1.  Haircut -  All of your hair will be cut off when you arrive at boot camp with no exceptions.  No matter how much hair you have or how much you love it, you might as well get used to being without it.  It is probably a good idea to go ahead and start wearing your hair short so that you can get used to it.  However, I also suggest letting it grow back out a little before actually leaving for boot camp.  DO NOT show up at boot camp with a shaved head or a high & tight.  This will only give the Drill Instructors a reason to single you out.

2. Uniforms – Everyone will receive the same uniforms so everyone will look the same.  There will be no separating yourself from others.  Uniforms will be a daily part of your life and you must learn how to wear them properly.

3. Stress – Everything at boot camp will be stressful.  You’ll have minimal time to do everything from showering to eating.  Not to mention the constant harassment of the Drill Instructors.

4.  Teamwork – Unlike civilian life where most people only care about themselves, you will be forced to adopt teamwork as a normal part of your life.  You are part of a team with everything you do at boot camp and will never refer to yourself as “I.”

5.  Language – The language that you will use during boot camp and during your Marine Corps enlistment will be much different than the language you use now.  Some examples of this “Marine jargon” will be discussed later.

Here are a few tips to help prepare you for humps:

Wear boots daily
Buy some combat boots, either jungle boots or all leather boots and wear them daily.  You need to get your feet accustomed to wearing these.  The number one problem people have on humps is foot blisters.  Getting your feet used to boots can greatly reduce your chances of foot problems.

PT in boots and cammies
You need to be able to PT in boots and cammies as well as you can in PT clothes.  The only way to do this is to practice.  I suggest working out like this often.

Do a hump every week
Even if you do nothing more than a treadmill walk with a backpack on, you need to be doing this weekly.  Go at least five miles as fast as possible.

You will only do a few long humps during boot camp but once you get to the FMF (Fleet Marine Force), you will be doing them quite often, especially if you are going to be an Infantry or Recon Marine.

You will be required to perform various tests in the water wearing your cammies, boots and helmet.  Some of the tests will also require you to carry your pack, flak jacket and rifle.

The only thing you can do to prepare for this area of training is to make sure you are completely confident in water before going to boot camp.  Some recruits arrive at boot camp without knowing how to swim and are in for a shock once they arrive at the swimming pool.  Boot camp is not the place to learn how to swim so make sure you know before you go.

You may notice a little less stress during this phase and for a good reason.  After all, you will have a loaded weapon so it only makes sense that you should not be stressed out.  Bad things can happen with loaded weapons.  You will not be trained by your Drill Instructors on the rifle range.  This job is reserved for PMIs (Primary Marksmanship Instructors) and coaches.

During rifle range training you will temporarily be moved from your barracks to a new barracks located nearby the rifle range.  This is because the rifle range is a good distance away and transportation would have to be arranged daily to shuttle recruits back and forth otherwise.  You will spend two weeks at this barracks during your rifle training.

The first week is known as “grass week” and is intended to instruct you on the fundamentals of marksmanship including safety and firing positions.  This is a very important week so make sure you pay close attention.

The second week is known as “firing week.”  This is where you will apply all the skills you learned in the first week.  You will fire your rifle on the KD (known distance) course.  The last day of this week is when you will qualify for a score.  The three options for scoring will be Expert, Sharpshooter or Marksman.

There is really nothing that can prepare you for the Marine Corps rifle range.  In fact, you’ll want to forget everything you know about firing weapons prior to going to boot camp.  Why?  Because the Marines have a very specific way of firing a rifle and bringing other habits with you will only slow your progress.  The only thing you can do is to become as familiar as possible with the M-16 A2 service rifle and you will have plenty of time to do this in the weeks leading up to rifle range qualifications.  Pay close attention to your instructors and you will have no problem.

The gas chamber utilizes CS (chlorobenzylidene malonitrile) gas, which is the same non-lethal gas used by police departments as a riot control agent.  You need to remember that this gas will not kill you even though it feels like it is going to.  Do not panic and you will do fine.

