What should I know about my decision to join the USMC?

Question

I am a 24 year old male getting ready to enlist in the corps. I struggled with the decision of which branch to serve in and did some research on the Army and the USMC. There is no doubt in my mind that the USMC is the place for me so please don't let this turn into an Army vs. Marine thing. The question I have is, what do I need to do to allow the DI's to see that I am motivated and chose to become a marine to serve my beloved country above all else. All else being a mental and physical challenge to myself? I love the bed I sleep in every night and feel that an able bodied male with confidence and utter love for his country should not even question the decision to protect it from those who would destroy our freedoms. I would like answers from all but especially marines who finished at the top of their class and/or ranked fast. Thank you.

Answer 1

I appreciate your question - you have made a big decision and here is what I can tell you about it:

  I was 24 years old when I went to boot camp at Parris Island - which is where you will go.   I was not very military minded - sort of anti - authority - if you know what I mean.  But when I got there - I found out that I was in better shape than most of the other recruits (good advice: run a lot before you go) and I discovered that if I do what I'm told and try to do it better than the other recruits then I made my life easier.  I learned everything they taught me - never thought I was better than anyone else, I just tried harder -  I became the scribe - which meant that I did some paperwork for the drill instructors - then I became the platoon guide, which is the "best" recruit.   One thing you will discover is that most of the recruits are 18-19 years old and that you have done some living that they have yet to experience.  Use that - be a friend to them and help make them tougher - in essence - lead them - you will be put in the situation where  you have to count on yourself and others have to count on you - so let them see that you have the back bone to lead.   It is wrong to think that they take your individuality - quite the reverse - the Marines rely on your individuality - your brains, your creativity, your guts to helps adapt to and overcome many obstacles.   Don't worry about what you should or should not do - it is all explained so basically that you may feel you are too intelligent to be talked to that way - remember that there are recruits there who are not as gifted as you. - so I kept myself out of trouble by doing what I was told - I worked harder than anyone else and at the end I was selected as the honor graduate.  - not bad for 10 hard weeks of training - I was enlisted for two more years.  After I became a corporal I went through Officer Candidate School - became a Lieutenant then enrolled in the College Degree completion program and got my college degree.  I got one good deal after the other in the Marines - I eventually became an infantry officer and led men in 4 different conflicts - the last one was Iraq - I retired as a Lieutenant Colonel  last year.  So don't let anyone tell you that what you are about to do is anything other than noble.  I salute you, as does every other Marine.  Do us proud, we're counting on you.  

Answer 2

RE:  RGG3 - obviously YOU are pretty mindless in that you are screaming ignorance.  No one (I know) likes war.  If you don't like what's going on in the Middle East, blame terrorists or our government.  Don't bad mouth those men and women who put themselves in harms way and sacrifice their lives to ensure that we Americans maintain our freedoms and safety against terrorists.  Do you ever consider some of "those other" countries whose women are controlled and suppressed or those who are beaten,tortured or jailed because they speak their minds or speak out against their governments?  You really don't know how lucky you are to be able to safely express an opinion, regardless of how uninformed you are.  I bet you never thought of all of the soldiers who were deployed down to Florida to aid in the clean up and food distribution after Hurricane Andrew.  Or all those who were being shot at in Haiti and Somalia while trying to distribute food and supplies to the poor.  Charity/volunteering is wonderful.  Everyone should.  Perhaps you could benefit by becoming a Big Brother/Big Sister to a military dependent child whose parent is deployed.  Educate yourself.  

Answer 3

Remember the ad, "Army Strong."   No,. it doesn't refer to being able to do so many pushups or running a mile  under so many minutes.

It refers to being strong enough to make a decision, to make a commitment, and to stand by that commitment, even though there may be times when you may be having second thoughts.

    Basic, or  boot camp is to train you to follow orders. When  you are given an order, you are expected to  carry it out, immediately, without hesitation , and to the best of your ability.

It sounds like you have thought this out. I might add one more thing: work as a team.  Help your buddy out, he'll do the same for you.

They encourage it, they look for it, and they reward it.

Good luck, Marine!!!

