What to Expect at Boot Camp
As you might guess, Marine Corps boot camp life will probably be a lot different that the life you currently lead. Whether you are in or out of shape, you are in for some of the most demanding physical training you will ever experience. More importantly, is the mental challenge. The stress of being in a new environment, away from your family with constant verbal challenging is much harder to prepare for.
Most people are in a total state of shock when they first arrive at boot camp. Of course, this is the way it’s meant to be. You’ll also be in a total state of shock if you ever have to go to war so you might as well get used to it now. As long as you do what you’re told, you’ll have no problems. Just expect to hear a lot of yelling, do lots of push-ups and spend some quality time in the sand pits.
It will take a few weeks to get accustomed to the Marine Corps way of life. Once you do, you will begin to learn how to avoid trouble with the drill instructors. Of course, this is a never ending problem but it does get better as you go.
Besides all the physical training you will do and the Marine Corps history you will learn you will also do some pretty fun stuff such as:
- Pugil Sticks
- Rappelling
- Hand to Hand Combat
- Rifle Qualification
- BWT (Basic Warrior Training)
- Confidence Course
- The Crucible
- And More…
Okay, some of those listed above may not be very fun to you, but they will be a great experience that you will never forget.
Boot Camp will truly be a challenge but if you prepare as much as you can, you should have no problems. In fact, after it’s all over, you may look back on it as one of the best times of your life.
I am only 15 but Im dying to be a marine. My dad is a captain at Paris Island so every day after school I get to go on base. I always see that sign “We make Marines” and it gets me so fired up I cant be in the infantry gettin some!!
Form the days of men, form hercules to the spartans, blood and tear madness rage , honor and a gloryous victory over are enemys…. honor and glory !!!
i am leaving for bootcamp in a month! I am so excited!
I graduated from MCRD San Diego back in 1993 and spent 4 years as an 0351. I was physically prepared for boot camp but what really was hard for me was the unexpected stuff. To be honest it was stuff like having to sew a towel onto my rack (my first time sewing ANYTHING) or learning to tie a tie for the first time or just qualifying with the rifle. These things proved far more difficult for me then the fitness aspects of boot camp which honestly I felt were rather easy to be honest. I started working out 6 months before I left for MCRD and fortunately I grew up hiking and playing sports, which helped me a lot and at boot camp physically I was right up there with the drill instructors. However, as I said its the stuff YOU cannot prepare for that really wears you down mentally.
Dave
Ya i’m 15 too I live in San Diego and the Marines are always at my school I can’t wait for boot camp after I graduate!!! I wan’t to get all black so I can be a 0317
I live on long island . Im16 . I wanna be a marine soooooo bad. My parents think im nuts and totaly disaprove of this!! I don’t care what they say !!!! Once I’m 18 I’m going to a recruiter and getting out of here so I can go to boot camp!!!
how much running a day do you do in the marine boot camp
Im enlsiting soon. cant wait.
You will NEVER run more then 3 miles (except during The Crucible, but that’s a company run, it’s your final in boot camp, so even if you’re in the worst shape possible, giving up during The Crucible is unforgiveable since you’re marching towards your Eagle, Globe & Anchor..
There should only be 10 times you’ll run, and everytime, never more then 3 miles, but remember, you won’t be walking from one excercise to another.. Running will be daily shit, but the real runs are only 10 times during those 90 days, so it’s not as bad as everyone thinks..
Only two and a half months until I get to go to Parris Island. I am really nervous about the unexpected too.
My name is Abdul Koshan and i want to be a Marine to protect my contry. I also want to know once you get at of boot camp do you get to pick which base to go to. Please reply.
No, you won’t be able to choose which base you go to. Usually, you will have the opportunity to submit a “wish list” of your top choices you’d like to be stationed. However, your ultimate destination depends on the needs of the Marine Corps. I had Okinawa Japan as my first choice but ended up in Camp Lejeune, NC.
I went through boot camp in San Diego in 1993. Parts of boot camp for me were shear Hell. I remember the drill instructors tearing up our barracks and dumping talcum powder all over the floor after we had just cleaned it. I remember the DI dumping out foot lockers of the recruits who failed to lock theirs. I remember having to hold up your foot locker until it felt like your arms were going to fall off. And there was the hump we did along the beach where the sand was so soft you could’nt get your footing, this is where I fell, my rifle landed in the sand and I eventually started hyperventilating. The runs were tough too, your lungs always burned because you had to run as fast as you could, the DI was always proud of those recruits that puked at the finish line. The gas chamber was shear terror as they crowded you into this metal building that was dark inside, just one DI in the middle burning CS gas, then we had to take off the masks and breath that sinister chemical, you couldn’t see, couldn’t breath. As if the DI’s weren’t enough – other recruits would slap you in the back of the head if you fell asleep at any time. I remember the DI asking one of the recruits if he was gay which he was not. Very embarrasing for him! When all the above wasn’t happening the DI might just start making 3-4 recruits do some PT outside in the dirt for no reason. When we were up North at Camp Pendleton the humps were terrible, I remember one DI who would get off by making us do sit ups in the gravel instead of the grass to make us tougher. If all this sounds like fun to you than Marine Corps Boot Camp is just for you.
Semper Fi
Im 13 and i want to be a marine so badly its killing me. but i need help deciding on a fitness program to prepare for it. can any of you current or former marines help me out. I want to be the first in my family to serve and protect my country as a marine.
I’m 15 and already preparing my body for parris island. I feel as if i’m starting a bit too early but from what i’ve heard it’ll pay off in the end. One question I have is what can be brought with you? When I go what can I bring and not have taken away? What will be needed amd not provided for me?