Just Got Back!!

[MackMaster]

Congratulations on your accomplishment.

That would be great if you could tell us what it was like. I mostly want to know about the physical stuff. Was it really that hard? Or do you think the mental stuff was harder with all the things you had to learn and memorize? What was the hardest part of the whole experience? Or was it really just a breeze and were all just getting all worked up and scared for nothing? I see you are a PFC, does this mean you were meritoriously promoted, were you the squad leader? Was that hard? How many people in your squad got 300 on the PFT, how many got expert with the rifle? Are these really that hard? Do you have any special advice? Sorry for all the questions but as you can probably tell I’m really worked up over this whole boot camp thing and I just want to hear the strait truth from someone who just did it.

Congratulations again and I hope you enjoy what lies ahead.

[Mama]

Welcome Home!

Congratulations Marine, you did it!

Thank you

[yellowwing]

Welcome to The Corps. You are one of us now. Where ever life takes you, you can now proudly tell the world that you are a United States Marine. Whether they understand or not they will know you are something different, your attitude and bearing will tell them you are a cut above the rest.

Semper Fi

[rozzlinnenas]

CONGRATULATIONS!

What stuff did you experience as a "test platform" for a new schedule and new equipment?

[HopefulGrunt2Be]

did u just graduate with Charlie? If so then we graduated together. i was in 1019

[Rdy2gopoolie]

Mackmaster- I defenintly understand the questions. As far as the learning and memorization stuff i learned alot of that stuff before i even went in which makes it soooo much easier. The physical stuff was a challenge for me was hard because i wasnt in good physical shape but they work you up and you just cant quit and youll be all good. The hardest part was BWT . It definently isnt just a breeze but if you have a mindset of just "im at boot camp and this is how it is and everything happens for a reason, even tho i dont understand why im holing my left arm up for an hour. " youll be all good. I wasnt meritoriously promotoed i had jrotc so i contracted fc. For our platoon it wasnt hard to get squad leader or guide you just had to challenge them in drill and not be a screw up. I didnt like it becasue you get QD and Pit'd alot. Out of our company we only had one 300 pfter. Thats out of 520 something recruits. I got a 226 i think 11 pull ups, 140 situps, and a 24 min 3 mile. Thats up from 3 pull ups, 110 situps, and like a 29 min 3 mile. Very few of us got expert. There was like 10 out of 90. I got it. If you pay attention to the PMI's you will shoot expert. If they tell you your wrong, you probally are. Alot of recruits would give an attitude like "i know what im doing" and they didnt get expert. Swim qual is very difficult after CWS-4. They only go up to CWS-2 which is what i got. And that was VERY hard. As far as advice i would say just stay awake during ALL of the classes. Makes everything alot easier in the end when you have payed attention. Also do what your told and exactly what your told and when you are told to do it. You get in trouble alot less. I never got IT'd individually only with the whole platoon :P Dont be sorry for the questions ask everything you can. And dont be worked up you just have to go in there and take it for what it is. Its not a vacation its boot camp

HopefulGrunt2Be- What was your graduation date? i think you were a week ahead of us. I graduated Fox Co. 2nd BN. 2076.

rozzlinnenas- We were among the first to be out at feild and weapons training battallion for 4 weeks instead of 2. We fired the SAW and AT-4 sim which is also new. Alot of the events were switched around on the schedule that you can find on the internet. We got all Brand new equipment and we wore a camel pak instead of canteens. Just small stuff like that but i made for ALOT of confusion and Adapt and overcome. and our platoon also had 8 different Drill Instructors Which made for alot of changes and difficulties.

[MackMaster]

Thank alot for all the helpful info, but I have to admit that I'm having a bit of truble understanding it...
What is BWT?
What is QD and Pit'd?
What is a PMI?
What is CWS-4, CWS-2? How do you get this?
What is IT'd?
Where can I go to learn the stuff in advance like you did?

Thanks again for the info, this is really putting my mind to ease.

[Achped]

Thank alot for all the helpful info, but I have to admit that I'm having a bit of truble understanding it...
What is BWT?
What is QD and Pit'd?
What is a PMI?
What is CWS-4, CWS-2? How do you get this?
What is IT'd?
Where can I go to learn the stuff in advance like you did?

Thanks again for the info, this is really putting my mind to ease.

Basic Warrior Training (Basically out in the field for a few days)
Quarter Deck, the (sand) Pit (Where they punish you)
Primary Marksmanship Instructor?
Swimming at different levels, CWS 4 is swimming in cammies with no boots, CWS 3 is like with boots and a jacket, CWS 2 is like boots, flak jacket, helmet, CWS 1 is boots, rifle, flak jacket, helmet...stuff like that
Intense Torture

I figure I'll give the new Marine some help, as he's probably getting alot of "Rack PT", I just learned this stuff a few days ago with a Marine that got back here.

[jryanjack]

Congrats Marine! Welcome to the brotherhood!

[Rdy2gopoolie]

Thats pretty good achped. Just to add a little. BWT is out at Page Field which you will be well aquainted with. PMI is primary Marksmanship Instructor, they are the ones that teach you how to shoot and coaches help you while you are on the firing line. CWS is combat water survival. cws 4 is cammies with no boots and a 10 foot platform and a total of like 75 meter swim. cws 3 is same thing with boots, then you put on an alice pack,flak jacket, and kevlar and get a mock M-16 and walk 50 meters then swim like a total of 75 meters (this is where everyone cramps so eat alot of bannanas and such that day. anything with potassium) Then you jump of the 5 foot platform. ( So far this is i think how it was. This last bit might of been CWS 2) Anyways the rest of cws 2 is you swim 100 meters with just a flak jacket and kevlar and cammies and boots then you drage a victim holding two alice packs across the pool which is 25 meters. CWS1 i believe is you have to rescue someone from the bottom of the pool and they try to keep you down and freak you out. IT is affectionatly known as intense torture but it is incentive training. Rack PT was funny as hell. Thats just after lights they would have us doing push ups or sit ups or whatever. To learn, this website and just ask people like me and the other Marines and poolies and the links that are on this website.

[rozzlinnenas]

Thanks....


What is your MOS?

[Rdy2gopoolie]

Aviation Electrician Tech. Yours?

[Brass]

First of all, Congratulations.

Whats the one thing that you had in your mind before you went, that once you were there that idea was blown out of the water? In a good or bad way.


Aviation Electrician Tech. huh? What's that all about? Fixing the instruments and such in planes/helicopters?

EDIT:

140 situps

They count the situps after 100 and add that to your PFT? I was under the impression the best you could do was 100/100.

[Rdy2gopoolie]

I really felt like i was in a dream. until the DI's woke us up. Hehe. They do only count up to 100 for points but the more you can do the merrier. Helps if you want Ironman as well.

[Brass]

Helps if you want Ironman as well.

What is this?


Thanks for the response.