Just signed with the Marines. Need advice?

Question

OK. I am signing tomorrow morning and I am going to ship out to Parris Island late next month. I want advice from Marines and Army soldiers about how I need to prepare myself for boot camp. I am going to start running 2 miles each day and pushups, crunches, and pullups like crazy. Please give me some info guys. NO NEGATIVE COMMENTS. ONLY SUPPORTIVE PEOPLE ONLY.

Answer 1

The more you can prepare in advance, the better off you will be.

It's important that you get into some semblance of physical shape. Concentrate on running three miles and long marches (up to 10 miles). Sit-ups and pull-ups are also important. If you are unable to perform basic exercises, you may spend a significant amount of time in PCP (the Physical Conditioning Platoon). PCP is tough: PCP's objective is physical fitness, and that's what you'll be conentrating in while in the program. Individual remain in PCP until they can While it is normally a 21 day program, once you're in, you don't get out until you can do 3 pull ups, 40 sit ups in 2 minutes, and run 3 miles in 28:00 minutes.

If you arrive overweight, your DI will put you on a "Diet Tray" for your meals.

In boot camp, you'll start drill almost immediately. A few hours studying basic drill and ceremony will help immensely. As with the other services, you should memorize USMC Rank.

Additionally, you should memorize the 11 General Orders for a Sentry. While not mandatory, the Marine RlFLE Creed is nice to know. You should also memorize the Marine's Hymn, all of it, if possible, but at least the first verse.

Wait -- that's not all (I told you it was tough). You'll need to memorize the USMC Core Values, study Marine Corps history, and commit the characteristics of the M16 to memory. Round all of this out by memorizing the Code of Conduct.

If you don't know how to swim, try to learn before you leave for boot camp. Before you graduate, you'll have to demonstrate basic swimming skills.

The other services have lists of what you should or should not bring with you. The Marines make it simple: Don't bring anything except your important papers (such as driver's license, social security card, and banking information), except the clothes on your back. Everything you need will be issued to you. For non-issue items, it will be issued, and the cost taken out of your pay.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

I'm in the army, so I can only give you general advice, but here it goes:

End of july? Parris Island will be hot and humid. Run during the heat of the day, if possible, and I would run farther than 2 miles a day (more like 4). You might also want to practice standing at attention, because you'll be doing a lot of that there (sometimes for three hours at a stratch).

When you go to bootcamp, don't ask qny questions. Let the other guys do that. And someone else will ask the same questions you have.

If you need help getting in shape, it's your recruiter's job. Make him do it.

Good luck. It won't be easy, but it'll be fun when you're not waiting around.

Answer 3

Guys, huh?

The best advice I can give you before heading off to boot is that you need to come to terms with the fact it will suck. BUT, you also need to remember that it will not last forever. There is no question about it, you WILL want to quit. But you need to weigh out whether being a Marine is important to you or not?

The human body is capable of much more than you'll ever believe. Push yourself. When you feel like you have nothing left, keep going. That's what they're going to do when you get there, and you need to be prepared.

Keep moving. Every day that you're there is another day that you don't have to be there, if you know what I mean.

But to prepare for boot? Like I said, train harder that you ever knew you could. Realize that this is going to be one of the most challenging experiences of your whole life, and look it in the eye, and never back down. Always attack. Never stop attacking. Stay motivated.

Oh, and don't give DI's a reason to know you're alive!

Answer 4

I never served with the Army or the Marines, but I did go through boot camp for an armed service, and I can tell you that your physical preparations are right on the money. Do yourself a favor though, and try to prepare mentally as well. You're going to be pushed by your instructors harder than you've ever been pushed before. They're going to get in your face and scream, you're going to be told that you're worthless, and on top of all of that, you're going to definitely be sleep-deprived! You sound like a pretty smart kid though, and I'm sure you'll be fine. One other thing: When you finish, you're going to feel like you're invincible, and no one will ever be able to take that away from you!

I wish you the best of luck and hope that your chosen career is everything that you want it to be.

