Surviving Marine Corps Basic Training (Boot Camp)

Surviving Marine Corps Basic Training (Boot Camp)Surviving Marine Corps Basic Training (Boot Camp)Continued from Part 1 Marine Corps training continues to progress and gets tougher. Recruits should be physically prepared according to the official USMC Boot Camp Page. Weeks 2 - 7 As you move away from the first week, you will continue learning the basics of close combat skills, including the infamous pugil sticks. Many recruits are somewhat apprehensive about this phase of training, but then find out how much fun it really is. It is almost impossible to get hurt. The recruits are protected by a football helmet and mask, rubber neck roll and crotch cup, and only two kinds of blows are permitted the slash and the horizontal butt stroke, both to the well-protected head and neck. A clean shot ends the bout. The secret is aggression this is not a defensive sport. Learn to compete as a unit and win awards You will learn field first aid, attend classes on core values (as well as other academic classes), and receive several hours on basic weapon handling. Around week 3, in addition to more pugil sticks and close combat training, additional classes on first aid and core values, you will participate in a 3-mile march (with packs). The Confidence Course consists of eleven obstacles, designed so that each obstacle is more physically challenging than the last. The obstacles are (1) Dirty name (2) Run, Jump Swing (3) The Inclining Wall (4) The Confidence Climb (5) Monkey Bridge (6) The Tough One (7) Reverse Climb (8) Slide for Life (9) the Hand Walk (10) The Arm Stretcher, and (11) The Sky Scraper. While these names sound daunting, the course is designed so the average platoon can run it in 45 minutes. The Confidence Course is a great morale builder, as most of the recruits find out they can negotiate the obstacles with ease. During the fourth week, there will be even more training with pugil sticks and additional training in close combat skills. In addition to the dai ly P.T., there will be further academic classes (including more core values training). The highlight of week 4 is the individual drill evaluation. Your platoon will be evaluated, graded, and compared to the other platoons. The winning platoon, of course, receives a trophy for the trophy table. The losing platoons receive the wrath of their respective D.I.s. The biggest event of week 5 is Combat Water Survival. All Marines must pass basic water survival skills in order to graduate from boot camp (those who dont pass will receive extensive remedial training until they do). Training in Combat Water Survival develops a recruits confidence in the water. All recruits must pass the minimum required level of Combat Water Survival-4, which requires recruits to perform a variety of water survival and swimming techniques. If a recruit meets the CWS-4 requirements, he may upgrade to a higher level. All recruits train in the camouflage utility uniform, but those upgrading may be required to tra in in full combat gear, which includes a rifle, helmet, flak jacket, and pack. Also, this week will be a 5-mile hike, a test on Marine Customs Courtesies, more training in first aid, a full-blown inspection (uniforms, rifles, questions, etc.), and (of course) more classes on core values. Weapons Training.Marksmanship training teaches recruits the fundamentals of marksmanship with their Marine M16A4service rifle. This training takes place over two weeks, the first of which is called Snap-In Week. During this week, recruits are introduced to the four shooting positions (standing, kneeling, sitting and prone) and a Primary Marksmanship Instructor shows recruits how to fire, how to adjust their sights, how to take into account the effects of the weather, etc. Recruits also have the opportunity to fire on the Indoor Simulated Marksmanship Training machine. During the second week of marksmanship training, recruits actually fire a known-distance course with ranges of 200, 300 and 500 yar ds. Recruits prepare for rifle qualification on Friday of that week. Field Firing Range (FFR). FFR is a portion of training devoted to firing weapons in a field condition. During marksmanship training, recruits learn how to fire at a single target while in a stationary position. During FFR recruits learn how to fire at moving and multiple targets, while under low-light conditions and wearing their field protective (gas) mask. Weeks 7 - 10 During week 7, you will also experience a 6-mile night march, and get another chance at the Confidence Course. Week 8 is called Team Week, which means you get to spend all of your time working at the mess hall or some other glamorous detail. This is generally considered less taxing than the previous weeks The ninth week will consist almost entirely of the fundamentals of field firing, in preparation for field training during the tenth week. There will also be a 10-mile march (with packs) during week 9. If you havent experienced blisters yet dur ing your time in boot camp, you most likely will experience it during week 9. During week 10, youll start putting all of your training together during field training. Field Training is practice war. Youll operate and live in a simulated combat environment, and learn the fundamentals of patrolling, firing, setting up camp, and more. Basic Warrior Training introduces recruits to field living