Preparing For MARINE CORPS Basic Training! (10 Things To Start Doing NOW!)

The Purpose of Marine Corps Boot Camp

The Marine Corps is a prideful branch of our United States Military.

Any Marine would agree with that statement.

The Marine Corps is known for having the longest Basic Training at 13 weeks and many believe it to be the most difficult.

As a Marine, myself, I can tell you that I agree with that statement.

I am not saying that the other branches of our Military aren’t difficult in their own respects, but the Marine Corps recruit training is just savage.

Marine Corps Drill Instructors are the embodiment of the Marine Corps.

They are the first person a Recruit will meet upon their arrival at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, or Parris Island, and they shape the future of our beloved Marine Corps through their leadership.

When a Recruit arrives at Basic Training, they are nothing but a civilian.

They are quickly stripped of that title and are now referred to as Recruits for the next 13 weeks of their lives until they earn the title of United States Marine.

Drill Instructors are there to make that happen.

Earning the title of United States Marine requires a certain level of motivation, dedication, hard work, and it’s all topped off with a little bit of insanity!

If you’re looking to join the Marine Corps and have questions about Marine Corps Basic Training here are 10 Things You MUST Start Doing NOW to better your chances of succeeding on that journey!

10 Things To Start Doing NOW!

#1. Start Going To Bed Earlier!

It should be no secret that you will be waking up early in Boot Camp.

Waking up at 5:00 AM is pretty standard in Marine Corps Boot Camp.

If you’re like any 17 or 18 year old (not excluding all other ages…) waking up this early might come as a shock!

Waking up in Boot Camp is a MUCH different experience than having your mom wake you up at home…

Once that clock strikes 5:00 AM your woken up to a Recruit on fire watch screaming, “Lights, Lights, Lights!!!”

Before you can even comprehend what is going on, the lights are on and the screams from multiple drill instructors are already pushing you into a small state of shock.

There is no worse feeling coming out of a deep sleep than waking up to that shit.

At first, it is a very surreal experience.

But, as you progress through Basic Training it becomes the norm.

I chose waking up early as one way to prepare.

Waking up early might be difficult, but its an easy preparation tool for you to start doing.

Like most of you, I was staying up till 2 or 3 in the morning when I was in high school.

I’d then sleep all day till around 1 or 2 in the afternoon, wasting my whole day!

For those of you that struggle with this, I’d HIGHLY advise you start waking earlier!

The farther out you are from shipping out the better.

I’m not saying go right to waking at 5:00 AM, but rather start making small, incremental changes.

If you currently wake up at noon everyday, try waking up at 11:00 AM for the next week.

Then go to 10:00 AM the following week, then 9:00 Am and so on…

#2. Become More Disciplined!

I am talking to those of you individuals who either have zero self discipline or have a problem with authority!

Step 1, quit being a disrespectful asshole to your parents!

When you’re told to do something, like chores, try doing them without hesitation.

Prove to your parents that you have what it takes to become a Marine.

This may also help those of you whose parents may be on the fence about you joining!

Show them your level of commitment by making changes in your life.

Just food for thought, now lets carry on.

For those of you lacking any and all self discipline, I would urge you to dig deep and find out what it is that you want to accomplish in life.

Really think about WHY you want to become a United States Marine!

Marines are disciplined and the ones that succeed are the ones that only have discipline, but have self discipline!

Whats the difference you ask?

Discipline to me is the ability to obey orders, and respect those of a higher rank than you.

Self discipline is the ability to hold yourself accountable and do things that you don’t want to do.

You need to get comfortable being uncomfortable!

If you lack self discipline, I promise your Drill Instructors will help you fix that!

Things you can do to become more disciplined is be respectful to your parents and other people.

Quit arguing and do what you’re told!

Your parents will appreciate you for it and will probably start to treat you as a young adult!

As for self discipline, the one piece of advise I always give people is do things that you don’t want to do…

If you tell yourself you should take out the trash, and in your mind you say, “nahhh, I’ll do it tomorrow.”

Then guess what you should do?!

Take out the fucking trash!

Start setting certain chores for yourself.

Examples include, making your bed every morning, keeping your room clean, and working out every other day.

At first, this will be difficult.

Although, I can assure you that if you stick with it for 30, 60, and 90 days these will become habits!