Answer 5

I did basic at MCRD San Diego so I don't know if getting smoked in the pit is any different from being smoked in pacific sand, but I imagine it's a similar experience.

Marine Corps. boot is pretty damn hard. For me the physical aspect wasn't nearly as difficult as the psychological. The most important thing is to not take the abuse personal. Despite what you're told about not being touched the DIs will kick your *** pretty hard. The best thing you can do when it happens is to maintain your bearing. The less they see it affects you the less it will happen. You can't be a loner in basic. You won't make it through unless you get some friends who care enough to motivate you. Other than that just memorize the knowledge you're given and remember that everyone hits that hump halfway through, get over it however you can.

I'm excited for you, while it's not called The Suck for nothing, it's a defining experience, one that will shape the rest of your life. Semper Fi, recruit!

PS if a DI ever throws down your guidon in disgust, break formation and pick it up quick as death. You may get a good reaming but it'll be worth it in the long run. Trust me.

Answer 6

Nephew is in the Marines, he got very little sleep so prepare for that...maybe a couple of hours a night if he was lucky. Very little food and lots of physical training. Get some moleskin (find it at the store in the footcare section) to help protect your heels from blisters from all of the walking/running you'll do in your new boots. Cut your hair short and get a tan on your head so it doesn't burn when you get there and they shave your head. Pre-address and pre-stamp letters so you can write home with little effort. Other than that, good luck and God Bless and Keep you.

P.S. Don't volunteer for anything! If they ask who likes "this or that" just stand there. Sometimes it would have been a good thing but in most cases it's not.

Answer 7

The occupation has been going on more than three years now, and the situation is worse every day. I think that the only solution is the withdrawal of all the troops.

So you should desert - According to the Pentagon, over 5500 military personnel deserted in 2003–2004, following the Iraq invasion and occupation. The number had reached about 8000 by the first quarter of 2006.

The UK military has reported over 1000 deserters since the beginning of the war in Iraq, with 566 deserting since 2005.

GET OUT BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.

Answer 8

Definately start the exercise like you say...and try to do them witha back pack on if you can. I went to boot, not Marine, and many times you run and exercise with gear on, include exercises like holding a weight in fromt of you for a minute than two, b/c at some point you will probably have to hold your rifle straight out in front of you and if you start to tire and drop your arms, you will probably get push-ups andhave to do it all over again..ask your recruiter to take you on a run, many will do that.
I support you, and dont listen to the AWOL idiots, they will wish they had your guts, and joined when you come home and have so many stories to tell. You will see most of the things in your hometown wont change while you are away, when you go home on leave it is the same, people in the same places doing thesame thing everyday, while you will have been to different countries, completed exciting tasks, and helped change the world.

GOOD LUCK

Answer 9

I'm not a guy, but was a Marine for 4 years. A good Marine too, not a sh#@ bird. First off, congratulations on signing. That will be the easiest part of your military career. You either love it or hate it. When you get to the airport, they will bus you guys onto the base about 1 or 2 in the morning. As soon as you step foot off that bus, you have 3 or 4 drill instructors yelling at you. They will have you standing along yellow painted feet on the concrete. In the next several hours, they will let you call home for about 15 seconds so you can tell your family you made it. Then you will be issued your camaflage utilities, boots, uniform necissities. Say adios to your hair, you'll receive a high and tight. In the next 3 days, you might get 4 or 5 hours sleep. The drill instructors are not "supposed" to lay a hand on a recruit, but I knew several guys who were given a beating or two. If you don't do something to the D.I.'s specifications, you'll hit the quarter deck. A spot usually in the middle of the squad bay where you do whatever exercises they yell out, until they decide you are done. For the next 3 months, you will be constantly hungry, you will eat food you never liked, you will eat anything you can get yours hands on. No matter how tempted you are, DO NOT try to smuggle food into the squad bay or have it sent from home. Not only will you not get to eat it, you will be punished for even trying. Water is mandatory, you will drink so much of it, you'll swear you never want to see it again. Get used to 30 second showers during the week, you might get a little longer one on the weekends during your personal time. You will be beat mentally from every direction. DO NOT take it personally or you will crack. Just realize that the D.I.'s are doing their job and are trying to make you an outstanding Marine. You will do exercises that you never knew existed. You will hurt in places you didn't know you had muscle. P.T. (physical training) is one way to stand out if you want the attention. If you are good at p.t., you might become the senior's pet. Here are the male standards for P.T.

