Making the Corps

[DEPDecker07]

Hey,

My name is Matt and while i have been reading forums on "leatherneck.com" for a quite a while, I have only recently created an account. Thank you everyone for all the help and useful information. I just wanted to recommend a book I recently read called "Making the Corps" by Thomas E. Ricks. It provides great detail and insight into life at MCRDPI. Hope this book helps poolees achieve a greater understanding of recruit life.

Matt

[bgsuwoody]

Ahh, but I have something even better for you...Leatherneck.com and their Marines...especially one's like myself, Achped, and Zackmerc, who have but recently come back from our respective Recruit Training. You got questions...we got answers.

[DEPDecker07]

Definitely! This website and all the Marines here are a great resource. I wish more people knew about it. I know I'm glad i found it.

[Bim]

Good book just finished it a couple nights ago.

[Echo_Four_Bravo]

That is a great book- some of my friends graduated from that company.

[BR34]

Sheesh, you're an old man Cpl.

[Echo_Four_Bravo]

Yeah, I'm getting there. The people in that book graduated on the same day I graduated from MCRD SD.

[mass]

Are there any books like this on MCRDSD?

[Echo_Four_Bravo]

I don't know of any, but it is all the same. Marines get the same training no matter which depot they go to.

[Cwalling]

one has massive hills,one has sand fleas correct?

[Achped]

one has massive hills,one has sand fleas correct?

One of my drill instructors went to MCRD SD, and he was a DI at MCRD PI.

Towards the end, he started telling us the difference. He spoke as honestly as he could about both, not the "bull**** DI talk" you will hear when you get there.

He said physically, field training at PI doesn't compare to pendleton. The humps are just brutal. "I don't understand how you fall out of humps here Marines, its all flat, you're just WALKING....weak." he said to us.

But mentally, PI is by far the worst. The bugs, the humidity, the fact that the only signs of life you can see are across a river, and you can only just barely see them....sometimes. He said recruits at PI have alot more to look out for since its a swamp, things like cellulitis, MRSA, swamp things, recruits at MCRD SD don't have to worry about, unless an aircraft full of insects crashes inside the depot.

Other than that though, the training, is identical.

[davblay]

Hey,

My name is Matt and while i have been reading forums on "leatherneck.com" for a quite a while, I have only recently created an account. Thank you everyone for all the help and useful information. I just wanted to recommend a book I recently read called "Making the Corps" by Thomas E. Ricks. It provides great detail and insight into life at MCRDPI. Hope this book helps poolees achieve a greater understanding of recruit life.

Matt

As one of my pups, Bgsuwoody, said in one of his letters from Parris Island, "YOU ARE NEVER PREPARED FOR WHAT AWAITS YOU ON THOSE YELLOW FOOTPRINTS'! I just don't believe any book can prepare you far YOUR experience there! Only being there can you appreciate the gravity of the situation. It's defferent for every recruit!

As Bugswoody said tap into the resourses on this site, they just got home form Both MCRDs.

I have given advise to many recruits, always the same, prepare physically as there is nor preparation for the mental, everyones perception is not the same! Boot Camp is 90% mental and 10% physical! Never forget that!

Dave

[bgsuwoody]

Its true as can be you really can't be fully ready. However, I don't want to make it sound like you can't be better prepared.

I know that the recent grads would agree because I know that many of us like Achped spent 90% of our time preparing physically and mentally for the challenge.

It will save you so much hassle and increase your chances to take on a leadership position if you have yourself squared away. Lets just take me and Achped for example...Squared Away with a dash of Leadership Ability and Maturity = 4th Squad leader...

We both I know physically prepared every day and reaped the benefits. I know that I was fully able to do everything. I was the anchor for 4 man Obstacle course races. I was able to pay for my mistakes and the mistakes of my squad without destroying myself. Most importantly for myself I EARNED a 266 PFT. I didn't meet the standard I set for myself, but it was still quite good.

Study your knowledge...there are plenty of threads on it here. Get yourself physically in shape...NO EXCUSES and NO PITY for yourself. Get better, it will save you in the long run. This way when you are pushed to the limit both mentally and physically you will not be the one to break or the one who shows weakness.