Preparing For Marine basic training

[FutureDevilDog7]

Hello Marines and Poolees. I just have a few questions of recommendations and equivalent, to prepare myself for Parris Island. I intend to sign my papers this August, and possibly leave the following spring. Or whenever the Marines ship me out.

I was told the average amount of water to drink daily is 12 to 14 canteens. In order to avoid the silver bullet.. How should I go about working my way up to drinking that much water without water intoxication, or any other risks?

So far at weekly PT, we focus on high knees, push ups, pull ups, ad crunches, six inches, side-straddle hops, and sitting against the wall doing squats. And of course my weakest point, cardio.

What is the best way to do those exercises/drills if Im alone, because my anti-military parents rarely let me meet with the Poolees to train?
And also, what is the best way to improve cardio, pace, endurance, etc? I can run a good distance in a good time if Im paced right, but I haven't been able to pace myself or prepare to run properly. Usually ending in my throwing up. :sick:

I've been studying my General Orders for Sentries and Marine Corps history, which Im pretty confident with, and randomly say throughout the day to test my memory.

Is there anything else I should do to prepare myself?

Any and all help is appreciated, so Im taking notes! :nerd:

[Lisa 23]

The Marine Corps has booot camp, not basic training.....that's the Army.

If you take a look at some of the sticky topics in the poolee forum, they might help give you some answers to some of the questions you have.

These might help you out also.....

12 weeks Overview

12 WEEKS, 2 PERSPECTIVES

Real footage of Marine Corps recruit training.
http://www.marines.com/main/index/making_marines/recruit_training/marine-bootcamp


Recruit Training
http://www.mcrdpi.usmc.mil/training/index.asp

[michagnu]

Someone is yanking your chain. Don't try to drink that much water, ever. Don't worry too much about preparing for boot, you won't be prepared. It sounds like you've got plenty of time just work on a decent PFT and general fitness as goals. You'll be fine.

[BadAce2212]

I was told the average amount of water to drink daily is 12 to 14 canteens. In order to avoid the silver bullet.. How should I go about working my way up to drinking that much water without water intoxication, or any other risks?

I've been studying my General Orders for Sentries and Marine Corps history, which Im pretty confident with, and randomly say throughout the day to test my memory.


First off Im just gonna say 12 to 14 canteens a day is alot different when you're out in the Parris Island heat.When you're out in the heat doing PT and Drill and so on staying hydrated is a priority. But for right now you should just focus on staying hydrated and not how much you drink. Second, It's good to know your General Orders and Marine Corps knowledge cause it will put you ahead of most of the recruits in your plt, but at the same time your are going to be taught it all again while your there so having it memorized will help intially but everyone is going to have to learn and memorize, so you'll just be a little ahead of the curve. Now I'm not saying it's useless to be studying all that now, but you should be more focused on your PFT. And the best way to get better at all your exercises is to keep doing them. Hope that helped shine a light. Good luck.

[YourPhoneIsMine]

Keep yourself hydrated but don't bother trying to drink three gallons a day unless you are constantly doing physically strenuous activities. The truth of the matter is that in boot camp more than half your time will be spend not doing anything very physically demanding so 12 canteens is an absurd number. You're right in bringing up water intoxication though even with that much you're not going to be at risk for it unless you have a condition that makes you highly susceptible to it. Maintain a decent salt intake and you'll be fine.

There may be a rare occasion where one of the hats will get ****ed off and make you chug water but that's generally for punishment, not hydration. Your body will only absorb less than 10% of the water you take in if you're chugging it and many of them know this. They're trying to make you puke up the water to remind you to hydrate properly. Seems ridiculous but that's barely the tip of the iceberg.

Just drink enough so that you're not thirsty. Everyone's body is different so the 12-14 canteen rule is pretty much out the window. However if any drill instructor ever asks you how much water you've had for no reason (as in, you're not sick), high ball it. If you've been awake for twelve hours it'd probably be a good idea to say you lost count at ten.

All of those exercises can be done alone and in a small bedroom. You'll make time for it. If you want to get used to how you'll be doing them it's usually done in a four count cadence (1, 2, 3, 1. 1, 2, 3, 2. 1, 2, 3, 3. 1, 2, 3, 4. you get the picture). As far as history goes it's not a bad idea to study up but don't fret too much about it. They'll pound that **** into your head over and over so often, you'll be repeating it constantly in line at the chow hall and in the squad bay and any time you're not actually in the middle of doing something that it'll stick in your head. The test on it will be the most mind-numbingly easy test you'll ever take until you realize it's exactly the same as the BST you'll be taking every year in the fleet.