Here’s a sample of what will happen:

1. You and a group of recruits will enter the gas chamber with their gas mask on and donned and clear.

2. You will be asked to break the seal of your masks allowing gas to momentarily enter.  You may start to feel a little burning in your eyes and you may begin to cough but you will quickly be instructed to seal your mask once again allowing you to get fresh air.

3. Next, you will be instructed to completely remove your mask.  This is where panic will set in for some recruits causing them to bring unwanted attention from the Drill Instructors.  Don’t be one of these.  Remain calm and you will be ok.

4. While your mask is off, you will be required to perform an exercise such as side straddle hops, pushups or whatever your Drill Instructors decide on.  There will be plenty of coughing and gagging during this time but it won’t last long.

5. You will be instructed to put your masks back on.  Once donned and clear, you will begin to breathe normal again gaining confidence in your gas mask.

6. You will once again be instructed to take your mask off and hold it straight out in front of you.  After all recruits have done this, you will begin to file out of the gas chamber into the fresh air with tears in your eyes, coughing, spitting and nose running.

From this training, you will learn how effective your gas mask really is.  In today’s world with chemical and biological weapons on the rise, this piece of equipment is more important than ever.  This training is essential and should not be taken lightly.

• Basic punches
• Basic upper body strikes such as eye gouges, elbow strikes, hammer fists
• Basic lower body kicks
• Bayonet techniques
• Knife techniques
• Chokes & holds
• Counters
• And more…

The belt system for the MCMAP looks like this:

1. Tan
2. Grey
3. Green
4. Brown
5. Black (with an additional 5 achievable degrees)

Every Marine must earn a tan belt and can continue earning belts as far as their rank will allow.  For example:

To earn a brown belt you must be a Corporal or higher.

To earn a black belt you must be a Sergeant or higher.

Beyond teaching self-defense techniques, the MCMAP also increases confidence and leadership abilities.

Besides the mental and physical demands of the crucible, recruits will also be given minimal food and rest.  Typically, you will have 2 – 3 MREs and receive about 4 hours of sleep per night.  You must ration your food so that it will last the entire 54 hours.

The best part of the Crucible will be the 12 mile hump back to the parade deck.  This will be the most motivating hump during boot camp because at the end you will finally be awarded that E.G.A. (Eagle, Globe & Anchor) that you have worked so hard for.  Once you receive your E.G.A, you will no longer be a recruit but a proud United States Marine.

The only advice I can give you on the crucible is to remember that it is a team effort.  It doesn’t matter how you do as an individual.  It only matters how your team does.  Just like the Marines who have fought in wars before you counted on each other to make it through, you must also do the same.  At this point in your training you should possess the mental and physical toughness required for the crucible.

11 General Orders For Sentries

Code of Conduct

Article 1: I am an American fighting man. I serve in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.

Article 2: I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command I will never surrender my men while they still have the means to resist.

Article 3: If I am captured, I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.

Article 4: If I become a prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners. I will give no information nor take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades. If I am senior, I will take command. If not, I will obey the lawful orders of those appointed over me and will back them up in every way.

Article 5: When questioned, should I become a prisoner of war, I am required to give name, rank, service number, and date of birth. I will evade answering further questions to the utmost of my ability. I will make no oral or written statements disloyal to my country and its allies or harmful to their cause.

Article 6: I will never forget that I am an American fighting man, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.

14 Leadership Traits

1. Integrity
2. Knowledge
3. Courage
4. Decisiveness
5. Dependability
6. Initiative
7. Tact
8. Justice
9. Enthusiasm
10. Bearing
11. Endurance
12. Unselfishness
13. Loyalty
14. Judgment

The Four Life-Saving Steps

1. Restore breathing
2. Stop bleeding
3. Protect the wound
4. Prevent or treat shock

Rank Structure for the Marines & Navy

Since the Marine Corps is a department of the Navy, you will be required to know the rank structure of both services.

* A good way to remember the order of the General ranks (O-7 through O-10) for the Marine Corps is to say Be My Little General.

