4 months to boot!

[Dylan]

Thought I'd let my presence be known. I'm heading to san Diego in Jan. A little about myself, I'm 23, a personal trainer, going air wing.

I feel like I've been training for a purpose for a long time now, but just didn't know what it was until I looked into the marines. Anybody that has ever worked out with me tells me I've exerted more intensity than they have ever seen. I got my start in personal training by training college athletes and military guys getting ready for pt.

I've just adjusted my training routine to get me ready for boot. I already am at 20 pull ups, 120 crunches, and 11 minute 1.5 mile. I gotta 95 on asvab, apparently that's good because everyone comments on it...?

[gunga55]

I wold work on stretching your running out to at least 3 miles perfect score is 18 minute 3 mile by the way.

I would also suggest maybe doing some math exercises as it will get your brain into thinking/learning mode. If your just finishing up school I wouldn't worry about it to much as your mind is already in the learning mode.

Boot camp is maybe 40% physical so mean while till Jan learn as much knowledge as you can a lot of it general orders etc can be found on this web site. Your recruiter may have a print out or something along that line also. A lot of knowledge will be jammed in your head in a very shot period so getting your brain in shape also will help.

I don't know anything to prepare you for the built in stress part of boot camp just know that it is there for a purpose and go with it.

[Dylan]

Thanks for the advice. I know one thing I need to work on is taking orders. I seem to always analyze and offer my opinion. I need to simplify my thoughts to do without thinking I guess, lol.

[gunga55]

The trick is to do 1st then question. Just not in boot camp. Marines are not trained to be mindless drones who will charge a machine gun just because they are ordered to. During 1st phase of boot camp you don't get a lot of why and the culture shock is pretty fierce. By 3rd phase though you begin to understand the whys of what your doing.

one of the reasons that boot camp is structured that way, is so one can learn that when the order comes get down or move that you do it with out hesitation as it will save your life. Gaining the ability to follow orders under stressful conditions in the end makes better team work and will lessen your chance of getting a bullet through the head. Even in non combat situations it comes into play. Post boot camp though do what your told then question. Most of the time there is a reason for doing something the way it is done. Of course there is always room for improvements. Some times things are open for discussion but when the order comes down the order is meant to be obeyed. The nice thing about Chain of Command is if something goes wrong it the guy who did the ordering responsibility.

Good Leadership requires that one not only takes credit for the good but also shoulders the bad.

[kmarier2001]

Dylan ~ All the best to you as you prepare for boot camp and beyond. You've got a good start on getting yourself prepared, just continue to extend yourself in the training, and I'm sure you will do well at boot. Gunga has given you some excellent first hand advice! Everyone here is awesome at helping out and answering any questions you might have, so ask away. Enjoy the site and be sure to have a good look around. There is a lot of good information throughout the whole board. Have fun and enjoy these last few months of your "freedom"!!

[BrotherMick]

Thanks for the advice. I know one thing I need to work on is taking orders. I seem to always analyze and offer my opinion. I need to simplify my thoughts to do without thinking I guess, lol.
Like Kristin said, Gunga gave some great advice. The best way to learn is from other peoples mistakes or, in this case, experiences. There are many Marines here that can tell you what to do to prepare yourself, but it will be up to you to listen hard to that advice. My brothers and sisters on this site will not send you in the wrong direction.
Take the orders given during boot camp and don't analyze anything during this period of training. You won't believe it during your boot training, but there are reasons that they train you the way they do. Like Dan said, you will understand later especially when people start calling you Marine. Best of luck. Micky

[Mgoody2009]

Hey Dylan. Good job on joining and I am also San Diego bound in January.

[innersanctum]

Thought I'd let my presence be known. I'm heading to san Diego in Jan. A little about myself, I'm 23, a personal trainer, going air wing.

I feel like I've been training for a purpose for a long time now, but just didn't know what it was until I looked into the marines. Anybody that has ever worked out with me tells me I've exerted more intensity than they have ever seen. I got my start in personal training by training college athletes and military guys getting ready for pt.

I've just adjusted my training routine to get me ready for boot. I already am at 20 pull ups, 120 crunches, and 11 minute 1.5 mile. I gotta 95 on asvab, apparently that's good because everyone comments on it...?

90 guarantees you a job in anything. So you are good to go. GT score always seemed to indicate intelligence. Not sure how true it is but it was always a thing about the GT score when we would throw out a barb at one of the troops. There are different aspects of the ASVAB and each part can qualify for you different jobs. I think you are covered.

[Dylan]

90 guarantees you a job in anything. So you are good to go. GT score always seemed to indicate intelligence. Not sure how true it is but it was always a thing about the GT score when we would throw out a barb at one of the troops. There are different aspects of the ASVAB and each part can qualify for you different jobs. I think you are covered.I needed a 105 in the electronic portion and I got 142.

[Jarheadgerald]

Congrats on going into the Corps, I kinda wish I could go with you. Too old and out of shape lol

[grunt0311]

culture shock? i woke up one day at edson range and it hit me .. i joined the marines. lol

[gunga55]

its kind of late in second phase to realize that you joined the Marines