10 Weeks of HELL: What Navy Recruits Go Through At Boot Camp in 2022 (Marine Reacts) 

I went to Army OSUT infantry basic at Fort Benning in November of 1986 and I was a little overweight 5’10 189 pounds. My first APFT PT test I scored 100 points on the push-ups 80 and 100 points 92 sit ups my Senior Drill Sergeant said “that’s impressive for fat body let’s see how you do on the 2 mile run.” I came in dead last in my platoon, 19:30 on the run, my Drill sergeant said “that’s what I thought fat boy, if you wanna graduate and earn your blue cord you’re gonna have to lose 25 pounds and knock 5 mins off that run.” We would be running platoon PT and my Senior DS would yell “get out here Pvt. Harvey” and he’d Indian run me around the platoon he really beat me up. He restricted what I could eat and right before we graduated we had company inspection with the class A’s that they issued at the reception center and I had lost 41 pounds, my uniform looked like a tent. My company commander pulled me out and said “this is what good training and motivation does” and he ordered my Drill sergeant to take me to the quartermaster and reissue everything. I went from a 34 inch waist to 28 inches and on my 2 mile run I went from over 19 and half mins to 13:06 on the 2 mile run. At the cord ceremony my Senior DS whispered to me that I had a lot of heart and he was proud of me. I felt 8 feet tall and I was so proud because I really felt like I accomplished something.

I did Navy bootcamp in 1972 and have to say I wasn't all that impressed with it even at the time. Spent more time learning how to correctly fold my laundry and pack my locker than I did in physical training. Of course, I was in pretty good shape going in, so didn't consider it the most physically challenging thing I've ever done.

My dad was in the USN for 27 years, retired an E7 CPO, he was a Seabee, passed away 2 years ago! Miss you dad

In my Navy boot camp SEALs were the swim instructors. The recruits who failed the test were sent separately for extra training sessions to learn how to swim.

I love how Mr. Jameson is a total realist. There’s a big difference between the Marine Corps and the Navy, but he’s not afraid to tell it like it is. He points out the fat bodies and it’s true, you want to be a good role model and make the recruits want to look like you. He said jaw line and shook his head lol

My youngest brother is in the Navy, he made Chief 2 years ago, he has been telling me how bad this has gotten, most young recruits have attitudes and won't work, constantly requesting LD, missing ships movements, failing quals.....

hope like hell we dont go to war any time soon.. we aint ready

The fact my roommate at my 1st unit graduated navy basic training with borderline personality disorder, ODD, autism spectrum, schizophrenia and psychosis says a lot about Navy basic training

I remember when high school students would sign up for the army or the Marine corps and the summer prior to graduation they would start doing minimal basic training, when they went to basic training these kids were saying that they were doing things they never thought they were capable of doing and they would come back to the high school and see their teachers in uniform and they were so proud of themselves.

Navy's first strike, that valley girl. second strike why is everybody seems to be about 30/50 lbs overweight? Do they use the extra weight as a flotation device?

The hardest part for me was the running. You have to be at least a little bit of a runner. But quickly got my pace and breezed through it and also prt in the fleet. Carrier Navy Veteran ABH3 V1 Div Crash and Salvage

Chief Walters! Great guy who earned it! Super proud of my brother.

Over thirty years ago in Washington, we were taking a break in a Georgetown bar. I was sitting with an Army and a Marine officer. They were becoming intelligence officers and enrolled at Georgetown for graduate work. These guys had some slight interservice rivalry but could agree on one thing. The Army officer turned to the Marine officer and said: "Look at those naval officers. Ain't they disgusting?" The object of their contempt had a belly only slightly over his belt.

Your comment about recruits on limited duty was ON POINT - There were a handful of recruits who literally missed half of boot camp and all the hardest activities because they were CONSTANTLY LD & SIQ & went to sick call every single day. I always thought it was completely unfair to the rest of us! And then you could see in certain people how the behavior really stuck and transferred into the fleet with some people.

Former Marine here, 97-01. In boot camp, light duty was HIGHLY frowned upon. We had a recruit on light duty for over a week, never got held back. PCP, or pork chop platoon, overweight people, you had a very limited time to lose the weight, or you were held back, and after 2 times, you were out. Same as rifle range if you didn't qualify.

