Preparing for Boot Camp?

FredDaHead · December 12, 2006, 10:22pm

hardcorps, out of curiosity (you didn’t mention it), how many pushups did you do on that first PFT? The rest looks pretty good; better than me. But then again, I’m a squid.

Sibellius, I don’t know much about how Marines boot camp is run other than what I saw in Full Metal Jacket, so I can’t give you specific tips, but also try and learn info about the Corps, and definately learn the ranks. It sounds silly, but some people show up to basic not knowing the ranks and look pretty stupid when they call the instructors by the wrong rank repeatedly.

Oh, and if you have some nice shoes, try learning how to spit-shine them. And get ready to do some ironing, too.

SickDevildog · December 12, 2006, 11:05pm

[quote]sibellius wrote:
Thanks everyone for all the advice, especially Devildog for taking the time to find and write out all the information for me. I visited every site there and took all your suggestions and made a plan to stick to for the next 12 weeks.

Currently I’m at 222 lbs down from 234 when I weighed in at the processing station a couple months ago.

I’ve been running a lot and I’ll do a timed one tonight to see where I’m at.

I’m eating healthy but I know I need to get stricter with it.

I know I have the heart to get to where I want to be. I’m not worried about not getting through boot camp, I just want to be prepared as I can be.

The elitist attitude doesn’t bother me and its something I’ll have to get used to and learn to handle anyway. I wish the guy good luck in his officer training as its where I’d like to be in a few years when I get my degree.

Once again thanks to everybody for the help.[/quote]

Thats some solid advice fellas, thanks for taking the time and helping this future hardcharger out.

1-Did your recruiter give you the study manuals yet? The one with USMC history, military conduct, drills, etc?

2-Make sure you know your general orders, the USMC Birthday, the big names in USMC history, where we got the name devildogs from, etc…

You know what here, I’ll spoonfeed you some of the info, you gotta go out there and be proactive though. Research some things for yourslef, and ask your recruiter any and everything you can think off.

USMC customs and traditions:
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/marines/a/customs.htm

USMC Legends:

Surviving Bootcamp:
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/marinejoin/a/marinebasic.htm

Website deticated to help you get through boot:

Good basic info for people that are about to join, got questions you should be asking the recruiter:

Goto the beginners section in the forums for poolees, and read read read.

Here’s my training log, I’m getting ready to reenlist in a couple of months myself, maybe you can pick up a thing or two.
http://sickdevildog.blogspot.com/

What’s your MOS btw, and are you going to PI or Sandiego?

SickDevildog · December 12, 2006, 11:20pm

Forgot a couple of things:

Grip strength:
Hang on to the bar for as long as you can, if you dont have a bar drape a towel over a treelimb and hold on to both sides. Once you’re able to do pullups, start doing them on the towel, it’ll fry your grip and simulate what ropeclimbing’s gonna be like aswell.

Jump up onto the pullupbar/treelimb/towel, and hold on at the top for time, thats what the female marines gotta do instead of pullups (eventhough I think they should be doing pullups just like the men, but with less pullups to complete for maxing out their score. But that’s another story)

Err I know there’s more… Oh ya, supplemental excercises:
Once your recruiter gets you into a gym, do some lat pulldowns and rows, make sure your form is strict, dont cheat. Use your ellbow flexors and lats only.

Make sure to talk to your recruiter about this stuff, I cant stress it enough, you want to be as prepared as humanly possible!

Make sure to check out that website on how to get through bootcamp, I wish I had found that when I first went in.

Good luck, and dont be afraid to ask questions! The only dumb question is the one thats floating around your head but isnt beeing asked.

Good luck.

SickDevildog · December 12, 2006, 11:29pm

[quote]sibellius wrote:
Thanks everyone for all the advice, especially Devildog for taking the time to find and write out all the information for me. I visited every site there and took all your suggestions and made a plan to stick to for the next 12 weeks.

Currently I’m at 222 lbs down from 234 when I weighed in at the processing station a couple months ago.

