Four Months Later…

So, I’m doing this backwards, having explained in my previous post that I went to boot camp and now I’m writing about boot camp.

You might be curious as to why I’ve titled this post four months later when those who know/been through recruit training know it’s only 13 weeks. However, I’m at the end of my MCT (Marine Combat Training) cycle and thought I’d include the work I’ve put in here too. This may be a long one so buckle up and get comfortable haha.

I was asked how I prepared for boot camp and my best experience so far. I’m going to start with the latter because the former is going to take a hot minute to explain. My best experience so far within the Corps has probably been hanging out with my brothers in the squad bay. A lot of stupid shit goes down in the barracks, half the time none of it being recorded so it’s just embedded in the memories we make. The training is a blast, but the downtime where we can chill is the best. You come together at the beginning of training, not knowing jack or shit about each other, but you form this bond that holds you together. For my fellow Marines, you know that feeling. It’s priceless and what makes the Corps home and family no matter where we’re at or what we’re doing.

Now, onto how I prepared for boot camp. I held my first swear in, the one that entered me into the DEP (delayed entry program), on 20 May 2019. My original date to ship out to boot camp was 22 July 2019, but obviously it got moved. I shipped out 24 June 2019. If y’all do the math, that only left me 34 days to prepare for three months that would change me forever. I did some serious grinding that month to get ready. One key thing I’m going to say for those who are reading this and plan on enlisting, you can’t only prepare physically for boot camp. You have to be physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually strong and ready. Lemme break it down…

The physical part of being ready. You run an IST (initial strength test) before you ship out to make sure you can actually keep up with your fellow recruits. That consists of a mile and a half run, crunches, pushups/pull-ups. Keep in mind that the IST you run in boot camp will be your LAST IST ever. After that point, you’ll run a PFT which is a three mile run, crunches, pushups/pull-ups. Train as if you’re running a PFT every week. Build up your stamina and strength. Eat clean, do intermittent fasting. Train as if someone is training to kill you because on the other side of the world, there is.

You may have heard boot camp is all mental. For the most part it is mental. The drill instructors play mind games and tear you down in ways you probably haven’t encountered before. They make you question yourself and why you’re there. It’s hard being away from home and you think about everything you’re missing. When those days come, as they will, you gotta remind yourself that you’re there because you felt the calling to service. Whenever fuck-fuck games were played with my platoon, I would always shake my head and go “best job I ever had”. My drill instructors hated me because I kept my mentality straight and strong. I knew why I was there and I kept it close to my heart.

Emotional preparation. Whatever the drill instructors say, it’s gonna feel personal and sometimes it’s very personal and direct. The Marines aren’t for snowflakes. If you cry when being yelled at, don’t even think about joining cause you’re going to get yelled at. Use what they say, what they try to make you feel, as fuel to prove them the fuck wrong. One of my drill instructors called me an embarrassment to my family name because of one small detail I messed up on. It hurt and that was the one time she got under my skin, but I used it as fuel to make it through so she KNEW who my dad put on that island. You have to be strong emotionally. It’s going to be hard and some days you’re going to feel overwhelmed maybe, but keep your head down and remember your fire. Trust me. Remembering your purpose for being away from family, for putting yourself through thirteen weeks of training, it will get you through.

Finally, when you go to boot camp you’ll get a class on spirituality and the Marine. If you’re not religious, that’s okay, but if you are, go to church and be at peace with what God is doing in your life. Trust in Him always because His plan will always guide you. Rely on him for strength and He will be with you. Go to church on Sundays. The song that got me through boot camp was Survivor by Zach Williams and the Bible verse was Jeremiah 29:11-14. Knowing God had His plan and that in the end, He’d take me home, it comforted me and gave me the strength to keep going through the suck. It made seeing my parents for the first time in 13 weeks the best feeling ever, knowing I made them proud because I finished. God is always going to be with you and you have to trust in Him.

I am new to the Marine Corps. I am still a boot. However, it’s home for me and they haven’t treated me wrong yet. I’ve got a family wherever I turn, a bed, food, laundry. Everything I need and with God watching out for me, this is my calling.

If you’re reading this and looking to join the Corps, I wish you luck.