New Marine Corps Poolee Here

Me and a buddy from the same RSS were the only 2 (of 5 individuals) who made it through MEPS. We swore into the Delayed Entry Program 48 hours ago for the Marine Corps. My ship out date to MCRD is October 2-- active duty.

I understand that nothing will prepare me for boot camp down at MCRD-San Diego but any helpful pointers you experienced Marines who have already gone through what I am about to would be greatly appreciated.


Some background on myself:
Pull Ups in 2 minutes: 20+
Crunches in 2 minutes: 90-100
3 Mile Run: 22:00-23:30

- I am 22 years old
- I have a B.A. in Criminal Justice from Washington State University
(I know this will get me unwanted attention from DI's down as a recruit)
- Just waiting for my security clearance to pass
- I am wanting to go into the field of Infantry


Thank you all for your service and I will look forward to hearing every piece of information that is offered my way! If there is anything else regarding myself that you want to know in order to give me some better pointers then just ask away.

 

Find a hill that takes atleast 15 minutes to walk up and strap on atleast 35 pounds to your back and start walking at a minimum of 3.5 MPH. Keep doing it and increase your pace until you can hit 4 miles in 50 minutes. Your upper body strength looks fine but your run time and lower body needs to be built up. I was in worse shape than you when joined 14 years ago so you should be fine. 14 years int the infantry has gotten me to 35 P/U, 150 crunches in 2 min and a 19 min run time. I will see you in my neck of the woods around January if you hit the September boot class.

 

Yes sir, I'll start focusing more on lower body strength/endurance. Thank you for those words of advice.

 

You'll probably be pegged to be the scribe for your platoon since you have a bachelor's. It's some added responsibility and less sleep but it will benefit you in the long run.

If you don't already, kill your legs at least twice a week in the gym. It will definitely pay off on the hikes. You won't ever impress a drill instructor but if you're not falling out of the humps you're definitely not going to be highlighted for getting slayed later on.

Can you do 20 pullups without getting off the bar? I can do 30+ in 2 minutes but that's like 2 sets within 2 minutes.

What's your MOS? Are you getting a Secret or a Top Secret clearance? I'm pretty sure the Secret clearance will be cleared before/during your stay in San Diego but a Top Secret one will take longer depending on where you're from and your previous foreign adventures. If you have a TS they'll pull you out a few times to interview you. I was fortunate enough to have my background investigation complete in May (left for boot camp in January, got to MOS school in May) because my record is extremely clean because I'm an upstanding citizen but I know some people who were put on hold after they graduated from school because they hadn't gotten their clearances yet.

@MrGrimm: 35 pullups? dang. just curious - how tall are you / how much do you weigh?

 

Now that I'm retired...I can suggest some work outs for you, but honestly, it sounds like you'll be fine going through boot camp (good advice from others on lower body workout). You'll be in better shape than the average if you can max out the pull ups and sit ups and do a run under 22-23. My advise is to be mentally prepared. It's about controlled chaos, so be prepared to live and breath under the direction of the DI's for the entire time. You work and function as a platoon, so be prepared for those who come up short....you have to help each other out or you'll all suffer. It's a wake up at zero dark thirty and lights out just before. There is no "me" time even when your in the head or at chow...ps. eat as fast as you can at chow cause they'll kick you out just as soon as you sit. No emails, so remember some addresses for snail mail (unless they changed that). When I graduated PI, I went home in uniform...my civilian clothes basically rotted in a paper bag and had to be thrown away. Don't bother staring at the airplanes taking off (MCRD is next to the airport)...as a matter of fact, the yellow footsteps seem very close to the runway!! lol

 

I am 5'10" 190 lbs. I was stuck at 23 pull-ups for the longest time and ten I started going really heavy on my dead lifts. That pushed me up to 35 in about 3 months.

 

mad respect. i'm 6'1" 205 and stuck in the 20-23 range the last couple practice/real PFTs I've taken. I know people that can get 35-45 but they're all short little dudes that only have to pull up maybe 120 pounds.

 

Man I remember boot camp I went in at 6' 1'' 185lbs, on grad day I was 167lbs don't bulk up to much you will get smoked in boot camp cuz you got muscles trust me I know . I avg 21 min 3 mile, 110 crunches, 17-20 pull ups, plus pull ups are where you get your points at anyways. I was a sniper for 7 of the 8 years I was in and we ran everywhere we went humped 70 lbs packs all that fun stuff, my advice to you is CARDIO CADIO CARDIO and you will do fine, oh make sure you break up with your g/f before you go it will make things easier you don't want no dear john letter while your there but good luck you'll need it.

 

That is awesome! seems to be very true though!

 

Cardio, lower body work and plenty of high intensity circuit training is what I will focus on for the remainder of my time before MCRD

 

One thing I will mention that nobody else has yet is your MOS choice. Don't get me wrong, I have huge respect for my infantry brothers. However, (MrGrimm and others feel free to correct me if I am wrong) the infantry isn't going to leave you with a lot of marketable skills if/when you decide to get out. If you qualify for a highly technical MOS then I would recommend considering that as an option as well. Just something to think about.

By all means if you are set on infantry then go for it! It's your life to live. I look forward to welcoming you back as a Marine once you graduate from MCRD.

 

.
I was 5'-7" and 155 lbs with no fat ... and I always had lots of energy too ...

Today @ 66 y/o ... I am about 8 lbs heavier but still have lots of energy ...

Look at "staying in shape" (although a little slower) as a life long project ... even after you get out ...
.

 

Pretty much true. You will however learn some skills you will never forget like: raking sand into neat formations, mow lawns with the utmost hate and discontent, stand outside of a building waiting for "the word" and spending lots of time playing xbox or playstation.

 

Haha, that could be said of pretty much anywhere in the Corps.

 

My eventual goal is to do my 4 years, join on with a police department and eventually (when I qualify with experience) apply to be considered for SWAT team with whatever department will accept me. This is not only the MOS that I want to do, but I believe that it will provide me some beneficial skills that can aid in my chances of being qualified for a future Special Weapons And Tactics team.

I look forward to graduating from MCRD as well! I shall keep you guys posted.

 

Just a thought since you seem to have a plan. Did you consider how many of us (military types) go for security positions once we get out? MP types (5811's and 0311's, and every other combat arms) if I recall correctly (let me know if I'm wrong fellas) are in every service, grunts make up the majority of our forces. Your not the first to think of this path. I'm not trying to deter you...I'm just adding my opinion. If you do go this path...I suggest you consider something at the federal level once you get out if you want to play with the big toys. The guys at the Pentagon Force Protection Agency always has the latest, coolest, baddest toys around!

 

Thank you for that insight, however I have definitely considered that. Federal law enforcement usually wants the candidate to have a certain amount of years experience as a local state police officer first. I figure with the points I would gain from my Marine Corps service, as well as my Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice/Minor in Political Science from Washington State University that I would be ahead of most-- especially if I was offered OCS and was able to become a commissioned officer.

 

US Marshals would be pretty badass, I work with some and they do some bad ass shit in cool places

 

I do 40, i'm 180 lbs

 

Just curious, not sure if it was mentioned but why aren't you going to OCS? Why not put the degree to good use?