I’ve been running a lot and I’ll do a timed one tonight to see where I’m at.

I’m eating healthy but I know I need to get stricter with it.

I know I have the heart to get to where I want to be. I’m not worried about not getting through boot camp, I just want to be prepared as I can be.

The elitist attitude doesn’t bother me and its something I’ll have to get used to and learn to handle anyway. I wish the guy good luck in his officer training as its where I’d like to be in a few years when I get my degree.

Once again thanks to everybody for the help.[/quote]

sib, what’s your current program look like, your an awful fast reader if you already went through all that information…

Make sure you start paying attention to detail, skipping things that seem trivial to you might not be and get you and your future comrades killed in a heartbeat. I’m not trying to put you down, thats just the way it is.

Post up your program and maybe we can tweak it around a bit to make sure you got everything in there so you can make it to PFC, and atleast have a stripe to show for when you graduate. (=

hardcorps · December 13, 2006, 2:36am

[quote]FredDaHead wrote:
hardcorps, out of curiosity (you didn’t mention it), how many pushups did you do on that first PFT? The rest looks pretty good; better than me. But then again, I’m a squid.

Sibellius, I don’t know much about how Marines boot camp is run other than what I saw in Full Metal Jacket, so I can’t give you specific tips, but also try and learn info about the Corps, and definately learn the ranks. It sounds silly, but some people show up to basic not knowing the ranks and look pretty stupid when they call the instructors by the wrong rank repeatedly.

Oh, and if you have some nice shoes, try learning how to spit-shine them. And get ready to do some ironing, too.[/quote]

Push-ups aren’t part of the PFT. But, after Boot I was usually able to do between 85 to 130 depending on how fresh I was etc.

Definitely learn your general orders. They’ll pop you with those pretty damn early and they don’t ask in the most polite way. So, it’s good to have those very well memorized.

FredDaHead · December 13, 2006, 2:48am

Sorry about that. I’d assumed you had more or less the same fitness test we use, which includes pushups. 85 to 130 is pretty impressive, though. I’ll say I’m working up to that and leave it at that.

sibellius · December 13, 2006, 6:22am

Thats some solid advice fellas, thanks for taking the time and helping this future hardcharger out.

1-Did your recruiter give you the study manuals yet? The one with USMC history, military conduct, drills, etc?

2-Make sure you know your general orders, the USMC Birthday, the big names in USMC history, where we got the name devildogs from, etc…

You know what here, I’ll spoonfeed you some of the info, you gotta go out there and be proactive though. Research some things for yourslef, and ask your recruiter any and everything you can think off.

USMC customs and traditions:
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/marines/a/customs.htm

USMC Legends:
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/marines/a/legends.htm

Surviving Bootcamp:
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/marinejoin/a/marinebasic.htm

Website deticated to help you get through boot:
prepareforbootcamp.com

Good basic info for people that are about to join, got questions you should be asking the recruiter:
Join the Military

Goto the beginners section in the forums for poolees, and read read read.
Military and Veteran Benefits, News, Veteran Jobs

Here’s my training log, I’m getting ready to reenlist in a couple of months myself, maybe you can pick up a thing or two.
http://sickdevildog.blogspot.com/

What’s your MOS btw, and are you going to PI or Sandiego?

Yes I got the “handbook” that has all the Marine info. At the last pool function I was stuck in a push up posistion 6 inches off the ground for a very long time because I forgot a general order so the recruiters have drilled in the importance of getting the knowledge down as well.

I’ve been to some of those sites and probably read that about.com article a million times and probably will read it a million times more. I’ve also been asking questions over at military.com already and its helped a bit but overall the Marines over there are not interested in helping any poolees.

I’ll be going to MCRD San Diego.

I’m going into the reserves so there aren’t many MOS’s available to me in the Phoenix area here so I went with bulk fuel spot but I’m trying to secure a logistics MOS before I go. When I get back I’ll be in school and involved in the PLC program to become an officer and hopefully get a pilot spot (something I’ve wanted all my life). I understand that I have to be in amazing shape to get to that point so thats why it starts now.

