Personal Time

[Morse]

This is probably a dumb question but I figured I'd ask here instead of at MCRD and get ITd for it.

But... during your hour of personal time each night, are you allowed to get a head start on your sleep? Or is that strictly prohibited.

First and foremost I would square away all of my trash. And if I werent too tired, work out or write a letter or two.

But what if I just wanted to sleep. Would I be allowed to do so?

[Phantom Blooper]

NO! You square away your gear,write letters, SSS,and studying.This may not be the order it is now.

You don't catch up on sleep in boot camp.

Don't sleep in classes. Don't sleep on fire watch. Don't sleep in the shiatter.

You will be deprived of sleep. Sleep deprivation is a training tool. If you go to war or conflict your sleep will definitely be deprived.

The drill instructors tuck you in the rack after you say goodnight to Chesty and later sing a stanza of the Marines Hymn. SLEEP TIGHT!

[Covey_Rider]

Don't worry to much about doing something such as sleeping when you're not supposed to...you will know when you can and cannot, most of the time it will be "cannot" though. You will be told exactly how to live in boot camp and will know what is right and what is not right.

During your square away time it should be your gear, helping those around you, SSS, then if you have any time you can write some letters. Make sure you're taking care of yourself and your fellow recruits.

[Morse]

Understood... And thank you for the replies. I thought that was the answer, but it never hurts to ask right?
By the way, what does SSS stand for?

[Covey_Rider]

haha SSS = Sh*t, Shower, Shave. And no...never hurts to ask.

[Morse]

Haha. That works. As for Sundays, what can you do in your free time besides church (or after)

[Old Marine]

All of your "Free Time" in Boot Camp is controlled by your Drill Instructor and you will have to learn to live with that fact.

[sparkie]

SSS, Thats funny,,, I thought everyone was born knowing that one, Try this one,SOS.

[Marine84]

SOS.

$h!t on a shingle................some goooooooooooood stuff right there!

[sparkie]

A breakfast classic, I loved it

[killerinstinct]

HAHA i think this is the best question i've seen. I'd be willing to ask you to ask the DI's that i'm sure their jaws would drop and not know what to say of course you would get IT'd probably or maybe just a sarcastic question.. But i laughed hard people around me wrere looking at me at work.

[Wyoming]

$h!t on a shingle................some goooooooooooood stuff right there!

40 years later and I still make SOS about once a month.

[Morse]

I actually like SOS. My grandfather had me try it, he was a Korean War Vet. Beef Stew on burnt toast. mmm mmm good.

[Echo_Four_Bravo]

I got more sleep in boot camp than I ever have, before or after.

Anyway, I feel deprived. I never had SOS in the Marine Corps. In high school a friend's dad made it often though- good stuff!

[zackmerc]

The square away time you get at the end of the day is strictly for hygiene and preparing your gear. It last for about one hour and then you have hygiene inspection before hitting the rack. The drill instructors will look at your fingernails, ears to see if they are dirty. Then you do a 1 2 3 4 count drill where you check your rifle racks, lock your footlocker, drink one full water bull, and prepare to mount the rack.

As for letter writing, your drill instructor may not like you writing letters during square away time. You get 4 hours of square away time on Sunday so that's the day to do it. That should also be used for squaring away not for letter writing. Best time for letter writing is lights out.