SubscribeU.S. Marine Corps Basic Training – What to Expect
There has been much history made of the US Marines and in fact being a member of ‘The Corps’ is a part of US heritage, a rite of passage for ‘real men’ at least so the films would make us believe. Becoming a member of the illustrious and globally respected group of soldiers is not impossible as is aptly illustrated by the fact that literally hundreds of thousands of Americans have entered into their hallowed books. However, nothing with so great a reputation comes easy and as long as you are prepared for some hard work, then you too could become a Marine. If you’re thinking about enlisting, read the Free Military Enlistment Guide before you visit a recruiter.
The Haircut
It is the very first thing that happens when you get to Basic Training and it is, for many, what distinguishes Marines from others, the savage haircut. Look on the bright side, it is free and all those around you will have the same.
The Training
There are two Recruit Training Depots, one at Parris Island, South Carolina and the other at San Diego, California. Which one you go to depends largely on where you enlist and the split happens at the Mississippi. All women go to Parris Island.
The training is pretty much exactly the same at both places, although if you go to California you will always be referred to as a “Hollywood Marine”. Parris Island is the smaller of the two, chucking out just over 17,000 new Marines each year. On a daily basis there are about 3,500 Marines training there, including 600 women. San Diego is bigger graduating 21,000 Marines each year.
How Long is It?
Undoubtedly the training is harder than the basic training of the other services, and indeed it is longer. The sheer amount of information that Marines are expected to take on board is quite amazing, and they have only 12 weeks to take it all in, compared to 9 weeks for normal Basic Military Training in for example the Army. The Free Military Enlistment Guide provides more information on what to expect and the differences in training curriculums for each of the military branches.
The Physical Side of Life
Don’t be confused with the myths: US Marines are not superhuman, yes they are fitter than the average American but they are not superhuman. You can do a lot to help yourself on the course by getting into shape before you arrive. You should be able to run 3 miles in well under 28 minutes and do a minimum of 3 pull ups and 40 sit ups in 2 minutes. If you fail any of these standards then you will land in PCP – Physical Conditioning Platoon – which is not a good place to be.
At the end of the day, your experience of US Marine Corps Training will largely depend on your state of mind – you have made the choice to enlist, so be positive and enjoy it as much as possible.
