Learn to keep your Hair in perfect Bun or french braid if it is long enough- Don’t cut your hair before you go Short hair is the worst thing you can do while in training. (I wish I knew that before I went)
They will teach you some hair styles after you get there but it is better if you already know some. Make sure you can’t see any pins or rubber bands.
The best hairstyle is Sock-in-a-Bun it will stay there till you take it out.

I don’t know if the marines call it a “smart book” or not, but they are certain to have a manual which has the standards for the various tasks you’ll need to know as a marine. You can start studying this now. Anything you do on this level will help get you into leadership positions in basic and increase your chance for an early promotion. Don’t use it so much as a way to show off, but to help the other recruits. It’ll get you your brownie points without spotlighting you as a showoff.

If and only if you know someone that can teach you firearms well, go to the range and learn. Preferably a marine vet. If you don’t know one, don’t try it on your own. You’ll be better off knowing nothing about firearms than having be untaught bad habits.

Good Luck and good training, maggot. (never take anything personal) You have a great attitude already and I’m sure you’ll do well.

The Initial Strength Test (IST) for Recruits

If you are thinking about joining the USMC, you will have to pass the IST (Initial Strength Test). The IST is a shortened version of the USMC PFT. A recruit only has to do pull-ups, sit-ups, and a 1.5 mile run. The minimum standards for passing the Initial Strength Test are as follows

Male
2 Pull Ups
35 Sit Ups (2 minutes)
1.5 Mile Run – 13:30

Female
Flexed Arm Hang – 12 seconds
35 Sit Ups (2 Minutes)
1 Mile Run – 10:30

(Keep in mind that attending Boot Camp or any USMC training with only minimum standards will not serve you well to be a top performer. In fact, below average minimum standards create more problems for you with injuries, remedial PT/running programs, and distract you from learning your true job — being a Marine.):

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The USMC Physical Fitness Test (PFT)
Male Marines will perform “dead-hang” pull-ups, abdominal crunches, and a 3.0-mile run. Female Marines will complete the “flexed-arm” hang, abdominal crunches, and a 3.0 – mile run with a pull-up option.
Check out this USMC PFT grading chart to figure out where your fitness level stands compared to a U.S. Marine.

In order to pass the semi-annual fitness test, Marines must perform the minimum acceptable performance requirements. Additionally, they must have enough overall points to meet the 3rd class fitness requirements. See this chart for all the requirements.

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USMC is a challenging profession and more information can be found at the Military.com Article Archive. For more specific info on the USMC PFT read the following related articles:

Physical Fitness Test Anxiety

Taper Before You Test

One Month From PFT – Help!

PFT: Train for the Transition

The Stretching Plan

Tips for Better Pullups

Pull-up Alternatives

Pullup-Push Workout

Pyramid PT

The Proper Technique for Curl Ups

Running Even Faster

Take 2:00 Off Your PFT Mile

Passing Military Swimming Tests

Free Three Mile Run Workout Plan:

Also: is a good source of information on how to plan.
is also another since this information comes from the Recruit Depot in San Diego.

Top 10 Things to Expect When Preparing for Boot Camp

10. Expect to get sick

It’s inevitable. Just about everyone gets sick at basic training. Whether it’s a head cold or a sore throat, you will most likely not be at your physical best in boot camp. Basic training is too crowded and too fast paced for your body to get enough rest. Your body will be stressed for a long period of time, thus causing your immune system to break down. I personally had such a bad sore throat at boot camp; I was unable to swallow sometimes when I woke up. Further aggravating the sore throat was the Drill Sergeants relentless obsession with having their recruits yell everything they say at the top of their lungs. To reduce your chances of getting sick, drink lots of water and always wash your hands before you eat. Often you will be eating in the field, so always carry a wet nap in your pocket.

9. Expect homesickness

Everyone at basic training is missing his or her loved ones. Keep reminding yourself basic training is only a couple months long. Bring a few wallet-sized pictures with you and a notebook. To ease the homesickness, write letters often and encourage letters in return.