Answer 4

Well first of all in USMC boot camp you either graduate or you do not,,There is no ranking system and you dont get graded as individuals..There is no "top" of your class..Your in a platoon as one and this is not an individual challenge..

Yes, there is a top Marine chosen as he has stood out in all aspects of boot camp.

You can read here about what it takes and means to be a Marine..The USMC is not for everyone and you should be proud that you have made this choice. But you have a ways to go.

http://lavadog23.webs.com/index.htm\

The rule is west of mississippi you attend SD, east of it you go PI..There are some exceptions but this is how it usually woks.

Answer 5

Please reconsider. The military turns you into a mindless, disposable drone for carrying out their fascist agenda.

Want to help out our country? Volunteer at a local homeless shelter or mentor a child from your local school or teen center. Donate your time to Habitat for Humanity or clean up a nearby state park.

There are many more fulfilling and meaningful ways you can help out our great country rather than risking your life fighting an illegal and meaningless war that is only driving our country further and further down the toilet.  

Answer 6

I am a former USMC wife and now dh switched to Army. you all bleed the same color so why have a fight over who is better?

what do I need to do to allow the DI's to see that I am motivated and chose to become a marine to serve my beloved country above all else.

        listen to them and follow directions. do exactly what they ask of you. of course you probably wont talk back but you would be surprised at those who do. dont act weak, they will use that against you. but it is hard. they break you down before building you back up. they expect you to be weak so they can make you strong.

which boot camp?

       east of the mississippi will go to sc. unless you have good reason to go to MCRD san diego. like your father, fathers father and ect went there. i do know that my husband had a choice because of the city we lived in was on the Mississippi.

pt

     my husband was running six miles a day before boot. he said it got him prepaird physically and he also lifted some weights. he said the running helps clear his mind when he was in boot. he always scored highest on his pt's. if you dont pace yourself you wont finish the day, but if you dont give your all, you will get in trouble. you need to be perceptive the first week or so to gauge how they are working people over. then you can gauge how hard to push yourself.

i think you arent thinking about the mental stand point. they break you down, tell you lies about things, and make you think the worst about yourself. my husband said it wasnt the physical that got him, it was the mental. and there is no way to prepare for that.

good luck

Answer 7

To get the most out of your experience, you need to go DO it. First off. Boot camp with show you how to basically be a Marine. Customs and courtesies, first aid, P.T. , Marine Corps history, Drill, team work, all that good stuff. Go do It, do it to the best of your ability. WHile i say never volunteer for anything unless you like burniong shitters, volunteer for things. Take initiative and your D.I'd will see that you have some balls and will probably make you a squad leader or a guide at some point. Dont worry though, you will get slayed plenty because you are responsible for everything those you lead does, good and bad, and there will be plenty of bad. If you think you can handle being a team player and a leader and one of the most bad *** killin machines on the planet, then go! When i went i was out of shape and undisciplined and i made it. I highly encourage going to the Marine Corps, its a great experience that you will never forget and will always change you for the better. So if you go, then go be a kick *** marine.

By the way, the only way you dont graduate boot, is if you go u.a. or something medically happens to you to wehre you cant possibly do so. Other than that, once you get there, your there til they let you graduate.

Answer 8

We answered this question for onother young man earlier and it was pretty long but in a nut shell we will try again to give you our best shot.

Most likely you will go to Parris Island /Camp Lajune.

If you start right now with the discipline of getting up at 4:30 AM and running at about a four to five mile pace to a distance of one mile and extending it to three miles over a one week period you will be ready for what is ahead.

You might want to get a crew cut this is a very close to the scalp hair cut and remember never look a DI directly in the eyes unless he orders it.

Marines have the longest Boot Camp of all the services it is three months of technical training and physical fitness and one month of what is called Intensive Training the last month you are considered a Marine and that is what you will be called for the whole month but make no mistake if it is the same as what we went through it is tough, so be ready to be tested to your max and if you don't know how to swim learn how to dog paddle and be ready to jump off a 50'to100' platform with your shirt and trousers on feet first this is in case you have to jump off a sinking ship.These are just a few pointers the real test comes with you being able to take the intense mental pounding from the DI'S and the rigid schedule you will be on but if you make it through you will become one of the few men in the world called "Marines"Good Luck.