Surviving Marine Boot Camp

If you want to become a member of the United States Marine Corps, there are two places where you might go to boot camp.  It all depends on where you live.  If you live out West (west of the Mississippi River) you are likely to attend Boot camp in San Diego California.  If you live east, then you will attend the Marine Corps. Recruit Training Facility located at Parris Island, South Carolina.  If you are a woman, you will attend the Parris Island Facility.  The initial training and military indoctrination is the same at both sites.

One of the standards about enlisting in the Marine Corps is that their boot camp is the most challenging.  You are challenged both mentally and physically, and many people are surprised at the amount of education and memorization that occurs in Marine Boot Camp. It is not for the faint of heart, expect to be tested and challenged, and if you are ready you will be accomplishing things you never thought you would be able to do.

If you are scheduled to join the Marines, and have a date to ship out to boot camp, be ready.  You should be in fairly good shape.  Are you able to run three or four miles at a good pace? For that you should be able to complete three miles in about twenty-eight minutes (better is even more acceptable.)  Many Marines and former Marines speak of their time in Boot Camp as the hardest thing they had ever completed.

Expect to drill from the first day.  Marching, learning the ranks and ratings of the Marine Corps.  Learning your general orders for a sentry on post.  You can expect other memorization, such as learning the Marine Rifle Creed, the M16 Rifle Characteristics, and the US Marine Corps Core Values, among other things.  You will also have to learn and memorize the code of conduct.

You need to know how to swim.  Don’t bring anything except important papers, and the clothes on your back.  Everything else will be provided for you.  Bring copies of any prescriptions from a doctor, any medication you have to take will have to be provided by the Recruit Center Pharmacy and approved by a doctor.

Joining the United States Marine Corps is not for everyone.  But there is a pride, and Esprit’ de Corp, a passion and a pride that Marines everywhere share. Once you are a Marine, you are always a Marine.  There are no ex-Marines.  It is not a job- it is a Mission.   Hoo Rah.