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?
My name is Jeremy McGaffigan i leave for USMC Basic training next month (Sept. 7th 2010) and im excited as hell but at the same time im scared shitless, not about all the phisical work but the mental part…how do i prepare for that if there is a way?
i’m 15 and i want to be a marine very badly and im already beginning to train for parris island one question i have isis boot camp really as bad as they say it is?
My brother Salvy is almost done with Marine Bootcamp and we could not be prouder of him
He is so strong and I am SOOO proud of him. And good luck to all you soon to be Marines. Remember those yellow footprints that you will stand on because a lot of Great Marines started on those very prints 
. God bless you all 
i am 16 about to be 17 in two months. I am currently a senior in highschool and my dream is to go to the marines . i would like to know how and when i should sign up .Please Reply .
be fit be for you go to boot camp make sure you can pass your ist with ease if you don’t not pass your ist when you get to boot camp you will be put into a pcp ( pork chop platton) this will delay your start into bootcamp and make you stay longer at mcrd San diego or pairs island
I am a freshman at a small liberal arts college in Iowa. I play baseball and I am an athlete. I met with a recruiter today (11/17/10) to discuss about trying to become an officer in the Marine Corps. I do not know whether I will take this route or enlist once I graduate. My goal is to be Marine Force Recon, I do not care how much officers make compared to enlisted. My question is what is your opinion on the route I should take? I feel that recruiters whether they are dealing with people kids trying to attend PLC or OCS or kids enlisting always have some bias. I know I have a long time to decide but I can’t wait to be a Marine. Thanks for the workout plans they are extremely helpful.
Graham
Im 18. And i’ve always known I wanted to do something great. Before my senior year of highschool ended. I talked to a recruiter. I was all set on joining the military. But after discussing it with those around me I became discouraged. Im working now, and everytime I see the commercial or think about it. Im frozen, imagineing what could have been. So im considering it again. Im going to be ready, partially thanks to this site.
I’m enlisted and currently in the DEP for Marines, I leave 20110801 and currently I can do 14 dead-hang pull ups, 110 crunches in 2 minutes, and running I can do 1 and a half mile in 11 minutes 34 seconds, so with this site,, it’ll deffinatly help for my preparation
This month is the 30th Anniversary of my time at MCRD San Diego. As a 17 year-old it was the defining moment of my life and I’m thankful that I had that opportunity to become a Marine. It was a challange, and there are moments I will never forget, but from a middle-aged mans perspective it was one of the best decisions I ever made.
As my eldest son (19) is taking his tests this week and preparing to step on those yellow foot prints all I can do is think of a time, that seems like a few short weeks, when I cut the apron strings stepped off that bus and began the path to becoming a Marine.
Semper Fi and may God Bless you all.
2nd Bn. 7th Marines 81-85
4th Recon 97-2001
i’m 19 and i leave for san diego in sept. i had to work my but off to be able to join so amber dont let anything hold you back. just do it
I’m 15 years old and i’m planning on enlisting in the Marine Corp once i’m old enough and I’m wanting to go into Force Recon and i was just wondering if anyone who has serve in spec ops can give me some info on how to get into Force Recon
I am 19yrs old and a poolee in the Marine Corps. I got 20 pullups, 110 crunches in 2mins, and in running shoes I can run 3 miles in 19:26.
I swore in 20110111 and my shipment date was 20110815 until a poolee got dq’d. And my recruiter told me that I am in great physical shape, mentally prepared for boot camp, and said I’ve been wanting this for a long time and that’s why I was the first number he dialed to take a shipment for 20110411. So I took it without hesitating and he said he’d help me for further preparation for leadership skills.
And for the younger one’s that are out there and are dedicated to be a Marine someday. Take my advice from experience. Keep your nose clean, head on straight, and get into physical shape.
I got a 99 on the Afqt but a few waivers held me back from an occupation I wanted in the Corps. All of the grunt fields were filled up and the waivers left me with 3 fields out of damn near everything I could have been qualified for. And one of the waivers was from me being stupid as a minor. But being a part of the Marine Corps excells beyond my dreams no matter what the outcome. Still, while you are young take my advice and keep your nose clean. For seniors in high school and graduates, if you want to set your heart on the Corps, join now so your shipment is in November. Because jobs are opening in November and right now is the perfect opportunity for being a part of ANY FIELD you can qualify for. So for anyone who wants to get some! Now is the time.
Poolee Cullum
I go to Boot Camp July 26th of this year, in San Diego California.
You have to try out for Force Recon, no one applies for it on your MOS. I am applying for Mortarman, and later on if I feel like it, I will try out for Recon.
But keep in mind, Force Reconnaissance training is extremely difficult, possibly ten times more then Boot Camp itself. (Got that feedback from my father, he’s a Reconnaissance Marine himself).
I want to join the marines.
If im 19, over 5ft, and 140 pounds. Is that good for the marines?
jasmin you should go see the marines when you turn 17 you can sign up for you d.e.p (delayed entree program) this is where you will train pyhsical and menatly for bootcamp where marines will help you threw this and teach you alot about the marines.. call your local recrutier and find some time to sit down with him and talk out all your options