitting on the ground in their new clothes, and be addressed by an older veteran about what was expected to them.

"Happy Birthday, Our Young Men. Now that you are twenty, you are subject to the Laws of Men. You are no longer children, where your parents answered to any transgression you might have committed. You are now solely responsible to your own actions and behavior. If we find that you cannot be the man we need, then you will remediate until you can return to your families. We want you to return to your families, to the rest of Our Nation, so that you can marry and raise proper boys and girls that Our Nation needs. We will only treat you like boys when you don't act like men."

The young men were each given a book on the Men's Code, applicable to all males once they became twenty. It listed many duties and expectations, as well as sanctioned punishments for those who did not uphold it. For most young men, these laws were more or less a list of chores they thought was fair, while for a few others, they seemed strict and oppressive. What do they mean they were not allowed to kiss a girl until they were twenty-five!? Outrageous.