Marksmanship

Safety Rules

1. Treat every weapon as if it were loaded.
2. Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you intend to fire.
3. Never point your weapon at anything you don’t intend to shoot.
4. Keep your weapon on safe until you intend to fire.

M16 A2 Service Rifle
Is a 5.56 mm, Lightweight, Magazine fed, Gas operated, Air cooled, Shoulder fired weapon.

Marine Corps History

Who was the first commandant of the Marine Corps?
Capt Samuel Nicholas

Where is the birthplace of the Marine Corps?
Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, PA

When is the birthday of the Marine Corps?
November 10, 1775

What is the Marine Corps motto and what does it mean?
Semper Fidelis – Latin for “always faithful”

Who commanded the assault and capture of the fortress at Derna, Tripoli in 1805?
Lt Presley O’Bannon

Who was the grand old man of the Marine Corps?
General Archibald Henderson

Who was the only enlisted Marine to win the Medal Of Honor twice?
Sergeant Major Dan Daly

Who was the 13^th Commandant of the Marine Corps?
Major General John A. Lejeune

Where was the first Marine assault during World War II?
Guadalcanal

What is the name of the Marine Corps officer’s sword?
Mameluke

What was the nickname given by the Germans during the Battle of Belleau Wood?
Devil Dogs

Who was the most decorated Marine in history?
Lieutenant General Chesty Puller

How many times did Chesty Puller receive the Navy Cross?
5 times

Where did the nickname Leatherneck originate?
It refers to the leather neck piece that was worn by Marines from 1775 to 1875. It was designed to protect the jugular vein from saber slashes.

Who said, “Uncommon valor was a common virtue?”
Admiral Nimitz

It’s important to remember that if you are currently over your recommended weight, you MUST get down to your proper weight before you arrive at boot camp.  Drill instructors will be all over you.  They love to pick on the overweight recruits.

There is really only one way to lose weight and here it is:

Burn more calories than you consume.

This sounds pretty simple, huh?  Well, it is simple but most people don’t follow it.  Most of the population at large is interested in the quick weight loss gimmicks that are easy to use.  They want a magic pill that will just melt all the fat away.  There are enough “fad diets” available today to make anyone confused.  You should stay away from these diets.  It is true that some can reduce weight, but less than 10% of them are successful in helping people keep the weight off permanently.

Here are a few tips to help you shed the fat:

• Never skip meals
• Exercise at least 4 days per week
• Eat fresh foods
• Eat fat free foods
• Drink lots of water
• Do more resistance training.  This will increase your lean body mass.  Muscle burns calories, which means the more muscle mass you have, the more fat you will burn.
• Increase foods high in fiber and complex carbohydrates to help satisfy hunger
• Avoid eating fast food
• Eat low fat protein foods
• Always read nutrition labels and look for foods that have less than 2 grams of fat per 100 calories
• Do not eat fried foods
• Avoid foods high in salt and fat
• Eat egg whites as a snack
• Avoid using heavy sauces on foods

You should eat at least three balanced meals per day.  A balanced meal should contain:

1 part fats

2 parts protein

3 parts carbohydrates

This means that you need more carbohydrates than anything.  Forget about the all protein and no carbohydrates diet.  You NEED carbohydrates; especially with the fitness routines you will be doing.  Carbohydrates are absolutely essential for energy and Protein is essential for growth and recovery.

By making your meals mostly carbohydrates and protein, you will naturally be eating less calories.  The following chart shows the amount of calories per gram of each of these macronutrients.

As you can see, fat has more than twice the amount of calories per gram than either carbohydrates or protein.  This means that if you are going to be successful in losing body fat, you must reduce the amount of fat you eat.

Nutritional Food Ideas

If you are not currently on a healthy well-balanced diet, then you are not giving your body what it needs.  Proper nutrition can dramatically increase your physical performance.  You must learn to eat correctly so that your exercise work is not done in vain.  Below, you will find some healthy foods that you might want to consider when scheduling your meals.  You should make it a point to eat your meals at the same time each day and absolutely NEVER miss a meal.