Well, I'm off to boot camp soon!

[golden73]

I have decided to join the Marine Corps.... and I am shipping out to Parris Island on tuesday. Any Marines have any advice?

See ya'll in 3 months... 

[Troy]

Not a Marine but my friend at work has two boys who have both gone through boot camp in the last year. Their advice is "follow the rules". Both of them did stupid things (ie underage drinking) and got busted down some. It's hard enough without drawing undue attention to yourself and getting singled out. Other than that, they both came out ok.

What will you eventually be doing after boot camp? Good luck and thanks!

Troy

[golden73]

I'm going into infantry after boot... I would love to be a part of Force Recon, so I plan on trying out for it. Should be very tough!

[PURTBOY]

Well my friend may I say good luck! I hope you get 3rd battalion at Parris Island for it is the hardest Battalion to get through. It is away from all the bid wigs, and the Drill instructors definatley have their way with you. from the airport, to the yellow bootprints, through recieving , to the crucible , you are in for shear hell! almost 3 complete moneths of Drill instructors in your face, yelling, spitting, and calling you everything imaginable! sand pits, and sand fleas bitong all I can say is good luck. A fter boot you will report to camp geiger in jacksonville, n.c. for infantry training! I hope you have fune humping 20 miles with over 100 punds of gear and weapons on your back! Feels like i was just there, and it has been since 97 when i went through boot at parris island! main advice is to try and not get noticed by the drill instructors, stay towards the back and try not to stand out! Also make sure you were your chapstick sunscreen i could not sound off for over a week from drill in the hot beaten sun. I had a bad infection from having to stand at the p.o.a. and letting the sand fleas bite away! Anywho if ya have any questions feel free to email me at purtboy@hotmail.com or call at 606-271-1498! If ya need a friend to write to at boot my addy is:

Brian Purtee
p.o. box 88
Tateville, Ky 42558

also the drill instructors have the days already planned out for pit calls, qaurte deck, and whos in trouble for the day, so keep that in mind, and become good friends with the platoon scribe, for he knows each days events ahead of time!!! i wish ya luck "shower shoe" and semper fi!!!!!

Brian Purtee
SGT/USMC

[golden73]

Thanks for the advice! A buddy of mine went thru boot a few months ago.. and he was in the 3rd Battalion. He too, said it was the hardest to get through. I found out that I will be in the 1st Battalion, Charlie Company. Boot camp sounds tough, but I am ready to give 'em hell!!

I can't wait to be a Marine... I definately send ya some mail when I am there... the more people to write to, the better!

[Telvis]

Good luck! It will be tough but you will be a better man for it. Just remember to do what you are told, keep a low profile and never give up.
Thank you for your service. It's not an easy decision to join the Marines. Especially during a time of war.

Semper Fi

[73dodge]

Good luck and thanks for your service.

Been over 20 years since I was in boot, like they said keep a low profile do what you are told and don't screw around.

Just remember this.

Everyday you survive is one less day THEY have to mess with you. Keep telling yourself that has the months progress one day down 89 more to go.

Also remember it's all one big mind game, but with a purpose. It's to make you sharp and keep your focus and if you ever get into battle you WILL be thanks full that they did what they did. If you learn to keep your cool and are able to think while a 250 pound Jarhead Marine is screaming in your face then you will able to face a firefight and be able to think and act while someone is shooting at you

[dkn1997]

A very close friend of mine is in the Army and he gave me some advise once for a job interview.  You might want to follow it too once you get there:

"Never miss an opportunity to keep your mouth shut"

[greenpigs]

I'm going into infantry after boot... I would love to be a part of Force Recon, so I plan on trying out for it. Should be very tough!

A buddy I used to work with was in the Recon, he had a tat on in arm saying as much as well. Funny he had some pictures when he was overseas and he was a skinny guy..now he is a 300lb tank. It isn't easy and you will find out what your made of QUICK.

[Charger71]

Good Luck to ya.   Thanks for being willing to serve.

I was a Marine, too.  I graduated in 1991 from Parris Island.  I was platoon 3033.  3rd Battalion Mike Company.  It is away from all the distractions.  I got out of the Corps in 1998 as a Ssgt.

Like PURTBOY said, stay in the middle.  Don't show off, they'll tear you down.  Down lag behind they'll tear you up.  You'll learn one thing in the Marine Corps...  "It ain't nothin', but a thing."  That means, don't let things get you down.  Other things will come along.  You will get over it.

Stay hard,

Charger71

[Johnny SixPack]

Golden, thank you for your service to our country!

Best of luck to you in boot, and in everything else!

[golden73]

Thanks for all of your support guys, I really appriciate it!

[Paladin]

Golden,
I want to wish you the very best and congratulate you on your patriotism and desire to serve your country.  I went to boot camp in July 1976, and I am sure a lot has changed since then.  The best advice I can give is pretty much timeless; say little, listen much and don't ever let the Corps or your fellow Marines down.  I ended up serving two hitches in the Corps, the first hitch was as a grunt and the second time around was in counterintelligence.  To this day, some of the strongest memories and emotions I have in my lifetime come from those years in the Marine Corps.  I saw places and did thngs that I would have never been able to experience otherwise.  I learned that your heart can carry you places that your body does not even know it can go.  I made many life long friends and then lost some of them when they were called upon to make the highest sacrifice.  I have been in the presence of true heroes, and have seen more courage, integrity and sense of honor in one Marine that could barely read or write than in every college professor I have ever been around combined.  I have been wet, cold, hot, tired, hungry, sleep deprived or in a world of hurt more times than I can recall.  To my dying day, I don't think that I can ever listen to Taps, or The Star Spangled Banner, or the Marine Corps Hymn and not feel something precious stir deep down inside me and I try to stand a little straighter.  To all Marines; past, present or future, Semper Fidelis!

"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if them mad a difference.  But, the Marines don't have that problem..."    -Ronald Reagan, 1985


Paladin
SGT, USMC
1976-1983
"Graying but still game"