Mental Preparation for Boot Camp
Marine boot camp is very mentally demanding and is designed to imitate the stressful mental situations that may be encountered during combat operations. In order to help recruits understand how stressful future combat operations may be, Drill Instructors place extreme demands on the recruits in an effort to mentally break them down. If you learn to maintain your composure during this mental stress, you will most likely excel when it really counts one day. Here are a few tips to help you prepare for the mental stress.
Attitude
This is where the secret to doing well at boot camp lies. Your attitude will determine everything else that happens during your stay. You MUST arrive at boot camp with the right mental attitude. By this I mean you need to arrive knowing that you are going to do the best you can do no matter what.
I suggest reading and watching a lot of Marine Corps material. Read books about Marine Corps history and what some of the early Marines endured for the freedoms of today. Knowing what those who have come before you have gone through will help increase your motivation. If you know any former Marines, I suggest talking with them. Most any Marine who has served is always willing to talk about their experiences. You should also read material on self-confidence, positive thinking and physical fitness.
Stay away from naysayers and pessimistic people before and during boot camp. These people will ruin your attitude and have you second guessing yourself. You will most likely encounter a few recruits who will try to get away with things and cheat the system, stay away from them.
Motivation
Motivation comes from loving what you do, so if you love the Marine Corps and what it stands for this should be easy for you. Anyone can become motivated about something every once in a while but this will not be sufficient at boot camp. You must remain motivated 100% of the time at boot camp and I have a few suggestions for doing this.
Focus on the outcome – Keep your mind focused on what you will become when you walk across that parade deck proudly wearing a US Marine uniform; something that only a few proud people have accomplished. Do not think about each present moment as it will be discouraging to you.
Set goals for yourself – Such as being the honor recruit for your company. This will give you a reason to be constantly motivated. If you are just trying to make it through, it will be hard to stay motivated.
Avoid slackers – Stay away from those who are doing the bare minimums to get by and spend more time around those who are giving 100%. During boot camp you must always give 100% of yourself and do the best at everything you do. Even if you don’t do so well, your Drill Instructors will notice the motivation you have and the effort you are putting out. These are the recruits that do the best during boot camp.
oooh Friggin Rah Sgt. This is a piece of motivation. Just kinda stumbled on your site. This looks to be an OUTSTANDING source of information for the future hard chargers. Keep up the good work
Cpl McCuddin (fmr)
2/3 ISC
If you become a marine and they ship you out for battle,will you die or not.Is it dangerous,Please reply.
Steven
South Africa
Steven,
Marines know the inherent danger they may encounter during the course of their career or enlistment. If a recruit graduates boot camp, there is a chance they will go into combat and, ultimately, sacrifice their lives for the United States. What you can’t possibly understand is the inherent willingness to sacrifice so greatly that is within every Marine. That willingness makes us the most feared fighters on the planet. This isn’t one Marine answering a question, it is a history of heroic acts that are commonplace within the Marine Corps; they are my personal observations as well. Please do more research if you intend to join our ranks and be sure you are willing to sacrifice everything for the United States, the Marines and the Americans to your right and left. You knew the reputation of the Marine Corps before you ever came to this site and you may be considering becoming one of us; please do some research and soul searching to ensure you make the right decision. All the best.