conditions. The majority of a Marines field training is conducted after recruit training at the School of Infantry. During the 3-day Basic Warrior Training conducted during boot camp, recruits will learn basic field skills like setting up a tent, field sanitation, and camouflage. It is also during this training that recruits go through the gas chamber. During week 11, you get a chance to put everything youve learned in boot camp to the test. The week starts with the biggest competition of all The Company Commanders Inspection. Not only are you being judged here, but your D.I. is being judged as w ell. It will behoove you to give this inspection every single thing youve got (hint to don your trousers without breaking the crease, stand on your foot-locker). The Crucible Once youve gotten the Company Commanders Inspection out of the way, youll experience the event to top all events The Crucible. The Crucible is the final test every recruit must go through to become a Marine. It will test you physically, mentally and morally and is the defining moment in recruit training. The Crucible is no walk in the park unless your idea of a walk in the park takes place over 54-hours and includes food and sleep deprivation (only four hours of sleep per night)and approximately 40 miles of marching. The Crucible event pits teams of recruits against a barrage of day and night events requiring every recruit to work together to solve problems, overcome obstacles and help each other along. The Crucible fest is designed around Core Value Stations, Warrior Stations, the Confidence Course, React ion Course, and Movement Course as well as other various mentally and physically challenging events. A final foot march will conclude with a Morning Colors Ceremony and a Warriors Breakfast. The famed Eagle, Globe and Anchor Ceremony is conducted immediately after the Crucible. The Eagle, Globe, and Anchor are the symbols in the Marine Corps Emblem It signifies that you are a member, always and forever, of the few and the proud. The ceremony is the most emotional time of basic training, even more so than the graduation parade. Week 11 is also known as Transformation Week. During this week the new Marines are given 1-hour extra free time each evening and wear the rank insignia of the grade to which they were either guaranteed upon enlistment or earned during recruit training. Also during this week, more responsibility is given to the privates and privates first class and the supervision of the drill instructors is decreased. In fact, drill instructors dont wear their duty belts duri ng this time and many of the Drill Instructors will allow the new Marines call them by their rank, not as sir or maam. This week helps these new Marines adjust from being a recruit to being a Marine. (One should notenzeichen that after boot camp, one should never call enlisted sir or maam again, as some senior enlisted hate that. One should also never use the third person when speaking after boot camp.) The final week. D.I.s are no longer yelling (as much). You will spend this last week learning about the Heroes of the Corps, a class or two on financial management, the relatively easy Battalion Commanders Inspection, more (of course) core value classes, and finally, graduation practice and graduation. The minimum (core) graduation requirements are Pass the physical fitness test and be within prescribed weight standardsQualify for Combat Water Survival at level 4 or higherQualify with the service riflePass the battalion commanders inspectionPass the written testsComplete the Crucibl e If you fail in any of the above areas, you are subject to be recycled (sent backward in time to another platoon), or may possibly be discharged. After Training If you do a great job, you just might get promoted. Based on the recommendations of the Senior Drill Instructor, the Commanding General can meritoriously promote recruits who have consistently demonstrated superior performance in the following areas and have no nonjudicial punishment infractions. Physical FitnessMarksmanshipLeadershipMotivationAcademicsField Skills All Marines are authorized 10 days of leave, immediately following graduation from boot camp. Your training is not finished. Following your leave, you will go on to further your training at the School of Infantry (East) which is located at Camp Geiger, MCB Camp Lejeune, North Carolina (for those who attended basic at Parris Island), or the School of Infantry (West), at Camp Pendleton, CA, for those who attended basic training at San Diego.Marines who are desi gnated as infantry Marines are assigned to Infantry Training Battalion at the school of infantry for infantry-specialized training. All Marines, entering the Military Occupation Specialties (MOS) of 0311 Rifleman, 0331 Machinegunner, 0341 Mortarman, 0351 Assaultman, or 0352 Anti-Tank Guided Missleman, attend this 51-day course.All other Marines (male and female) are assigned to the School of Infantry to attend the Marine Combat Training (MCT) course. MCT consists of 22 days of battle skills training which enables Marines, regardless of MOS, to operate in a combat environment. Following MCT, Marines attend their MOS schools to learn the trade they are expected to perform for the Marine Corps. The length of MOS training varies, depending on the job. Following MOS training, Marines are assigned to their first permanent duty station.