8. Expect the worse

Every year Company A gave a $500 bonus to each of their employees. Jerry never expected any bonus and Randy counted on that $500 bonus as a part of his salary. This year, Company A had an unprofitable year so they gave their employees $250 each. Jerry was very excited and Randy was very upset. The point of this story is that Jerry expected the worse, which was no bonus, so he was happier in the end. Basic training is the same way. Maybe you will be awarded a 2-hour pass, so you can go see a movie. Don’t count on using that pass until you’re at the movies, chances are your Drill Sergeants will revoke that pass because of someone else’s poor performance.

7. Expect drama

The Drill Sergeants will make a big deal about everything. You need to be punctual, fast, efficient, etc. To add to that drama you will be surrounded by scores of stressed recruits. Some of these recruits won’t deal with the stress well. Observe how your fellow recruits deal with stress, you don’t want to push one of them over the edge by saying the wrong thing.

6. Expect friendship and enemies

Upon graduating basic training, it will be scary how well you know your fellow recruits. Most of them you will like, but I guarantee you there will always be one or two you wish you never met. You will need to rely on your fellow recruits often in basic training, so be as polite and helpful as you can.

5. Expect long days and short nights

Your Drill Sergeant will have every second of every day planned. Expect long days with little sleep. Prepare for this circumstance before you leave for basic training. Spend the week before you depart for basic training waking up early (about 4:30am). I know it sounds like a lot of work, but if your not a morning person this exercise will help tremendously.

4. Expect stress

I touched upon this subject in number 7. Your body will be under physical and mental stress the entire duration of basic training. To combat this stress I suggest you prepare for basic training. It’s amazing how much you can actually learn about basic training before ever seeing a Drill Sergeant. I might be bias, but reading The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook is the best preparation you can do. In the 6 short months it was published, it has become a best seller, for a reason.

3. Expect mistakes and failures

Let me tell you this right now, you will fail. If you don’t personally fail a task, your fellow recruit will and that means you fail too. Always try your hardest but don’t be upset at someone because they aren’t as fast or as smart as you. Everyone has his or her strengths and weaknesses. Basic training is designed for you to know what failing feels like so you can form trust in your fellow recruits.

2. Expect the unexpected

Strange things happen at basic training. Some recruits can’t handle the stress, some recruits try to get away with too much, and some recruits just like negative attention. Whatever the case, be prepared to wake up in the middle of the night and do push-ups in the mud because a Drill Sergeant found a candy bar in someone’s locker. It’s going to happen. The night before graduation, a fellow recruit put shaving cream in my battle buddies mouth as a joke. It wasn’t so funny 20 minutes later when all 200 recruits were doing push ups in the snow at 3:30 in the morning.

1. Expect to be deployed

This is the number one question I get e-mailed. “SGT Volkin, my recruiter said if I sign up for [insert MOS here] that I wont get deployed, is that true?” My answer is always the same. “Dear so and so, thanks for

Good Luck and Thank you for choosing to defend our Nation.

For physical training:

1. Do some pushups or situps build muscle, or go to the gym and hire a personal trainer.
2. Do core workouts (endurance), do supermans, and endurance workouts
3. Run 5+ miles each day increasing it by one mile everyday.
4. Drink water
5. Don’t overwork youself.

Mentally:

1. You will get screamed at and get waken up real real real early in the morning, usually earlier than you are used to. Try and wake yourself up each day at around 3AM (mountain standard time) each day. even if the marines wake you up later, you still have the energy to wake up.

2. You will get shouted at personally, and have constructive (very) critisism by your peers and your seargants. This is to shape you into discipline because the Marines don’t take in traitors or cowards.

3. Get someone to wake you up at 3 am (moutain standard time) by shouting. If you get mad at them, the should tell you how thats going to be in bootcamp.

4. Get a personal trainer to act like a drill seargant when you are working out in the gym.

Emotionally:

1. HOLD BACK TEARS, never ever cry; the marines accept the strong.

Good luck! and thank you for defending our country!