Love hearing your “Come On Man” over Brandon’s. Thanks for the great videos.

I suffered through Navy boot camp in the 60s, back when the SEALs were UDT. It was 12 weeks long, and there is NOTHING about it that I thought was fun. Lack of sleep, excess physical activity, and tons of class work all made for an unreal experience. But, when I made it through, my first thoughts were, EVERYONE should have to go through this. And, I made it through this, I can do ANYTHING. It sure takes the Mama out of Mama's boys.

Luckily nobody in my platoon tried to sneak food back to our barracks when I was in boot camp. One person did try to sneak ice cream inside a glass of milk when we were in the rifle range chow hall. They caught him, of course made us all stop eating, throw our food away, and go straight out to the nearest pit where we PT'd for about an hour. That night, none of us were allowed to shower during drill instructor square away time. And all had to go to bed dirty and spend the whole next day dirty as well. Needless to say, the guy who tried to sneak ice cream was very unpopular from there on.

I’m currently in the process to get to the weight requirements and the army is being very consistent and keeping me accountable with my weigh ins. I’m struggling to understand how these navy recruits got in overweight…

So Wise , Thank You

Boot was one of the hardest/easiest things I ever done. Hard was leaving my pregnant wife and child back but easy just follow orders and you’ll be fine. Too many of the younger I met only cared over things that in the long run didn’t matter. My goal was to take care of my already established family.

My DI taught me some real life lessons. He led by example. He was trim and impeccable in uniform. He told us to never be a slacker about our boots and hair etc.... He said to have pride in yourself and not to be like most people once they got out of boot camp. He said having pride in yourself helps in every aspect of life. You should NEVER have to be told to groom yourself or shine your boots. This was at Lackland AFB, San Antonio Texas. His name was SSGT Kinne of flight 175 in August of 1979. I just turned 60 and still remember those words a 17 year old needed to hear. I don't think those dough boys/gals would have made that kind of impression is my point. Leaders have to lead by example.... period. That "intensive pt" they are showing on that video looked easier than what we did every day.

I'm reminded of the crying sailor from the boat crew captured by the Iranians in 2016. This video shows how we got there.

Just graduated on the 24th of March, and to be clear, my RDC's were tough on us. We were a 900 Division, so we had extra time in bootcamp, our experience was 12 weeks long compared to the rest. My Chief went out of his way to ASMO LD's and SIQ's, and he did a great job of weeding out those who put no effort in. Whenever we did ITE, which was almost everyday, sometimes twice a day or when we first wake up, we'd get beat for over an hour and a half. People were passing out, bleeding, and collapsing. Maybe it was just my division, but it wasn't a cake walk. People like that sailor would've been ASMO'D if she had my RDC's. Some people cheat the system, some try their best and get the recognition.

Had been stockpiling peanut butter packets for weeks before the crucible to randomly give to others when they needed a boost in morale. Stocked up about 2-3 lbs of packets in the top pouch of my ilbe pack and DI's found them the night before. I got my face PT'd off that morning leading up to the crucible, but was nice after finally getting the EGA. DI said it was a good intentioned move, but he didn't regret making me suffer in the pit for it. Rah

I'm old Navy and this is embarrassing. Not in my day. Proud graduate of AOCS in Pensacola. Our military has been pussified.

Mandatory service would go along way to getting this country back on track.

Navy boot camp is super easy and there’s so much comedy. You meet all walks of life and the CCs can be darn funny. lol

Ex-Aussie Navy here. During our swim tests, the instructors were around the pool with brooms that they would use to push people back by their foreheads if they tried to get out. Of course, there were safety swimmers there in case someone was really in trouble, but if you didn't pass your swim test, you were gone. 1990's though - so things are probably a little more 'caring' now.

This girl is the prime example of what’s wrong with kids and young adults today… overly entitled and lazy.

Ahhhhh the dress whites, had no piping on the back in 1987. Those 3 stripes in the jumper top.

Love your content!!!! Semper Fi brother!!!

Seabee in the Navy here. Went through boot camp in 2019 just before Covid. At that time and 3 years later, it has always and still is "frowned upon" to be LD or SIQ. Take care of yourselves, recruits, but pay your dues. That's all I'll say.

Did a total of 5 years in the navy back in the 80's. I was overweight going in to boot-camp. The company commanders put me in the "fat boy camp". Me and three or four other guys were called to step forward and the company commanders told the other recruits that they had permission to take food from our plates during chow.... and they did. I was always hungry. We had to do a lot of "Indoor Tennis" (IT - aka, "Intensive Training"). This food robbery thing stopped after a few weeks though. I can't remember how much weight I lost, but I lost a lot. I came out of boot feeling like a badass. To this day I still eat very quickly.... before anybody can steal my food.

Hey Jamesons Travels, have you checked out Space Force Boot Camp yet? They get a lot of jokes and so forth, but they have to learn all the air force stuff and the Space Force stuff. Id love to see your review of it. My son just graduated and is at Tech School now.

That first night pulling into Navy basic is something I'll never forget.

My dad was in the Coast Guard Vietnam era he was a really strong swimmer being a surfer he’s whole life but hated running. Anyway he said to me when I was a kid “you’d be surprised what you can do when someone is running behind you with a bayonet pointed at your ass,” I said yeah but he wouldn’t have stabbed you with it and his answer was “he sure as hell would have!!” 😆

Private Pyle from Full Metal Jacket could be a Navy Chief in today's military.

Man let me tell you, army osut 2019 in Leonardwood out DS's were all pt studs. They let us have it every single day. At the end we were all in the best shape of our lives

Solid take. 👍🏼🇺🇸

I was in Navy Bootcamp back in 2015. I’m about 5 ft 9 and I weighed about 160 lbs at the time. I had as a slimmer muscular build from running track. We weighed in before graduation and I was 136 lbs. My parents actually walked passed me without recognizing me at graduation. Any little bit of muscle I had, I lost all of in bootcamp. The PT simply was not challenging enough.

I went into bootcamp at 17 - right out of high school. It was the early 80's... I was 168 on a 5'8" frame and pretty fit. Came out 13 weeks later at 162... same height, of course... but much leaner and with more muscle mass. Felt great! I'm a retired Chief now and I learned later on that each recruit had about a 4,200 calorie daily allowance.... plus or minus, of course depending on how fast you ate but it was plenty. And it was good chow! Never took chow out of the chow hall... didn't need to and definitely didn't want the trouble if caught anyway! We had no fat bodies at all.... there were strict guidelines for height/weight and fitness to even qualify to enter bootcamp. More than 40 years later - I'm at 172... still 5'8" though shrinkage may be coming 🤣🤣🤣 Did the pt entrance requirement test for boots in 2022 with an old Navy friend of mine recently - kind of an "old man" challenge - we both still met the requirements for entry for men aged under 24. Not bad for old farts... though I have to admit that my endurance isn't what it used to be and I definitely feel some pains that I didn't back then the next day or two. Whenever I see fat serving military folk - I shake my head in disdain! Seriously... y'all can do better!

Sea Shore rotation is a part of Navy life. Been there done that multiple times.

In basic, my flight never got phone privileges until a month after we got there. We didn't cry about it. We were just even more grateful for having privileges as 'common' as using the phone. Also, at the chow hall, there was a dessert showcase with cakes, pies, etc. The thing about that, was that the desserts were right in front a table of TI's (training instructors), sooo we technically COULD go get dessert.......but at a price most weren't willing to pay (getting drilled down by multiple TI's at the same time).

I heard the pacer test and I immediately thought about the pt we would be graded on in middle school through high school, I didn't expect it to actually be THAT pacer. That's actually mind boggling to me that they are doing conditioning we had in middle school through high school.

We had a guy who would sneak cookies back to his bunk. One time RDCs did a gear check and had us turn our bags upside down on the toe line. All his gear came out first then that cookie dropped on top like a cherry on ice cream. Absolutely hilarious, it was like a movie. Guy got rolled back two weeks

Excellent analysis!

Never snuck chow back to the compartment. Wouldn’t even dare, chief would level us for that.

Im in the Navy now and the lack of discipline and getting people out effects the schools I'm in. Luckily, I'm a live ashore but the amount of drama and relationships and people acting like they're out in the streets piss me off. I joined thinking there would be like minded people here, but they act like middle schoolers. Some instructors have been caught with students and they just get rank taken. Boot camp was way too easy for me, and it was boring as hell

That woman just out of boot camp might be honest, but I sure as hell wouldn't want her in my command.

Never took food back from chow, but caught a few punishments from others doing that. Had almost 90 in the division, and when one makes a mistake everyone felt it.

Respect to them all ... ❤😊

The slow speed at which they were all eating chow blew my mind. If we had tried that, our chow would be in the trash.

My fkin ass couldn't wait to get into the military - my parents weren't there so I loved my time in the Army. Just stumbled across these videos and i gotta say - I love your cool, calm, and collected commentary. I was active 08-13, deployed to Kandahar for OEF 10-11. Being a JFO attached to a line company ended up being exactly where I needed to be. I think the fact I had to embrace that suck a little earlier than those around me helped me a lot. OEF 10-11 was pretty rough - we lost 62 people as part of our task force.

GREAT VIDEO!

opening picture had me lmao, SEMPER PARATUS

I was a kid with not much experience outside "the nest" when I joined. It was a culture shock and certainly left me emotionally rattled, especially when I was getting screamed at my strangers every day for things I didn't know I was doing wrong. But I was an athletic kid, so certainly nothing was ever challenging on a physical level in bootcamp. It was simply the quick development of emotional maturity that RTC was TRYING to accomplish with each recruit. Navy life isn't about being a PT stud afterall. There's certainly some embarrassment with how fat the force has gotten, but I think some people have the wrong expectation when they compare Navy Boot to Army or the Marine Corps. I would say for the most part, not much of this Navy Boot video comes off as fake or even played out. The first Chief I ever saw was in my face for an hour about ANYTHING I was doing hahahaha. That new sailor we see really seems like she's gonna be a problem child for her first LPO, and probably gonna be Ad-Sep'd before her 4 years are even through.

Definitely not the same boot camp I went through at RTC San Diego back in 1981. On a side note, we shared a fence with MCRD (Marine boot camp) and on day one our Company Commander said that if we didn’t like boot camp and decided to run don’t go over that fence because if the Marines catch you they keep you.

4:02 damn talk about off guard picture, this got me rolling

My seniors in the USMC always said my group had it easy and that we had it so much easier than they did. I believe it. My time was not easy, but it was not "full metal jacket" level I was expecting. I say bring back the ability of the DIs to hit recruits. Let us know we can take a hit and keep going. War is hell. Training should do its best to teach you how to survive that hell.

Went into the Navy in 1971 and came off the Farm so the physical Fitness was not that bad, was up at 5:00 am every day working livestock, and knocking off work at 2200 so the hours were actually less stressful. The biggest thing for me was getting into that TEAMWORK mindset. But I was what you would say Excellent Physical Condition before I went into bootcamp, there were some muscle groups that I didn't commonly use so that was about it. Our CC ran with us the day we arrived, he was shocked that I was one of the 2 that could keep up with him from day one. By the time we graduated the weakest guy could do the 3 mile run, even though it was supposed to be 1.5 mile run, they were proud that they did the 3 mile run in exactly double their 1.5 mile run times. You don't know what you can do ktill you are pressed to do so. Have lived by the motto for decades "Know your limitations then IGNORE THEM".

I'm old back in the day you left high school in shape. boot camp was no big deal

My Dad played an instrument in the Navy during Korea era and during boot camp at the great lakes he accidently left his Trombone sticking out too far and when rounds were being made by the Drill Instructor he tripped over it. Needless to say he got my dad up and made him go around the barracks and empty out the trash at 3 am during winter in his underwear. Dad never let that happen gain. Wish he was still alive, loved hearing his stories. ( sorry don't know all the proper lingo for each branch)

You sir, are the military grandpa we never had. I watch your videos as motivation to toughen up and face life. Kudos and respect to you sir.

Watching recent US military training makes me feel extremely tough, in comparison. This is hard to believe.

This is the fifth of your videos I’ve watched tonight, and I’m getting depressed! Lol what in the wide wide world of sports is a-goin’ on with Boot Camp???

"Navy, navy, I'm in doubt. Why's your belly hanging out?" 😁

I can honestly say this was the first time I have ever heard the expression "soft as a squiggly Bear's belly." I have to admit that one made me laugh, JT!

Went to Great Lakes in December 2004 (division 093). Our three instructors were in shape to a high degree. Good mix between individual building and team building. Nobody was safe from a beating. Segregated units so you rarely saw a female peer. Great mix of people from all over USA, some from abroad. Bad apples were kicked out, leading to a solid division at the end ready to transition to next duty station with humility and respect.

1:34 - Recruit Mantaverde looks like he's got that Pvt Pyle stare from Full Metal Jacket.

No more cake aye aye, Chief!

My recruit division is in this video for the swim portion of it xD. Graduated a couple weeks ago from boot camp, and it is not difficult at all if you come prepared.

I feel like everyone's Basic Training experience is completely different. I remember at Fort Sill the company next to ours started about 5 weeks after we did, and they were trying a newer, gentler phase with that class, where no one got smoked or yelled at, and I remember them talking to us to ask what we did to mess up so bad since they saw us getting smoked all the time and that never happened to them despite them being on week 1 and us being ready to graduate.

9:07 in USMC bootcamp, one of the recruits was sneaking in her food and she got kicked out from the service for stealing

I'm a swimmer so hearing about that 5 minute float sounds like fun. Literally do that after training when everything hurts 😂😂

I'm at 20 years of active duty in the Army and went to basic not long after 9/11. I went to sick call one time after the DS saw my socks soaked in blood and had my toenails surgically removed. I declined a profile because if I didn't complete the final field problem that week (including a 20+ mile hump) I'd have to restart that 3 week phase over again. I did it with no big toenails because I wanted out of there. Sick bay commandos had nobody discouraging them but they paid a price for malingering, 3-5 extra weeks of boot camp. One guy completed basic with cracked ribs.

As a former Sailor I find this vid. to be pitiful!! Fat company commanders for a start! I'm speechless!! How WUSSIFIED can they get!! We were able to kick-ass and take names after boot back in 81!! I know you can relate Jameson. SAD!!

Loved the thoughts on haircuts!

Wow, indoor PT!...My dad served in the navy in the early fifties. He said in navy boot camp they had to go outside onto the tarmac where it was freezing cold and do their PT as the freezing winds whistled off the Great Lakes. Guess times have changed.

It’s really funny seeing this as someone that went through marines boot camp in 2015. They are definitely showing a pumped up version for this video, but the marine one you did was watered down in comparison. I wouldn’t be surprised if the old marine insider video is now the standard in marine boot camp. Man how quickly things change.

Hope you're well Mr Jameson Sir.

LOVED that late night drop off!!!! Nothing says you will get to go to bed soon! NOT!

Went to boot camp @ San Diego 1963, stations at Coronado Ca BMU1 and required to do Marine infantry training @ Pendleton , 1965 Made the first of Amphibious landings at Danang RVN with the Marine BLT .

I did four years active duty, three IRR and just got out of a six year reserve stint. Boot camp was easy when I went in 2009 and I was in decent shape. Others, not as much, but I can say that all of our RDCs were physical specimens, and a solid example of the types of Sailors we should aspire to be. During my entire time in Great Lakes, I never saw a chief as portly as those in this video. I fear this slide will continue. After all, the Navy suspended the Physical Fitness Assessment for TWO YEARS due to COVID and many did not work out on their own. Many failed the weigh ins and some failed the exercises which are not hard. The culture of being a hard@$$ needs to make a comeback NOW.

When that lady mentioned smuggling food back, I immediately thought of Full Metal Jacket and the jelly donut in the foot locker. "They're paying for it, you eat it!"

The PT in Navy bootcamp is designed to minimize injuries and help couch potatoes pass their PRT. The strong will generally get weaker, and the weak will generally get stronger.

Finally, 1 person in charge who isn't morbidly obese.

I went to Marine Boot Camp in 1981.. I'm watching this and I'm thinking.. "so um.. what's the big deal??".. then I remember todays generation... I weep for our Country...

I went to Navy Bootcamp back in 2018, I’m not sure but I loved bootcamp. I had a lot of fun. Wasn’t too hard, only thing I hated was the brisk winter coming from Hawaii to Chicago in the middle of winter was intense.

That is an easy way to get into some trouble. Sneaking good back. They did let you take a protien bar or a fruit back to eat. But that was it.

Damn good video.

My 1965 Navy boot camp experience wasn’t too far from Gunny Earmy in Full Metal Jacket. It’s sad to see overweight DIs as well as recruits who have it a lot easier than we did. How are they going to handle going into combat? I’m more than sad to see this b/c many of the things I learned in recruit training have guided me throughout my 70 + years on earth.

I went to Great Lakes Jan22 and was the first division to have 10 week boot camp. One of the first things your RDCs will say is Boot Camp is what you make it. I lived a unhealthy lifestyle and wasn’t in shape when I went. I figured I would enjoy myself before I went because when I went it would be game on. You have to have the right mindset going in, that’s your foundation. If you don’t believe in yourself and they will test you, then some recruits will try and go LD or SIQ. There are exceptions of course like if you need your wisdom teeth removed you will get a some time SIQ. Then your right back at it. Point is that everybody is different and when you are there you learn to work as one and bring what you have to offer to make sure we all succeed because One Team One Fight. We had some recruits who were aiming to be special forces who could run a mile and a half in less then 8mins. They would hold them selfs back to do a 10 min run and would tell our division if you fall behind me then you failed the run. Which was for the youngest group of recruits standards. There is not many people if any at all who could pass boot camp by them self. You need help; everyone does, it’s a team. That’s just my experience.

Majority of the instructors seen in video are of the physic of those sent to "losing weight" program in Singapore NS.

I was stationed on MCBH for three years after being stationed at NAS Oceana for 7 years and I can definitely point out that there is a culture problem as far as PT when it comes down to the Navy vs the Marine Corps. You would see the MC squadrons up and out early everyday doing command PT or having workout equipment somewhere in or around their hangers. While the Navy has a culture of you know when the PRT is so you find time on your time off to go PT and make sure you’re ready for the PRT. You also see the culture difference between the shipboard Navy vs Naval Aviation. In a Navy squadron it’s so fast paced that you barely have time to even take a chow break and after your 10-16(if you’re one of the people who often stays late just to stay afloat with the workload) hour shift not including watches most sailors the last thing on their minds is going to the gym. While shipboard life because TF else you’re going to do when you get off of work the gym is always open and only a few frames down from where you work and sleep. Also when you’re on the ship unless you have a sucky rate you always have time to go to chow so you’re able to opt out of going to chow and instead spend that 40-60 minutes at the gym and swing by the galley grab some granola bars and eat that in your shop. Not saying the Navy should allow time during the shift just for PT but the Navy needs to find a way to change the culture of PT. If not that’s the product you’re going to get.

I went through Amry BCT 2 years ago now and I prepped for this to be the most difficult thing I would ever do in my life and by the end of it, I walked away feeling like I was robbed of a proper BCT experience. At no point was I physically challenged by the things we did, and would end up working out on my own time just to get a proper soreness in my body. The lack of sleep and fire guard was probably the most difficult since I get grumpy without sleep and didn't have ciggs to help.

1:34 left bootcamp then put 14 people in the forever box

Parris Island '92. Had a dude in our platoon who was hardcore. Had a fractured foot for almost a week before he went to sick call and got dropped to medical platoon. And that was just because the SDI saw his black and blue foot standing online during morning count off.

I did Navy bootcamp in 2001. It got me prepared for what was to come. I never stepped foot on a ship in 6 years of service. I was in a all male division in bootcamp. Also apart of a group that was going into more elite training schools. I was supposed to be a Aviation warfare specialist/ Rescue Swimmer. So I was given the opportunity to go and challenge myself further by training with the guys going into similar fields of work. Rescue Swimmer school didn't work out due to injury. So had to reclass and pick a new job. I chose Corpsman. I then went on to be a FMF Corpsman. Did my last duty station in Great Lakes working as a EMT for bootcamp and all the surrounding base training areas. I got to see the Uss Cole battlestations area that Disney built. So I could be familiar with to extract any possible real time emergencies. I enjoy watching your videos.

One positive thing they could add for the Navy is to bring back the Red Line Brigs operated through the courtesy of the USMC. In my day just the threat of being sent to a Marine Brig, was enough to square a sailor away.