New Marine Corps Poolee Here

I have 2 run ins with the law (underage intoxicated in public) that are holding me back from enrolling in that straight out of the university. Hopefully I will be able to become a mustang with time though

 

Interesting. Well good luck at boot. My only advice is to stay low, don't draw attention to yourself, and help others around you if they are struggling; teamwork is KEY. My DIs didn't know my name until week 10. It's mainly just a big mind f***, the only real difficult time physically is the crucible but by then you will have worked up to that.

I've worked at OCS during a summer and it is a LOT more physical than boot. So you will have more time to prepare for that while your doing time as enlisted...

Also, as SOON as you graduate from SOI I recommend taking advantage of military tuition assistance and go for your masters degree.

With your physical background in the original post, you should have no problem.

 

We had a guy who went to boot but was sent home in week 3 to get tested for asthma and he said it wasn't as physically demanding as he had thought. Our current RSS Gunnery Sergeant does a good job of working us out.

Thank you for the advice, I'm taking this just one step at a time for now so training for MCRD is on my mind. After I pass through that then SOI will be on my mind, then OCS, etc.

Again thanks for (all of) the advice! Any bit of information is much appreciated and utilized.

 

boot camp is not what everyone makes it out to be, they pretty much push everybody through, as long as you dont break any bones. even the worse of the worst recruits make it through, and you just wonder why

 

Mark,

I would read all of the posts you have already received and read them again.

I am not being sarcastic or an a--h---. Just do it. Look for words of wisdom think about what the Marine was trying to tell you.

I just turned 50 years young as they say so boot camp at MCRD was a long time ago for me.

I went to MCRD and so did my dad he served in Korea and was a machine gunner in the Marine Corps during the Korean War and he was a warrior not a soldier. I can say that about my dad. I know him. I know what he was. I guess I am not about to tell you which one I am that is b---s--- to say only good things about yourself let those around you judge you and you need to judge yourself. Be hard on yourself harder than those around you and you will do great things in your life.

If you stick (and I don't mean just graduate from boot camp, but if you pay attention to what is going on around you and you do join the infantry) you will know the difference between a warrior and a soldier.

I am not going to explain it you will know the feeling if and when you are a warrior.

Work your ass off physically before you go. I know boot camp has changed since I went through it, but it is still boot camp.

I had a Senior Drill Instructor Gunnery Sergeant Merghart and he was a Vietnam Veteran he was impeccable. He was a rare individual and I knew it even back then when I was going through boot camp. I hope there are still Marines like him serving as Drill Instructors for our Marine Corps today.

Give it everything you have.

Forget about everyone at home and everything.

You have chosen the Marine Corps you want to be the absolute best.

Less than the best is unacceptable.

I have some other things to tell you, but if you want to know send me a private email.

If you don't email me I understand.

It is about the not so glamorous side of what every Marine Officer as well as enlisted Marine should know and accept.

By the way buy this book, don't check it out at the library buy it if you can't afford it send me your full name and address and I will get you a copy "With the Old Breed" E. B. Sledge.

Best wishes and may God Bless you in your endeavors,

Jeff

 

My apology for missing your post. From what it sounds like, high intensity circuit training is what I should focus on along with humps, sprints and longer runs (3-5 miles)... is this a safe assumption? The only mental preparedness that I can think of to help me is going to our Poolee functions/humps, our Gunnery Sergeant does a pretty good job of 'keeping us in check' when he's running things.

Again, sorry I missed the questions you had; I'm going to start doing some humps on my own to get my lower body better prepared as well as hitting em hard in the gym. I can do between 20-25 pull ups without getting off of the bar, and maybe a few more if I was able to switch my grip. I don't know for certain in regards to my MOS but I'm working on getting some paperwork sent through for a ship date in January of an 03xx.

I'll need to lean out a bit because I'm around 175 with single digit body fat percentage and don't want to get smoked any more than I will already... Cardio cardio cardio, got it! What is it with literally everyone saying break up with your g/f before you go in well I'm definitely staying single haha.

PM'd