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”.