I’m excited about making the choice to join. I’m only in the process of testing, but if I pass, I will definitely be amongst the others joining bootcamp. I look forward to it.

Oh and one more thing, one thing I’ll never forget is how i spent all my Bdays! haha! I went in at 17 yrs old out of highschool as well. My 18th birthday was spent in 29 palms (i was 0341), during the Sept. 11th attacks. My 19th Bday was overseas at Africa, my 20th AND 21st Bday was spent as Duty NCO at the barracks. And though you might think “damn that sucks”, but not really. It was a pleasure to serve my country on my birthdays.

Even if bootcamp really has softened up, don’t worry gents. For those of you going 03xx, when you get to the fleet, your seniors will fill in the gaps. That will never change. Oops, i shouldn’ta said this in public, now those damn politicians and parents are gong to attack the fleet units! :D

John P.

It annoys me when I hear stories/rumors (who really knows if they’re true or not) about recruits getting fast food as rewards, making phone calls home and other nonesense. Even when I was there the previous generation of Marines complained about it being too soft and now it’s only getting softer. It’s too bad that parents and politically correctness is such a huge influence now.

My only complaint is that boot camp is not the same as it use to be. It is still a huge challenge and I doubted that I was ever able to complete it, but I feel like I did not have as much pride (although I was still more confident leaving than before I left) after I graduated as the previous generations of Marines had.

I prepared for bootcamp in 2007 by getting in the best shape of my life and getting focused on letting the mental abuse make me stronger and accepting the fact that I would transform into an adult. Everyone told me that I would be a different person both mentally and physically when I graduate. While I was ecstatic that I had completed it, I felt cheated.

I was skinnier when I graduated but in worst shape. We ran maybe once a week, and never more than 3 miles. When it came time for punishment it was rarely push ups or other muscle building activities, but rather squating down for an extended amount of time to hurt our knees, walking back and forth, or swallowing sand.

I don’t have the first hand knowledge of Boot Camp in the 90’s and before, but I am certain that those Marines came out more hardened and more prepared for combat. I felt during most of the time that Boot Camp was a process, just getting each recruit through each step, and if he didn’t complete it correctly it was ok, the next recruit was up.

The final straw was when the Series Gunnery Sgt. yelled at us during the crucible and mentioned that we were the worst platoon but that they had to make exceptions for inferiority because they needed bodies for war. Any marine who would believe they have much to contribute to America (and I hope all of them do believe) was shattered by that comment, believing they were bodies rather than contributors.

I was marching home from the crucible, about to get my eagle globe and anchor, proud for never falling out and completing every obstacle, when the marine in front of me during the ceremony was in fresh cammies because he had suffered from heat exhaustion and did not need to do the final march home. I could barely stand and was teary from emotion, while the Marine in front of me (and many others) were there with me gaining something I don’t feel they deserved.

I saw many people transform during Boot Camp. Being 21 when I entered I had already been away from home and it was a little easier for me than for most recruits. I witnessed recruits gaining confidence, losing weight, learning discipline, and more importantly obtaining honor, courage and committment. But I also saw others who were not ready for the military yet still graduated.

The platoons need to be smaller. More DI’s. More personal instruction. More structured physical activity set out by each platoon rather than the company as a whole. Same with Mcmap. Marines are suppose to be the best of the best, but they will lose ground in history if their starting point and base is not the same as it use to be.

While in Bootcamp the following rules were set.
No running unless for PT
No yelling the word “Pain”
Cannot go down the stairs without holding the railing
Must complete 75% of the crucible to graduate

I am proud to be a Marine because I feel I am part of the best, I am giving back to a country I love, and because I know I completed every obstacle in Boot Camp and earned my eagle globe and anchor. I just pray that I will never have to see the integrity of the finest military force in the world lose its superiority and cost lives.

Basic Training created exceptional human beings in the past. Its time to start ignoring the parents and politics and go back to what works.

Semper Fi! Thanks for putting this together. I graduated Parris Island in 1983 and remember watching Full Metal Jacket when I got home on leave. I could smell the swamp 800 miles away in my parents living room. You never forget that smell. Serving in the Corps was one of the best memories I have ever experienced.