I actually need to figure out a program right now. All I’ve been doing is running around 4 times a week (days vary) between 2-5 miles. In terms of bodyweight excercises I’ve been practicing my pushups and crunches on and off through the week. On Wednesdays I have the pool functions where we run out to a park and basically go through a high intensity circuit of all the main boot camp excercises, complete with all the yelling and screaming you’d probably find at bootcamp.

I’d really like to find a solid program to do for the next two months. I was thinking I’d incorporate the running plan by Stewart Smith and add bodyweight circuits onto that.

Once again I really appreciate all the help.

system · December 13, 2006, 8:37am

[quote]t3hcho53non3 wrote:
Now listen here fatbody, I am in officer training for the Army. You are in some really sorry shape there. Maybe that is why they stress to us that we must be in better physical shape than any lowly enlisted person. This just reaffirms my belief that enlisted are weak and that is why you need people telling you what to do.

First things first you must lean out and learn to run atleast to the point where it looks more like a run and less like a walk. Second, get some upper body strength. Third, strive to be the best not the minimum.

In regards to the Canadian forces. A perfect way to characterize you guys is image you present with the instructor with the belly. You are weak and should not in any way be compared to the United States military. Plus just to let you know that Sargeant earned that belly a fatbody private has not.

In reference to Full Metal Jacket I guess the Corps don’t get theirs.[/quote]
You have a lot to learn about a lot of things. If you are REALLY lucky you’ll get a good NCO to show you the ropes and keep you from stepping on your dick, or getting someone killed. So who does your ROTC training at Southern University?

SickDevildog · December 13, 2006, 8:43am

[quote]
Yes I got the “handbook” that has all the Marine info. At the last pool function I was stuck in a push up posistion 6 inches off the ground for a very long time because I forgot a general order so the recruiters have drilled in the importance of getting the knowledge down as well.

I’ve been to some of those sites and probably read that about.com article a million times and probably will read it a million times more. I’ve also been asking questions over at military.com already and its helped a bit but overall the Marines over there are not interested in helping any poolees.

I’ll be going to MCRD San Diego.

I’m going into the reserves so there aren’t many MOS’s available to me in the Phoenix area here so I went with bulk fuel spot but I’m trying to secure a logistics MOS before I go. When I get back I’ll be in school and involved in the PLC program to become an officer and hopefully get a pilot spot (something I’ve wanted all my life). I understand that I have to be in amazing shape to get to that point so thats why it starts now.

I actually need to figure out a program right now. All I’ve been doing is running around 4 times a week (days vary) between 2-5 miles. In terms of bodyweight excercises I’ve been practicing my pushups and crunches on and off through the week. On Wednesdays I have the pool functions where we run out to a park and basically go through a high intensity circuit of all the main boot camp excercises, complete with all the yelling and screaming you’d probably find at bootcamp.

I’d really like to find a solid program to do for the next two months. I was thinking I’d incorporate the running plan by Stewart Smith and add bodyweight circuits onto that.

Once again I really appreciate all the help.[/quote]

It’s good to see that you’re researching stuff on your own, if you show that kind of fortitude in boot on a daily basis you’ll be ahead one step at all times.

1- What do you mean by running around?

2- What kind of training do the recruiters help you out with?

3- Post what you got in mind for the program and what you think you need to work on before you ship out.

4- Are you gonna work with avioniocs, and fuel equipment? And how good are your chances of getting a logistics MOS?

What do you mean by “when I get back”?
Do you mean after your first enlistment term is up?

Goodfellow · December 13, 2006, 11:38am

[quote]sibellius wrote:
Hey guys I’m new and I’ve read a lot of great articles off this site and I was wondering if you guys could help me out.

I’m 19 years old, 6’2, 228 lbs. BF percentage probably 22-24%. I am shipping out to Marine Corps boot camp in early February. I have been training for about a month already.

