Not really sure what thread subject this would fit under so I’ll just put it here. Mods feel free to move it to the appropriate section.
Basically as the title states, Im leaving for Paris Island, SC in 10 days. I’ve asked my recruiter for tips, advice, etc but he seems to keep avoiding the questions.
So I’m asking active, retired, reservists, etc. for any advice that might make my experience a bit easier.
Thanks in advance,
David
Future 1345
Sleep on the plane. Or other form of transport because you won’t sleep for 3 days when you get there.
When you get to your squad bay, grab a bottom rack in the middle. You’ll usually have first of last firewatch at that point. Get a fit and motivated rack mate.
Don’t loose any of the shit they give you, and make sure your boots fit. Seriously
Have your family standby with cough drops, lots of them. And vitamin c halls, your going to catch some kind of awful
Sickness. I had nemomia. People from all over the county getting together in a small area is asking for trouble.
Memorize your goddam social!
Memorize your sentry orders. When you get there try to memorize your chain of command ASAP. Also rank structure.
Grab as much peanut butter as you can at the chow hall. It’s like the only protein you’ll get. I went there doing 20 Pull ups and left doing 10. Muscle loss.
In the next ten days prepare to see a lot of weak minded 'children". They quite or breakdown. Your going to know no one and no one will be looking out for your best interests.
It gets better, in like a week or so. If I remember correctly. 
I missed it once it was over.
Also print out a training sched and have your family mail it to you. That helps keep your mental sanity.
For G-ds sake drink water all the dam time. All the time. They’ll tell you that but it wont sink in until you realize you screwed up. I was dehydrated and so ridiculously sore the first time we got smoked I had to have to other recruits put me in the rack and help get my pack on because I couldn’t lift my arms.
Good luck. Semper Fi
Switch to infantry if you can. Pm me if you have anymore questions.
I went not knowing shit and it sucked.
One more thing.
F*ck recruiters, mine tried to bang my wife when I left.
He was also banging high school girls while his wife was in SC.
He doesn’t want to give you advice probably because a lot of people bail last min when they find out its not summer camp.
Thats what I figured. But shit, I grew up with my mom, there’s not much they can do at bootcamp that could be worse. :sarcastic:
Be the grey man.
Shut the fuck up and do what you are told.
Remember that it will be over soon, give it all you have to give, and you’ll be fine.
Your recruiter got you to sign the contract so he doesn’t care about you anymore. He’s focused on reaching his quota for the month. Don’t worry about it though, just stay focused.
Everything your DIs tell you to do and teach you is for a reason. So put in 100%.
GO!!! Front!!! GO!!! Back!!! GO!!!
Get in the Whiskey Locker!!!
These words will have new meanings for you in a few weeks…
S/F
B
Don’t be first. Or last. It’s all mental.
What battalion are you going to?
Good luck!
How’s he supposed to know what battalion he’s going to if his recruiter won’t help him?
I have no idea. I asked him and he said “he’d get back to me”.
Thanks again for all the advice everyone.
they can’t kill me,can they?,at least thats what i kept thinking when i went in back in 1974.I went in"guaranteed infantry".Don’t puss out on anything.good luck.
Get your bathroom schedule situated for night there’s
Really no better time to do your business while there.
Watch for fire ant mounds this time of year.
Memorize your general orders. let the idiots make themselves
Obvious. Stay Away from them, they will get special attention.
Everything else has more or less been said. Good luck
Stay hydrated this time of year. Bugs are gonna be eating you up.
They can do many things to you, but they cannot stop time.
Remember that every single thing they do has a reason. You may not be able to figure it out, but it’s for a reason.
Nothing is personal, so do not take it personally.
And above all, thank you for serving your country. The pride and lessons you will earn - no one can ever take them away from you.
Do NOT scratch your sand-flea bites!
Don’t scare the poor guy!
Enjoy the easiest 3 months of the next 4 years
Sandfleas are going to be the bain of your existance while doing drill on the parade deck, so when you first go get all of your items at the PX get bug juice, Off Lotion I think it was. Keep it with you all the time.
Hoard shit paper as my Company never seemed to have any.
Keep your feet in the best condition you can as you will be on them for most of the day. My feet didn’t get feeling back in them until SOI. Keep any booboo you get clean, there is always a recruit or two that get a nasty infection and you could get dropped to another cycle which will suck.
Don’t be first, don’t be last, don’t volunteer, and always look busy, especially if you’re not. Like F2S said, you want to be the grey man. Good luck!
You’ll learn a lot of acronyms. The most important one is S.K.A.T.E. :dirol:
S= Seek Cover
K= Keep Quiet
A= Act Busy
T= Take it,
E= Easy
Tell your DIs you know that one already and you’ll be on the fast track to a perfect PFT!
Do everything above. You’ll know in the end you were successful when you go to thank one of your DI’s on Graduation Day and he can’t even remember your name. Mine didn’t even act like he recognized me. So it works.
This, a million times. Especially the pneumonia/awful sickness part. They refer to it as “recruit crud”; in reality it’s colds, sinus infections, and whatever else people showed up with. I managed to get lucky and catch the pneumonia, and it didn’t completely go away until around the 7th week.
I couldn’t feel my legs after the first two humps and it was because I was dehydrated.
I don’t know shit about the sand fleas (I went to MCRD San Diego) but it is generally good practice to not scratch (or touch, for that matter) your face. Ever. Doesn’t matter if you think nobody’s watching; DIs tend to have an ability to be places you don’t expect them to be. Also, pinkeye goes around in boot.
Don’t leave your footlocker unlocked unless you like picking your shit up after it’s been dumped all over the place. Don’t try to be smart and put in the combination beforehand either.
Good luck.