100 crunches in 2 minutes
20 pull-ups, all the way down, all the way up (chin above the bar)
18 minute 3 mile is the best, 27 minutes and 59seconds is the longest you get. anything over and you've failed.

It's based on a scale,
0-150 (I think) is third class, not a good thing
150-225 is second class, doing better
225-300 is a first class, you're kicking ***

You will shoot an M-16A2 service rifle, which is pretty cool, but you have to qualify with it. It isn't too difficult, but pay attention to the range coaches. You might want to ask your recruiter to help you with drill now, it is a huge deal in the Marine Corps. You'll be marched everywhere, and there's even a drill competition for a trophy. if you don't like the color green, you might want to start cuz that's the standard color for p.t. gear. If you guys get hazed, it might be outside, in which case you'll learn the term, sugar cookie. It's where the D.I.'s take the recruits to a sand pit, and make you do exercises, including rolling in the sand. Mixed with your sweat, instant sugar cookie. You'll learn McMap, marine corps martial arts, you'll learn the basics and earn your tan belt. You'll learn to swim in a skivvie shirt and cammies. There will be female platoons there, they will look really good to you, but don't even think about looking their way, the female DIs will rip you a new one. Answer everything with, yes, sir; no, sir; aye, sir. The louder, the better. You will meet alot of people, not everyone makes it. I think out of a platoon of 40 or 50, about 30 made in mine. Some of them will crack and attempt suicide, you can't do anything about it, it just means that they weren't meant to be a Marine. I could say so alot more. If you are interested in contacting me, here's my email address; [e-mail]. I will be more than happy to answer any questions you might have. I got out last year and still work on a Marine Corps base so I'm exposed to it constantly. Good luck to you and remember that's it's going to seem like it will never end, but it will. It's only 3 months.

P.S. Tell your family and friends to write every day. Mail is very important for keeping up your morale when you're asking yourself, what the fu%$ have I got myself into? and feel like strangling your recruiter.

Answer 10

Advice from a U.S Army Ranger and a former Ranger School Instructor.

Prep....eat, sleep and exercise moderately. You will need your strength physically, and if your not in shape now, forget it...there is no crash course. DO NOT INJURE YOURSELF B4 you report in.....

B4 reporting...
2 miles a day at a jog...in tennis or running shoes.....

pushups - do 3 sets to muscle failure twice a day....no more.,,
if it starts at 50 reps, so be it....50, 40, 38 or whatever....

pullups or chinups.....
same as pushups,,,,, 3 sets twice a day..

eat smart, sleep well, if you smoke QUIT NOW.....

Sorry, no beer bub...

Prep your mind...
Contrary to all the negative BS answers and crap your gonna get to this question, you are going in for a reason and a commitment.
I myself am very gratefull for your willingness to serve and protect and defend. I wish you great success as a warrior and my family thanks you.

Your commitment and resolve will be tested in boot camp. They want to weed out the week of mind and heart so expect it to be tough.

Look ahead daily, anticipate. Be prepared always.
Teamwork...take care of your squad. Nobody succeeds as an individual...

Guts...never ever quit....not even the least meaningless task. Accomplish all to your best ability 100% and then more even if no one is watching or grading or cares....

Lead by example...do your best at all...no need to brag about your success's or dwell on your failures.....your performance will tell it's own story in time.....nobody with honor needs a pat on the back for a job well done.....

Never leave a fallen comrade brother, and bring back the head of that M#@#$% Osama #@$#%$ that has killed so many good Americans......remember 9/11...

Again I am proud and thankfull for your service.

Semper Fi