To get into boot camp, the requirements are as follows

Pullups-2
Crunches-44 in two minutes
1.5 mile run- <13:00 mins

As of yesterday, I am at

Pullups-0 (never been able to do them)
Crunches-38
1.5 mile run- 13:30

The running has obviously helped a lot but I still need to drop some weight and gain a lot of strength.

I’ve read up a lot on nutrition and I’ve been loosely sticking to it. I know I need to get stricter in that area.

Is there any workouts/supplements/etc that you guys could reccomend that could get me to where I want to be within that time?[/quote]

Can you please stop reading all this bullshit about velocity diets?

You are trying to get in shape, you have a reasonable base, there is no need to starve yourself like bodybuilders do to get ‘ripped’.

You need to start running, ALOT. 4 times a week at least. Boot Camp is intense in terms of endurance, so you want be doing Aerobic exercises to build up your stamina (Aerobic = running a marathon, as an example).

As for your strength. Go to a gym, leave your ego at home, and start busting your ass on the lat pulldown. That is what I used to help myself to do pull ups.

On the lat pulldown try and mimic the same movement you would do to pull up, so lead the movement with your elbows. Use a weight that you can get 7 reps out of max, and do about 4 sets of 5 or so.

Try and up the weight each week on it, so for example: 4 sets of 5 with weight #6. Then next week; 3 sets of 5 with weight #6, and 1 set of 5 with with #7.

See what im saying now? Do the same thing with your other exercises.

As for diet, eat about 6 sandwhiches a day, tuna/chicken/turkey etc. and have a glass of milk with each one. The RUNNING 4 TIMES A WEEK will help you shed off the lbs.

So overall summary:

Run, alot.
Eat sensibly
Try and lift more weight on exercises than the week before.
RUN. ALOT.

Goodfellow · December 13, 2006, 12:00pm

Here’s a sample training program you can use if you don’t have one already;

Day1: Run (Pace yourself, don’t make yourself sick)

Day2: Lift session1: Strength
Lat Pulldown - 3 sets of 5
Bench Dips - 2 sets of 8 (If you can do more than 8 with your own bodyweight, put a plate on your legs)
Deadlift - 1 set of 5 (GET SOMEONE TO TEACH YOU HOW DO TO THESE, so you don’t fuck up your back)
DB bench press - 3 sets of 5
DB shoulder press - 3 sets of 5

Day2: Run some more.

Day3: Lift session2: Endurance
Push ups - 2 sets of as many as you can
Seated Row - Choose a fairly easy weight, then do 5 sets of 20 with a short rest in between.
Crunches - 2 sets of as many as you can

note: didn’t pick any lower body endurance, running does that.

Day4: Run some more.

Day5: Lift session3: Specialization
Lat Pulldown - 3 sets of 5
Bench Dips - 2 sets of as many as you can
DB bench press - 3 sets of 5
Seated Row - 4 sets of 4 (Make them count)

Day6: Rest

Day7: Run!

Also remember to eat 5-6 small sandwhiches a day with tuna/turkey/chicken etc. and a glass of milk. The amount of training you are doing will be more than enough to help you lose weight.

Also I recommend searching for “UDO’s choice” oil and taking about 3 tablespoons of that a day.

Trick with udo’s oil: Put 1 tablespoon in a small glass, and put a small bit of milk with it, mix it up and down it in 1 go. The milk helps take the nasty taste away.

sibellius · December 13, 2006, 9:08pm

[quote]SickDevildog wrote:

Yes I got the “handbook” that has all the Marine info. At the last pool function I was stuck in a push up posistion 6 inches off the ground for a very long time because I forgot a general order so the recruiters have drilled in the importance of getting the knowledge down as well.

I’ve been to some of those sites and probably read that about.com article a million times and probably will read it a million times more. I’ve also been asking questions over at military.com already and its helped a bit but overall the Marines over there are not interested in helping any poolees.

I’ll be going to MCRD San Diego.