This all might sound ridiculous, but its proven…

Your mind is fuckin powerful, and when you realize that you’ll understand why this is important.

“Numerous cognitive neuroscientists have conducted studies that have revealed that only 5% of our cognitive activities (decisions, emotions, actions, behaviour) is conscious whereas the remaining 95% is generated in a non-conscious manner.”

Marc Van Rymenant, “95 percent of brain activity is beyond our conscious awareness“

This means that your conscious of your actions roughly 5% of the time and the other 95% you aren’t.

So when you do things, your sub consciously doing them.

This is why building habits is important.

And the way to build them is to begin doing things that you don’t want to do!

If you hate working out but know you should, then you should start a workout routine and stick with it for the next 60 days.

Hold your self accountable and watch the magic happen!

#3. Check Your Ego!

Nobody likes a person with a big ego.

We’ve all encountered an egotistical prick at one point or another.

That self absorbed and self centered mentality drives me nuts.

So much so, that if I sense that your that cocky prick that thinks your better than everyone I’ll have nothing to do with you.

We will all run into these types of people at one point or another, and in the Marine Corps its not different.

Hell, maybe you’re reading this and thinking to yourself, “man, this sounds like me he’s talking about!”, or maybe you’re to self centered to even be aware that this is you.

If you come across as a know it all and someone who likes to talk above others then your not going to go far in life, let alone in the Marine Corps.

The ability to recognize that this is you is the first step toward trying to change.

Maybe ask those closest to you to let you know if you have these annoying tendencies.

Or, next time your conversing with someone, pay attention to how you are acting in the conversation.

Are you really listening to the other person, or just thinking about what your going to say next?

Become aware of other peoples feelings and really try to understand them.

You will get taken advantage of if you are weak!

The Marine Corps is a competitive, testosterone fueled environment.

Having thick skin is important and just the right amount of that “not give a fuck” mentality will take you far.

But, being a good person who respects others regardless of their opinions and views will take you even farther.

So, quit being an egotistical prick!

#4. Be Self-Critical!

Being self-critical is one of those things that you need to work on to get better at.

Having the ability to evaluate yourself from an outside perspective is a wonderful thing and a trait that will allow you to become a better person and a better version of yourself!

While this is something I think everyone should work on, I also want you to understand that there is such a thing as being too self-critical.

Being able to recognize your weaknesses and problematic behaviors gives you the opportunity to make necessary changes to correct those bad behaviors and become the better version of yourself.

Its like leveling up, and when you understand that you can do this it almost becomes addicting!

Lets face it, nobody is perfect, but we can all strive to be better and it starts with being self-critical of yourself.

On the other side of the coin, you can be too self-critical and the affects can be devastating.

You need to be able to recognize the little changes and the little wins.

Celebrate the little victories within your mind.

Negative self talk can lead to depression and a sense of worthlessness.

The Marine Corps is a great environment for change.

You’re regularly put in uncomfortable situations.

You will encounter many challenges and obstacles that you must figure out how to over come.

It has a strange way of exposing your weaknesses and vulnerabilities and if you have that ability to be self-critical you can take these situations and learn from them.

You can understand why you reacted in that way, or lost your temper and you can be aware of that moving forward so that you won’t make the same mistake again.

Find the balance, find yourself and unlock the person you were meant to be!

#5. Develop a Sense of Urgency!

If you’re joining the Marine Corps or considering it, then most likely you’ve watched some videos or heard stories about Boot Camp.

This is where the journey of becoming a United States Marine begins.

Marine Corps Boot Camp is an extremely fast-paced and stressful environment

This is for good reason!

It instills discipline and helps you realize that the world doesn’t revolve around you, but instead teamwork is essential to the success of the group.

My superiors always used to tell us to move with a Sense of Urgency or a Sense of Purpose.

Especially in Basic Training.

In basic, everything is timed.

A Drill Instructor is always counting down to zero and when he gets there you’d better be at the position of attention.

Now that you know that moving with a Sense of Urgency is required in the Marine Corps, you can start to work on this skill before you join!

If you’re working at a local grocery store and you’re asked to do a job that could be done in 5 minutes, but you opt to take your time and it ends up taking 20 minutes, then you need to learn to move quicker!

Be the person that can be relied on to get shit done.

It will take you far in your Marine Corps career and in life in general!

#6. Follow Orders!

