Posted: 7/6/2007 8:50:06 AM EDT
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I am thinking about joining the Marines when I get outa high school was just wondering what all I needed to do to get ready. thanks for any and all sugestions |
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Me again. Oh yeah, if you have an AR or know somebody who does, try to get out and send a few rounds down range to get used to it. I wouldn't worry about becoming some marksman or anything, because they'll teach you all of that at either MCRD San Diego or Parris Island. But, knowing all of the parts of an M16-type rifle, assembly/disassembly, functions, etc. will be of some help. If/When you ship from MEPS to whichever MCRD (Marine Corps Recruit Depot) don't bring a lot of things with you. Maybe a toothbrush and one change of clothes/stuff to get you through one day. I'm not a Marine, but trust me, bringing a lot of shit with you will only complicate things. Start doing what you can to get into shape now so that when you get to Recruit Training, you can be somewhat fit enough to keep up and make it. If you fall short of physical standards while in training they'll send you to some kind of Physical Conditioning Platoon or something. The best bit of advice I can give you is DON'T STAND OUT! Don't be that person who get's "noticed". Be smart, square yourself away, and be a damn fly on the wall. The less attention the DIs pay you, the better life will be. Every platoon has a Gomer Pyle...don't be that unlucky individual. Good luck. |
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Get a heart that is big and patience that is even bigger. Run, Run and Run. I wouldn't pick up an AR if you never have. Uncle Sugar and his PMI's will give you all you need to get those crossed rifles. Good luck. Go 03XX..then lat move if you want. GO TO COLLEGE either BEFORE or DURING...take classes..... |
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First you need to decide what you want to do. Start talking with a recruiter now. Your chances of getting the MOS you want increase the earlier you start. Don't sign up for anything you don't want to do. Yes, get it on your contract or it won't happen. Do an ASVAB prep course. This will improve your scores and help in getting what MOS you want. In addition, start learing things like your General Orders, rank structure, history. Go on the net and download the Commandant's reading list and read a couple of books. I suggest "First to Fight" by LtGen Victor Krulak (mandatory for all Marines). Another was a personal favorite "The Forgotten Soldier" by Guy Sajer. (Not about Marines, but a good book about perspective). Don't worry too much about shooting. I had never fired a rifle and I shot expert with ease. Trick is listen to your PMI and you will shoot well. PT- You must start now. Bring your 3 mile run to under 20 minutes. Do twenty pullups. Do 100 crunches. If you can do this PT will not be too hard. Don't worry, you will still get worn out. Once you sign up, get involved in your pool. Stand out and be a leader. Do the same in boot camp by doing the right thing. Hiding in the shadows will not allow you to escape anything. It will just bring you more misery when the time comes. Boot camp is not a necessarily fun place. You will be miserable at times, but it is the price of admission. If you sign up you will begin a stage of your life that will be what you make of it. Good Luck |
Good advice stray. What is Pool? Like a gathering of marines? |
What he said. My son owns several AR"s and did pretty well at 100yrds. But, the 100yrd range is what tripped him up. Old habits. However, he shot excellent on the 300 & 500 yrd ranges. He ended up with the Sharpshooter Badge vs. the Expert he should have gotten. I've now stopped my youngest son from doing any shooting at all now. He'll be joining after he graduates from HS next year. Oh, work on your crunchs and pull up's also. |
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Yup, don't even touch a rifle, you'll just learn bad habits. To prepare, get in shape. I like "crossfit" check out the website at crossfit.com supplement it with some more running. The biggest thing is to mentally prepare. Prepare for those days that everything sucks. Those days you say "why the hell am I here?" prepare yourself to accept the suck that is the Corps; and learn to love it. Marines didn't earn our reputation by making anything easy. Be ready to work, to have your feet, back and whole body hurt and realize you wouldn't have it any other way. It'll be worth it, because you'll have a pride that few other people have. I also remember graduating bootcamp thinking "whew, I did it! the hard part's over!"....only to realize I had at least 3 years 9 months left to serve in the infantry  . Semper Fi |
im just getting into high school freshman , ive been wanting to join the military since i was little and about two years ago i decided to go with the Marines ive started a little pt though havent put running in my work out. thanks everybody for yalls advice . guitpicker |
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Today is my last day of boot leave...I've told anyone and everyone who is interested the same thing. Bootcamp is what you make it. If you want to be a Marine and want to be in bootcamp, it will be easy and fun. I had a total fucking blast because I was motivated. edit: by the way...picking up a rifle won't automatically make a you shitty shooter with bad habits...unless your a redneck. I owned and shot AR's years before the Marine Corps and tuned my skills with advice from AR15.com....scored Expert on the range in bootcamp. Some of the recruits who had never shot before were barely scoring marksman...so take that with a grain of salt. P.S. Pull ups = $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ |
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Get yourself some first rate running shoes. Not some el cheapo crap either. I mean excellent running shoes. Buy at least three pairs and set one pair aside for boot camp. Wear the other two sets out before you go. When you can run 5 miles in 35 minutes consistantly, you will be ready for boot camp. Endurance training is of more value than weight training when preparing for boot camp. Weight training is valuable, but endurance is better. Boot camp is designed to bring healthy, yet unconditioned young bodies into combat ready MARINES (Insofar as fitness is concerned) Yorur local recruiter should have copies of the Essential Subject handbooks for MARINES. If so, get a copy and study it. Having that basic knowledge will put you lightyears ahead of the other recruits and position you for a leadership role in boot camp. (Squad leader or Platoon guide) The above advice about not dragging a bunch of crap with you is spot on. You will be issued everything that you will need to successfully complete recruit training. Bring a good watch, that pair of top quality running shoes that you set aside, a couple of tooth brushes, about $50.00 in folding money, and a wallet with the your drivers license. (Make sure that your drivers license is current and will be so for at least a year after boot camp. You will have precious little time home on bootcamp leave. Don't waste any of it dealing with the DMV on boot camp leave or while trying to check into your first duty station. Don't get a hair cut for a month or so before you ship out to boot camp. Drill Instructors hate being cheated out of peeling that onion
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It is not a gathering of MARINES. It is a pool of enlistees that are in the delayed entry program. When I went in, the local recruiters would have a "poolee meeting" once a month and get their recruits ready for boot camp. It really is a worthwhile program. |
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When I went in we were issued awesome camouflage running shoes (sarcasm), so no need to take good ones. I believe recruits are issued pretty nice shoes still. But before you go you should pick up a good set to run in. Good shoes prevent shin splints and like anything else, you get what you pay for. Unfortunately the low end of worthwhile shoes start at about $70. Don't waste your money on $45 Big 5 specials. |
Well, it has been over 20 years since I went to boot camp,(1986) so things could have changed. We were told that we could take whatever running shoes that we wanted with us to boot camp, so I did. The privates that relied on Uncle Sugar were issued descent shoes, but mine were far superior in comfort and durability. So, suit yourself on the running shoes. |
First off, congrats on thinking about joining the Corps. It's the best thing you can do at this stage of your life. I'm a former SDI. IM me & I'll advise you everything you could want to know about what to expect & how to prepare for the potential life altering event should you decide to join, provided you complete rectruit training. |
Thank You...High-Five. |
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You know what you should do to prepare? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Just get good grades and stay out of trouble. Unless you're a fat body you don't need to do much to prepare. Boot camp is all mental and once you get over that mental barrier you can push yourself beyond your maximum so the physical aspect will come no problem. The #1 piece of advice you need to follow is enjoy being a kid right now and enjoy your family and your freedom, because when you do infact enlist and leave for boot camp all that is gone. I'm a brand new Marine and I spent countless hours everyday PT'ing before I left, yeah it helped me out when I got to boot camp and boot camp was no problem for me, but I really regret not spending more time with my family before I left and I don't have the time or money to fly home and see my family on weekends. The last time I got to see my family was on my 10 days of leave right after boot camp, that was it and I haven't seen them since. Being a Marine isn't a 9-5 job, it is a way of life and it doesn't matter how physically strong you are, it doesn't matter if you're an ironman athlete who can do 40 pullups, because if you're mentally weak you won't make it and the fleet will eat you up and spit you out. If you're going infantry, then boot camp will be the easiest thing you'll ever do in the Corps. Just enjoy being a kid right now and enjoy being around your family, you can worry about Chesty Puller, running an 18 minute 3 mile, and the nomenclature of the M16A4 in a few years. |
 That goal is not too far off. Simply jogging at a fast rate is like a 7-45 mile, so if you can condition yourself, you are GTG. |
Sir, I ship to the Rock on 20071014, if it isn't too much of a burden, could I IM you a few questions as well? I'd rather ask questions to a former SDI and get it straight from the horses' mouth, so to speak. Thank you Sir. |
So you know this sound?????  pop,pop,pop,pop,pop,pop,pop,pop,pop,pop,......damit.......will that "Dragon" ever get there....pop,pop,pop,pop,pop,pop,pop,............. BOOM!!!!!Slug-O 0352 91-95 
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Ha .... I was always humpin my smaw and AT4s. I found out recently they had to start keepin track of who shot what and how many because of hearing loss.....Grrreattt. That is why I have tenitis.... I had the privilege of firing 25 smaw rounds (10 inert practice)... 4 AT-4s ... Now I read lips.... Only got to fire one live dragon. Its wire broke and it slammed in....too bad.
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