The "ins and outs" of Marine Boot Camps

If you’re planning on joining the Marine Corp, then the only way to get in is to pass their gruesome Boot Camp. In this 13 week boot camp, recruits will be taught basic marine skills such as self-disciple, problem solving, technical skills, and of course... physical endurance. Once the recruits have successfully completed the basic Boot Camp, they’ll advance over to the infantry boot camp.

The Recruits

The physical training that is required in a boot camp is obvious, but the mental toughness is just as critical. Besides possessing enough will power to push your body, you’ll be taught fundamental values such as courage, commitment, and honour. With recruits not being allowed to communicate with their family members, it changes him/her from a “fresh” recruit, into a hard marine. With this in mind, recruits are forced to adapt quickly to the hard life of a marine, and “toughen up”.

The marine Boot Camp begins with Recruit Receiving. After “receiving” their toiletries, clothing, and a haircut, they’ll take medical tests. The Initial Strength Test will then begin, and it consists of pull ups, running, and sit ups. The drill instructors will then be introduced to the recruits. Recruits will be taught how to march in orderly fashion. Once that is accomplished, the basics of marching will carry over into drills, where more advanced movements will demonstrated. After that come the Training, as far as marines are made to work together in proceeding from domain to domain. Synchronization is key here.

When the “real” physical training begins, the drill instructor(s) stands on a table and orders the recruits to perform multiple exercises. The exercises are generally a circuit training style... trying to force your muscles, lungs, and mind to give in.

Confidence Course

The Confidence Course; is an 11-station obstacle course that is set in water. In order to advance beyond this course, recruits are required to score a minimum of four points. (Anything above is excellent.)In the Basic Warrior Training, (which is after the Confidence Course), the recruits have to pass a gas chamber test.

Other survival skills are taught and tested after this, but the most gruelling time of the whole boot camp would be the Crucible. Food and sleep is deprived of the recruits at this stage, while they march and go through obstacles for as much as 40 miles. To survive, recruits are expected to help each other. Many marines today can still recollect that event as “an unforgettable time of their lives”.

After having a couple more days of training and a final test, recruits graduated to:

“The Few. The Proud”.

At the Shepherd Field Parade Deck, family and friends come to watch the graduation ceremony. As the new marines are awarded their posts in the army, every one of them knows in their heart that they deserved to become... “a Marine”.

How To Physically Prepare For The Marine Boot Camp

There are many who doesn't realize what it takes to be a Marine...





And to become one, you’ll have to survive a Marine Boot Camp. Only a minority of volunteers will ever make it. The drill instructors’ job is to make you wish you've never signed up in the first place! Are you ready to prove them all wrong?

If you’re ever thinking about successfully completing the Boot Camp, you’ll have to first pass what is called the Initial Strength Test. Based on the facts, the average-sized man is able to perform only one pull-up, and a woman can’t even perform one!

The Initial Strength Test however, is as follows:

For Men:

-2 pull-ups

-Run 1.5 miles in 13½ mins

-44 sit-ups in 2 mins

For Women:

-Flexed-arm hang for 12 seconds

-Run 1.5 miles in 15 mins

-44 sit-ups in 2 minutes

This test is almost impossible on the average person, so you need to prepare physically.

Besides that, you have to learn how to be mentally/emotionally tough as well. The drill instructors will get inside your head... as long as you let them. You’ll be exhausted on every level imaginable, so start now to prepare. Since the Initial Strength Test is just the starting point of your time in “Hell”, you can expect more intense routines. Below, I’ll give you a simple but effective workout plan to make your time in the Marine Boot Camp feel durable.

Follow this workout 3 times a week to increase your strength and athleticism without bulking up:



Pull ups



-3 reps of pull ups. 5 sets with 2 minutes rest in between.

Your aim is not to fatigue the muscle. Stay away from the high rep ranges. More than five reps is too much. If Pull ups is too hard, then do Chip ups... they’re easier.

Diamond Push ups

-Diamond Push ups. (Same rep/set scheme as above)

Start off with Wide-Grip Push ups if you are not strong enough. Then Close-Grip Push ups, and eventually Diamond Push ups.

-Planking, Side Planks, Lying/Hanging Leg Raises, and Renegade Rows.

You’ll be doing a lot of Sit ups, but there’s a good reason why you don’t want to do them for your abdominal training. You want to strengthen your core. Marine instructors are a little behind on what damage Sit ups can do to your lower back. (Or perhaps they do know?)

Interval Training

-High Intensity Interval Training 2-3 times a week.

Not only will HIIT improve your running speed, you’ll also lose fat in the process. That is good, since losing excess weight is good for your overall fitness. Also, your leg strength/power/quickness will improve greatly. You can add some Steady State Cardio if you want, but always do the Interval Training. Scientific studies prove that HIIT improves Endurance better that Cardio. Make sure that you don't over-train. Work your way up slowly until you're "huffing and puffing" with slight perspiration, then you know you're done.

Underwater Swimming

-Practice your swimming technique.

You’ll be test according to you swimming ability as well, so be prepared. Practice all the known strokes such as Freestyle, Butterfly, etc. You could add some breathing exercises to improve your breathing technique.

Even though I haven’t mentioned any techniques to improve your mental toughness, I believe that going to the gym and training hard is mental toughness within itself! There are a few people who would consider going to the gym more than 3 times a week, while being consistent and disciplined at the same time.

Hit the gyms hard, but do not train to failure. You won’t be able to recover, especially if you have a Marine Boot Camp up soon. 3 months of Strength Training before the Boot Camp will get you through the tough times. Make sure you “diet down” as well, to ensure that your drill instructor doesn't order you to the “diet tray”.

If the above workout feels light after a few weeks, increase the weight, NOT the reps.

Prepare For Boot Camp video clip