Following orders is a must in the Military.

If someone of a higher rank than you gives you a lawful order, guess what you have to do?

Abide by that shit!

If you’re one of those individuals that has a problem with authority and think you’re going to go in the Marine Corps and be a badass, I’ve got news for ya…

You’re going to get put in your place real damn quick!

If this sounds like you, then start working on this before you ship off for Basic Training.

Quit giving your parents grief.

Start doing what you’re told.

#7. Develop a Why!

Look, the Marine Corps is difficult, and understanding that its not going to be easy before you join is important.

Its during those extremely challenging times and in those situations of uncertainty that you’ll question your decision of joining and want to quit.

DON’T EVER QUIT!

I tell you to Develop a Why, because having that “why” will be what gets you through those difficult times.

Are you joining because you’re carrying on a family tradition?

Maybe, its something that you’ve always wanted to do.

Regardless, you need to dig deep and figure out your reason for wanting to become a United States Marine!

Figure out that “why” and use it as fuel when you’re faced with uncertainty!

#8. Start Eating Healthier!

The Marine Corps is physical and you’ll be doing a lot of Physical Training (PT), which means your body will need the proper fuel to recover and repair!

If all you eat is sugary foods and drink pop and don’t know the difference between proteins and carbs, I’d highly recommend getting educated!

All that shit tastes good, but its TERRIBLE for you!

Now, I’m not saying I don’t slip up once in a while and eat cake or cookies, but I would say 97% of my diet is healthy eating so that I can enjoy the remaining 3% eating whatever I want… Not the other way around!

Eating healthy isn’t rocket science, but unfortunately so many people think it is!

My meals consists of pretty much the same stuff for simplicity.

I eat mainly rice, meats, vegetables, and eggs.

Not saying this is what you have to or should be doing, but I rarely eat processed foods.

If I’m drinking anything its either water, coffee or beer!

Believe it or not, you’re body begins to crave the foods you eat most often.

Instead of craving cookies and pop (sugar), I crave steak, or salad.

I kid you not…

Educate yourself on proper nutrition and begin to make small changes in your diet!

I do not recommend trying to eliminate everything bad at once, but rather make small changes over a long period of time.

These little changes, over time will turn into habits and this is a much more sustainable approach to making a real lifestyle change!

#9. Stop Feeling Entitled!

DO NOT fall into the Entitlement Trap of feeling like you are a victim!

You are NOT a victim.

You are not deserving of anything and the sooner you realize that the better off you’ll be.

In the Marine Corps and in life in general, you get out of it what you put into it!

You are the captain of your own ship and your life is what you make of it.

Nobody owes you a damn thing!

You are no different than the Marine to the left and right.

Sure, you might be joining at the age of 27 and have some life experience under your belt and may be 10 years older than many of the other recruits in Boot Camp, but guess what?

Age doesn’t mean shit in the Marine Corps!

You will receive zero special treatment for your age.

Your drill instructors might make you a squad leader or a guide.

They might expect you to be worthy of that position, but if you aren’t they will have no problem replacing you with a more deserving 18 year old!

Put out, or get put out!

#10. EMBRACE THE SUCK!

This is one of my favorite quotes from the Marine Corps and one that I live by every day!

Embracing The Suck means to embrace difficult times and difficult situations.

It is during these difficult times that your true character will reveal itself.

In the Marine Corps you will deal with a lot of bullshit and you will encounter many challenging situations that will absolutely suck.

During these times, think about this quote and repeat it in your head!

Try and remain positive and happy during these times even when everyone else is negative and whining about it.

Be that positive person that sees the good in every situation and others will take note of that and may even follow suit!

Remember, IT CAN ALWAYS BE WORSE!

In Conclusion

The Marine Corps is a beautiful experience and one that will change you for the better.

You will have a different mindset, a different outlook on life, and a greater appreciation for life itself.

That is, if you allow it.

You must understand that it will be difficult and you will have many rough days, but if you can remain positive and do the 10 things I just shared with you, you’ll be alright!

At the end of the day, the Marine Corps is what you make of it.

Let it be a learning experience and a stepping stone for the rest of your life!

If you’re considering joining the Marine Corps and are looking for answers to the questions you might have, check out my videos on my channel and feel free to drop any questions you have.

They will get answered!

Semper Fi,

Tony
For The Corps!