I’m going into the reserves so there aren’t many MOS’s available to me in the Phoenix area here so I went with bulk fuel spot but I’m trying to secure a logistics MOS before I go. When I get back I’ll be in school and involved in the PLC program to become an officer and hopefully get a pilot spot (something I’ve wanted all my life). I understand that I have to be in amazing shape to get to that point so thats why it starts now.

I actually need to figure out a program right now. All I’ve been doing is running around 4 times a week (days vary) between 2-5 miles. In terms of bodyweight excercises I’ve been practicing my pushups and crunches on and off through the week. On Wednesdays I have the pool functions where we run out to a park and basically go through a high intensity circuit of all the main boot camp excercises, complete with all the yelling and screaming you’d probably find at bootcamp.

I’d really like to find a solid program to do for the next two months. I was thinking I’d incorporate the running plan by Stewart Smith and add bodyweight circuits onto that.

Once again I really appreciate all the help.

It’s good to see that you’re researching stuff on your own, if you show that kind of fortitude in boot on a daily basis you’ll be ahead one step at all times.

1- What do you mean by running around?

2- What kind of training do the recruiters help you out with?

3- Post what you got in mind for the program and what you think you need to work on before you ship out.

4- Are you gonna work with avioniocs, and fuel equipment? And how good are your chances of getting a logistics MOS?

When I get back I’ll be in school and involved in the PLC program to become an officer and hopefully get a pilot spot (something I’ve wanted all my life). I understand that I have to be in amazing shape to get to that point so thats why it starts now.

What do you mean by “when I get back”?
Do you mean after your first enlistment term is up?[/quote]

The running I’ve been doing has been around my neighborhood.

The recruiters mostly just do the training on Wednesdays. Theyve given me tips and things like that to improve but other then that I don’t recieve any other training.

One thing I’m concerned about is I have nowhere around my house to perform pull-ups. I have a gym membership and they have one of those assisted pull up machines that I like to use. So I was thinking something like this.

Sunday
Off

Mondays
Bodyweight Circuit 1 x3

MC Pushups x10
Rowing Excercise x10
Flutter Kicks x25
Crunches x25
In-Place Double Times 2:00
Lying Leg Lifts to failure

Run
3 miles

Tuesday
Gym Workout

Squats 3x10
Lat Pulldown 3x7
Pull up 3x5 (with gravitron)
Dips 3x8
Bicep Curls 3x10

Run
Stew Smith 4 mile Track Work

Wednesday
Max pushups, Max Crunches

Pool function (run, bodyweight excercdises)

Thursday
Bodyweight Circuit 2 x3

Side Straddle Hops
Cherry Pickers
Side Benders
Toe Touchers
Trunk Twisters
Standing Leg Lifts

Run
4 mile

Friday
Gym Workout

Squats 3x10
Lat Pulldown 3x7
Pull up 3x5 (with gravitron)
Dips 3x8
Bicep Curls 3x10

Run
3 mile (timed)

Saturday
Off

Regarding the MOS, the bulk fuel is the only one available really. I have about 30 hours of flight time so I’m a little familiar with aircraft operations. I was told by my recruiter that my enlisted MOS wouldn’t affect my choice when it comes to an officer commission.

I guess I forgot to mention I was entering a reserve unit here when I get back from boot camp, MCT, and MOS school. I’ll be actively drilling with the PLC program though while I’m getting my degree.

PinkMist · December 14, 2006, 1:41pm

[quote]sibellius wrote:

I was told by my recruiter that my enlisted MOS wouldn’t affect my choice when it comes to an officer commission.

[/quote]

I thought I might interject here. I am not saying that your recruiter is not right, but look at what that statement says. “I was told by my recruiter”…Recruiters are the worst of all evils. He probably is right about that however as in the Army your enlisted MOS does not affect your choice when you commission as an officer.

SickDevildog · December 15, 2006, 10:46pm

[quote]sibellius wrote:
SickDevildog wrote: