The First Four Hours 

I think we can all agree with you there! Have a meritorious day! Respectfully, LCpl Dakota Dodd Communication Strategy and Operations

I remember being stressed and unable to process things for a min. Until they took us to the red room and told us our platoon number 3269 and everyone kept whispering to each other trying to joke about the fact that 69 was in our platoon number

Bro seriously I couldn't have said it better myself

I looked at the guy across from me in the squad bay. He somehow got a watch past the DI's. I asked him what time it was. He said 4. 4pm?.....no, 4 am the next day. I knew I was in trouble then. Semper fi Marines!

In 75 we were in those old barracks @ P.I. I remember it well. One guy had an electric Razor & all kinds of shaving lotions & extra clothes. The DI got up on the table & kicked his shit about 50ft across the room & asked the guy if he was a traveling vagabond. Guys were falling asleep standing up. And the mess hall,cold eggs & warm bug juice. Strange looking place too. Ooh rah

cant wait. just wish me luck, im 9 lbs under

I remember stepping foot on parris island. I was like "I don't believe it, I'm here, I'm actually on the island. Holy fuck!" And it was all fast paced, so you had no time to think about anything, just keep on moving. And it would be that way for 3 months.

@@thelegendaryt-rex4763 I know right. 😂

@@QuantikoOfficial eat lots of hamburgers

Yeah, that first night in the squad bay I was just like "holy shit...this is real".

Your son will be fine. It's not the same old school days anymore where they could smash your nose in. There are a lot more rules in play for recruits well being. Not saying shit doesn't sometimes happen like getting slapped or having your hands stepped on while in the pits. But your son will come out a man. Just don't call him a Solider should he graduate Paris Island. Fastest way to piss a Marine off.

Im sure your sons doing a fine job. Don’t worry, I’m enlisting soon aswell so don’t worry, he’s only gonna come home better and stronger. Best regards.

@@thecrusher8153 Thank you 🙏🏼 and good luck 🍀

Boy will be fine

its getting hotter now so you dont need to worry about the temperatures freezing him just the heat now! and the sand fleas!

Thank you, Im heading out next year.

Thank you for this I head out tomorrow

I head out June 5th.

Fellow USMC Vet here. Been out for 16 years and about to go back in to either the Army or Navy. Really kicking myself now for not re-enlisting or going reserves earlier and I'm glad I realized there are options available to me before I reach the age cutoff. Those years fly by!

Thank you, I head out in a few months.

Yea well today the military is like summer camp, hate to see them go, but with phone calls, girls in the ranks, trans genders and juice boxes how hard can it really be, not I bet.

2/3s the way through now. How's he doing?

@@beepboopbeep5456 Great I bet I see one above talking on a phone, never saw one of them when I was in. Today the military is like summer camp, they even have girls, and guy/girls or the other way around that want to touch you in that special way. I remember when they shipped us off to the Nam, they told us that it was going to be tough, if it wasn't they would have sent the girls. Imagine them saying that today. So how hard can it be?

My son left 3 days ago, haven’t heard from him yet

@@tiffanycunningham7735 Oh no, my dad left for WWII and my grandparents didn't hear from him for months. Me during VietNam a really long time. I am sure he is just fine, no wars, a military under the control of that able bodied Commander in Chief Joe Biden, what could go wrong.

Masters degree? are you commissioning as an officer?

@@harleywyatt5545 No, I’m enlisting as an E-3.

@@harleywyatt5545 its a rough economy

Did you eat at Shoney's before arriving? I remember our driver stopped there for our last civilian meal before he took us on base.

😂😂😂

😂😂😂

😂

The west coast may be the best coast, but the east coast is definitely the beast coast! Semper Fidelis, Lance Cpl. Dakota Dodd Communication Strategy and Operations

Our bus trip literally was hours from the airport in San Diego. Some lance corporal picked us up at the airport and said ok get on the bus and then the bus broke down 🙄 so we all got out and sat around on the side of the road and waited for a long time for another bus to come get us.I kept thinking to myself this must be some kind fuck game they're playing.They never made us ride with our heads down though

I was told they deliberately drive you around in circles to disorient

​@@MCRDPIand doing gaurd duty around first btn barracks at PI was scarey,those swamps were right there & I seen some big raccoons at night.

They do that to confuse you and you don't know their way out. Same as Parris Island.

I went through in 2003 (plt 1080) and I had a pretty good idea of what to expect thanks to my recruiter, some events I attended, and some videos I watched back then. I honestly find these RU-vid videos a bit sanitized for the public. It was significantly more intense in person and there are things that happen when the cameras aren't around. I'll never forget my senior DI's reaction when one guy ended up with brass on him during the rifle range when we undressed for the night. First and only time in my life I saw someone get the shit beat out of them in their underwear.

22, working in construction, and when I was 16 or 17 videos like this hyped me up. I still think of enlisting, I was weaker back then, and I wanted to be In shape before I joined. A previous trip with ROTC made me realize that my mind was cut out for it, however my body wasn't. However if I want to join now, my body is in the perfect condition to get broken down and rebuilt. The only thing I was bad at was remembering general orders. And I feel like those are to important to forget. Except the 11th or 12th, dont leave your post unless told to. (And thats not even the actual wording, that might not even be it.)

@@FezMooseLiveare you going to join

I feel you my son left last night I miss him like crazy

@@vrl4355 it’s not a easy three months,at all… but when it’s over and you see him it’s the most rewarding experience you will ever go through.

@@Ladydreadscreationsdid your son say it was as bad as he thought it was going to be or worse? I am going in September and I’m nervous

@@user-wr1wu4ek6d He said at first it’s difficult getting used to everything but he said after like two weeks it was fine. He did miss not having a phone and music. He said the crucible was easy except the hike back, that was the hardest part. He loves being a marine and so will you! You will do excellently just like my son did! Good luck to you! Wishing all the best!

​@@user-wr1wu4ek6dSept isn't a bad time weather wise, I did June to Sept 21,1975, it was one hot summer. You'll be fine..

You are correct! I took that bus ride from the train station in Savannah in 1979, Aug and it took at least about 3-4 hours. At that time not much was around unlike at present, so it was pitch black the whole ride until arriving at the Receiving Barracks, which were the old WW2 wood barracks with the yellow footprints on the ground in front. Then sat waiting in a classroom in the same building to fill out paperwork and such. What a night and morning!

We rode down from Charleston airport,about 2 hrs or so.

And those huge silver pipes everywhere.. The sand fleas were horrible. One guy had to dig a 6' hole & bury one he killed!

I see you everywhere And I love it

Oohrah. I can’t wait to join man! 2 years left!!!

@@micahgotracksplays2875 thank you. If it's late 60s or 70s music, I'm there. Semper Fidelis from an old Marine Sergeant.

@@2ndmarinedivisionmilsim363 you know you can join at 17 yrs old, with parent or guardian consent and high school diploma. But High School graduation is the most important thing to do. After boot camp and your MOS school, start working on some college classes. This gives you promotion points. Stay safe and Semper Fi from an old Marine Sgt...OUT

Semper fi from a young child civilian

Go visit a VA hospital and see the results of lies and believing lies and tell me again how hard those 3 months were. You need to mature a bit more.

I am just stating what I know from when I was In boot camp and being pushed to the max, my bad if I offended anyone. I am mature thanks for the mean words but going through marine Corps boot camp is only a few that people can actually say they passed. Hey thanks for the mean words, I know what I went through and what it was like for me

@@kathypeacock8910 , *I SAID WHAT YOU SEE IN THE VA HOSPITALS IS A RESULT OF LIES!!! LIES YOU VERY PROBABLY BELIEVE RIGHT THIS VERY MINUTE!* Are you a coward? I met some veterans yesterday. The ones I spoke to were cowards. Very probably you are too. Would you like to take my coward test?

@@kathypeacock8910My daughter just joined and I’m super nervous, her first call home had me in tears, the yelling and screaming was so intense, I felt so bad for my baby, I got 3 months of not hearing her voice, only letters until she’s out 😢

@@shaybrown5289 yes look forward to the letters it’s intense for the first few weeks as they are on lock down and I didn’t call home because I didn’t want to make my parents cry. Each week will get a little better and if she speaks in 3rd person it’s normal. We where trained to speak that way and has to ask permission for everything! I was able to call home on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day but had 5 minutes to call. When you write bask encouragement is the key to her making it through! I got letters every day and each letter made me realize there is an end goal and that is graduation! I wish her luck and hope she does well if you need encouragement or advice I am always around!

Should have trained in martial arts as a kid. The Marines won't teach you how to fight-only to act with reckless abandon. Can't tell you how many time a phony-tough Marine took a swing...and a miss at someone with actual skills.

Well my daughter just joined and her first call home had me in tears, I couldn’t even hear her , the yelling and screaming was intense, it made me so nervous, I hope my baby is okay,

Right? That's one of those things that I took away from this? Where you get those??? Lol

Good luck shouldn't be to hard, your generation of Gers is so sensitive, that the DIs don't hit or yell at you. You even have trans genders and girls in your ranks, so again how hard can it be? My guess summer camp.

​@@vietnamvet4533 , And if he goes to some foreign country and ends up killing hundreds of innocent babies then maybe he might blow his brains out like many veterans are doing these days.

Your son's commander in chief is near completely senile. Why would your son want to join when the Commander in Chief is near completely senile? If your son were ordered to kill innocent children do you suppose he might do so?

I remember being locked up at attn for hours shouting General orders till we were hoarse.

I was there in Aug-Nov 1979 also. I was 2nd Bn (SECOND TO NO ONE) Delta Co Plt 2071 Graduated November Receiving was the worst. I think we were up for the first 48 hrs. The thing I remember the most was when we arrived at PI and saw the sentry’s with the silver helmets, I knew then we were in for some shit.

We flew up from Miami to Charleston on a L1011 Jumbo,the receiving DI came right up the steps & made his first impression. The bus ride down was interesting too.

Plt169 Sept 21,1975

update?? i’m going out sept 11th💪🏽

My son was not very kind to me 3:25 before he went to boot. He told his recruiters that I yell at him. When I got his call I felt a mixture of bemusement and love. He was going to learn something about yelling.

What happened?

Just the typical trying to work through chaos bit

i got sent home in febuary i plan on going back too soon

​@@antoniovaldes5390how do they treat you guys when you get sent back for a medical reason?

How did they treat you when you were sent home for medical reasons?

@@user-mu2mp8ll6c normal. i also wasn’t a day 0 drop out that wanted to go back home to mommy, lol.

You will fail

My nephew just left today. I’ve been praying all day long!!! I know he will do good, but reality really say in when he pulled off🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

What’s the update Philly Kiki???

How do you feel about killing innocent babies is what I would like to know?

Were you born in the United States?

Not often enough.

Now it’s been a year 3 months and 11 days that you’re in, how’s the fleet treating you so far? How was your first field day? Getting adjust to your new home for the next 3 years?

Ratio

🤣

Yep,the DI s weren't to happy after Nam, I went thru in 75. Summer

Are you a coward? I have a test. Let me know.

It is not hard to pull a trigger to kill an innocent human either such as has happened during the *PREEMPTIVE* invasion of Iraq. Do you know that four times as many veterans have committed suicide than died in battle in Afghanistan and Iraq???

@@dunexapa1016 I know the stats, but if you think it is easy to pull the trigger, well I guess you were never in the situation, and good for you that you weren't.

@@vietnamvet4533 Hello. I served U S. Army 67-70 and I was sent to Germany. I have never forgotten that for me to go to Germany, some other soldier went to Viet Nam. Perhaps it was you. I am glad you are familiar with the stats about suicide. I am sure many of the soldiers that went to Afghanistan and Iraq saw things they never saw before and perhaps did things they knew were wrong. Let's talk.

It was 12 weeks kid

Who said that?

When I was going through, we had a guy in processing who asked "Wait, it's not Marine Corpse?". He honestly thought "Corps" was pronounced like "Corpse". He was ridiculed relentlessly. I wasn't in his platoon so I don't know how he faired, but I suspect the DI's really liked him lol.

you make it?

@@Vadanovltch he’ll ya bro

Probably the loudest phone call they will ever receive. But hey, that's what the volume buttons are for! Semper Fidelis, LCpl. Dakota Dodd Communication Strategy and Operations

call your dog .

Yes actually you call your recruiter

I'm sure the Drill Instructor scared the recruit too! Semper Fidelis, Lance Cpl. Dakota Dodd Communication Strategy and Operations

Our Drill Instructors are eagerly awaiting your arrival! Semper Fidelis, Lance Cpl. Dakota Dodd Communication Strategy and Operations

It’s to see how you perform when told to do something

To watch you perform under pressure

Generally speaking, recruit training is supposed to create an environment of chaos and uncertainty so that recruits develop and become adjusted to situations similar to a battlefield. In battle, it will be loud, it will be hectic, and they need to develop skills for listening and executing without hesitation. There are countless moments where drill instructors speak more so in a manner you would understand (i.e. learning weapons systems, learning to drill, etc.), but those are not always the moments showcased. Without this "unintelligible manner" that you speak of, the intense environment that defines recruit training would be lost. This element of recruit training has existed since the beginning and still today ensures that we, as a recruit depot, produce Marines ready to answer their nation's call, at a moments notice. Semper Fidelis, Lance Cpl. Dakota Dodd Communication Strategy and Operations

@@MCRDPI Very cool....I wasn't expecting a reply from a legitimate marine. So, not only do I thank you for taking the time, but sincerely thank you for your service. Had I signed up for the service (which will be something I'll regret till the day I die), I would've picked the marines. I'm sure I wasn't the only one watching that wondering that very question. But I digress... So to a degree, I guess right, then. A big part of it is the shock value, and the "break down" period, and a part is to simulate the chaotic environment in War, and a small part I'm sure is just tradition. But, sitting in a room trying to figure out what items you need to keep in your wallet, and which to throw away, is hardly "combat simulation". The only thing stranger to me than having fundamental instructions, being screamed at you, in a seemingly completely unrelated environment, is that I've not every heard a marine (or any other branch for that matter) complain about it, or say they regretted enlisting, (at least not for that reason). So, what happens when they graduate? Obviously, the marines want their soldiers sharp, and combat ready. Does a 20yr-veteran, go up to a 10yr-marine and scream at the top of their lungs "WHERE'S A GOOD PLACE TO EAT AROUND HERE, YOU WORTHLESS F*CK!!!", or "Hey! CAN I BARROW A DOLLAR, MAGGOT!" just to make sure everyone stays mentally prepared for combat? Obviously, I'm being rhetorical, and facetious.... Thank you again for the reply. Semper Fi!

After graduation, the new Marines report to the School of Infantry where they are split between either Marine Combat Training Battalion (MCT) or Infantry Training Battalion (ITB), depending on their Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). Regardless, every Marine is first and foremost a rifleman, and training schools such as MCT and ITB allow all Marines to learn what that means and the fundamentals of Combat Training. From this point forward, Marines continuously train to ensure that we are the nation's 911 force in readiness. While it may not always be screaming, we do ensure we remain prepared for whatever happens next. Semper Fidelis, Lance Cpl. Dakota Dodd Communication Strategy and Operations

@@MCRDPI I was hoping you would've seen the humor in that comment. Sorry, couldn't resist. Better yet, you missed the perfect opportunity to beat me to the joke! You should've said "Lighten up Francis" 🤣. Now I'm showing my age. That said, that was actually, an interesting reply. So, to what degree does the marine choose their path? Is it totally reliant upon what's needed in the corp at the time? Or, the performance in the various skills throughout bootcamp? Or, do you let the marine decide then send him through some sort of qualification course, to see if he/she can qualify (i.e. Seal training, Hell Week, etc.). You hear a lot about people signing up, and then almost always taking a completely different path, for various reasons.... And, how does the corp advance the soldier through the ranks? Is that performance, or academic....both, perhaps? I would imagine a lot of marines sign up not knowing what they want to do. Thanks for the replies...very cool of you to take the time. Jokes are welcome!

It's shock and awe. Confusion and stress. Just like combat. They set you up for a fall. It has its purpose. They need to seperate the serious recruits from the ones that won't make it.

Now where is the fun in that? Semper Fidelis, Lance Cpl. Dakota Dodd Communication Strategy and Operations

No wonder I have gimpy ears 👂 at my age.

you’d be surprised how different boot camp makes you. i’m sure they made him into a Marine..