[Phantom Blooper]

There also can be other medical concerns with drinking that much H2O....

You might was away the electrolytes in your system....creating more problems with that much hydration.

Take the advice of these Marines.....and get your priorities in order.....knowledge is power.....PT is your lifeline.....common sense is PRICELESS!

Good luck!

[FutureDevilDog7]

Thank you, Marines. I've been keeping hydrated and in shape, pushing myself more, little by little, weekly. I had a feeling that much water was too much. I bought a canteen, filled it, and thought "*******..". I'm just gonna continue working my way up with weekly PT meets. I dropped stressing my Marine Corps History, but I'll stick with reading my General Orders from time to time. I might not leave until October or February, but I'm highly motivated for this.

Is there anything else I might need to know?

Also, thank you for the links, Ma'am.

[Cpl Heglar]

Ah the 10 now 11 general orders. The first was To walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on the alert and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing. When I was in now...

[Joel70]

why do you all make such a big deal using the term basic training instead of bootcamp... its the same thing people

[YourPhoneIsMine]

why do you all make such a big deal using the term basic training instead of bootcamp... its the same thing people

Exactly. Hell, if they wanted to be accurate they wouldn't call it boot camp so those complaining about it are merely committing the same offense. Boot camp, recruit training, basic training, whatever; it still does the same thing: prepare basically trained Marines.


who we then call boots

[BadAce2212]

Just like Softball said, basic traing is for the Army and we damn sure aint the Army. If you want to get technical PRIVATE we dont have "Bootcamp" either but seeing as how you're a 5yr Private I guess you didn't learn that either.
You need to either quit lying on your profile or get it squared away. Until then you shouldn't be going around questioning our methods you tracking.

<LI class=profilefield_category>About Joel70 Rank E-1 Year Entered Marine corps 2006 Year Exited Marine Corps Still in Service

[BadAce2212]

Also I do agree the pupose of them all is to basically train Marines, Sailors, Soldiers, and Airmen. But all branches have different terms for the same thing. We're Marines so we're gonna call it what it's typically called in the Corps, not what others refer to it as.

[YourPhoneIsMine]

Just like Softball said, basic traing is for the Army and we damn sure aint the Army. If you want to get technical PRIVATE we dont have "Bootcamp" either but seeing as how you're a 5yr Private I guess you didn't learn that either.
You need to either quit lying on your profile or get it squared away. Until then you shouldn't be going around questioning our methods you tracking.

<LI class=profilefield_category>About Joel70 Rank E-1 Year Entered Marine corps 2006 Year Exited Marine Corps Still in Service

chill out, not everyone fills out the profile upon first joining. it automatically fills in E-1 so it's not a lie, just the default settings.

There's nothing wrong with calling it basic training just like there's nothing wrong with calling it boot camp. They all mean the same thing. Our training is just as "basic" as the Army's. It's certainly different but a brand new Marine is no more a hard charging warrior ready to kill than a brand new soldier.

you need a hug



Also I do agree the pupose of them all is to basically train Marines, Sailors, Soldiers, and Airmen. But all branches have different terms for the same thing. We're Marines so we're gonna call it what it's typically called in the Corps, not what others refer to it as.
and there are plenty of marines that refer to it as basic. if you want to be proper and accurate you'll always refer to it as recruit training but I'm not about to listen to anyone telling me I can't call it boot camp anymore

[FutureDevilDog7]

Well hell. I cant say I can jump in on this necessarily, but I do admit it was my mistake on saying basic, and I would like to correct myself. Bootcamp.

I understand the Marines are not sailors, airmen, or soldiers. And when they have a name for something, then that is wht is politically correct. I wouldn't want a civvie referring to MARPAT as ACU.
Or Marines as soldiers. And Marines as people.
I think someone got chewed out on this site for calling Marines just people.
Entitlement is earned. :smiley:

[YourPhoneIsMine]

The difference there is that MARPAT and ACU are official names. "Basic training" and "boot camp" are just slang. The only proper name is United States Marine Corps Recruit Training but I'm not about to say all that - or even just recruit training - when I can just say "boot" and people know what I'm talking about.

Newsflash: Marines are people. People trained as Marines but we are people nonetheless. Then again I wouldn't refer to soldiers as "just" people either. Or cops. Or astrophysicists. :p don't worry, you didn't do anything wrong and I'm sorry for hijacking your thread.

[BadAce2212]

First,I do need a hug, its been a terrible 48 hrs here in Alabama. Second, wasn't insinuating the Marine is a liar, my point was to get it squared away. Pvt is the default setting yes, but if he took the time to fill in year entered service then he should have took the time to fill in his correct rank. Should take pride in your rank and not skip over it. If you don't have time to do it right then you dont have time to do it twice. Third, as I cleary said, Yes they all serve the same purpose. We all come out ready to kill not arguing that. Fourth, I too call it bootcamp and was not telling you that you can't call it bootcamp. Yes I have heard numerous Marines call it basic but I also remember they all stood corrected. I in no way..again IN NO WAY am telling anybody what they can or cannot call it, just making a point as to why we call it what we call it. Nobody is in the wrong for calling it what they please, but the question was asked why is it a big deal what its called and I was making a point.

[YourPhoneIsMine]

ouch, alabama really got screwed. best wishes for you and yours

The forum asks you what year you enlisted when you join the forum so it's part of the default profile settings. Not everyone has a desire to display their rank; it's not about pride but rather about controlling what's put out there on the internet, especially since all of these profiles are readily visible to people who don't even have accounts here.

Alternatively, he could have just skipped over it like most people who join forums. I know when I join one I don't fill out information until I've spent some time there to see if I'm going to stick around.

Eh, I wouldn't say we come out ready to kill. :p Kill some paper maybe. MCslap tan belt skills won't be taking down anyone. Ready to move onto SOI and learn how to kill I think is a bit more accurate but yeah, I do see your point.

I just want the poolees to realize that while there are some very strict and stick up the ass Marines out there in the fleet who genuinely think that one's forum etiquette is a reflection of their character or that capitalization and haircuts are equally as important as job proficiency and performance, there are also those of us who are not going not going to chew them out because they didn't stand at parade rest and refer to me by rank at the end of every sentence or that realize there are some absurdities in the way this awesome gun club operates.

Seriously, wallet in sock? How does anything think that looks professional?

[BadAce2212]

ouch, alabama really got screwed. best wishes for you and yours

The forum asks you what year you enlisted when you join the forum so it's part of the default profile settings. Not everyone has a desire to display their rank; it's not about pride but rather about controlling what's put out there on the internet, especially since all of these profiles are readily visible to people who don't even have accounts here.

Alternatively, he could have just skipped over it like most people who join forums. I know when I join one I don't fill out information until I've spent some time there to see if I'm going to stick around.

Eh, I wouldn't say we come out ready to kill. :p Kill some paper maybe. MCslap tan belt skills won't be taking down anyone. Ready to move onto SOI and learn how to kill I think is a bit more accurate but yeah, I do see your point.

I just want the poolees to realize that while there are some very strict and stick up the ass Marines out there in the fleet who genuinely think that one's forum etiquette is a reflection of their character or that capitalization and haircuts are equally as important as job proficiency and performance, there are also those of us who are not going not going to chew them out because they didn't stand at parade rest and refer to me by rank at the end of every sentence or that realize there are some absurdities in the way this awesome gun club operates.

Seriously, wallet in sock? How does anything think that looks professional?

Thanks, Bama got ripped a new one. As I was, if thats the default settings then I stand corrected. Im in no means strict or stuck up, I have always just demanded things be done the right way the first time, and rules that are in place are followed because they're their for a reason no matter how absurd they may be or if you agree with them. Just like most Marines that seem stuck up.if you show me that you can follow simple instruction then I dont really care if you call me by rank, stand at parade rest, things of that nature. I'll give you le-way, but if I see that you cannot follow simple instruction, or choose not to then Im gonna give you a little hell to motivate you to do things the right way whether its absurd or not. We just want the best out of you. But I say we let the poolee have his thread back and if the need arises, then things can be finished up in the war room.

[Joel72]

Just like Softball said, basic traing is for the Army and we damn sure aint the Army. If you want to get technical PRIVATE we dont have "Bootcamp" either but seeing as how you're a 5yr Private I guess you didn't learn that either.
You need to either quit lying on your profile or get it squared away. Until then you shouldn't be going around questioning our methods you tracking.

<LI class=profilefield_category>About Joel70 Rank E-1 Year Entered Marine corps 2006 Year Exited Marine Corps Still in Service

Very wrong fellow Leatherneck. Im a Cpl in the fast track. Its just a simple question; tradition is good, but it attracts my attention that in the USMC tradition replaces common sense in too many cases. This basic training vocabulary game reminds me of that fact!

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Annnnd, that's it.

Joel, you are VERY new here. Read the rules. PM me with questions. However, not a single post of yours in this particular section was helpful or answered the question, all it did was cause stuff to go off topic.

Answer constructively, or don't answer at ALL.

Due to the complete and total derailment of this topic, it's being deleted. That's the only reason I'm leaving this 'open', so it goes to email notification.