Preparing for Marine Basic Training

Article by William Gabriel

Becoming a Marine isn’t easy. Basic training is a grueling experience that will have you exhausted in no time. If you are thinking about joining the Marines, it’s not a good idea to wait to begin training at boot camp. You need to prepare well ahead of Basic Training if you’re going to see it through to the end. There is nothing relaxed or easy about Basic Training.

When you begin training at home, start slowly. If you try a typical Marine Corp exercise routine you will only end up physically exhausted and mentally defeated. Set goals and progress steadily over time. Go shorter distances, do fewer reps, and use lighter weights to begin with. You should expect to take physical tests during your training, so it’s important to get a jump on the game before you arrive.

Start your routines early and do it often. Training just once or twice a week is not going to cut it at basic training. The better prepared you are ahead of time, the more likely you are to pass through training successfully. If you aren’t used to getting up early, it’s time to set that alarm. In the Marines you won’t have time to dawdle around, read the morning paper, and drink a couple cups of coffee to get you going. Train your body to wake up early and get moving immediately. Your body will thank you for it later.

Run, run, run. You should practice running for time and for distance. If you need to start out slow, run for very short distances at first—say, a half mile or mile for the first week or so. Then gradually increase your distance. The longer you run, the more you will notice that your time on standard distances improves. The key is to build up your muscular, cardiovascular, and respiratory endurance. If you can, work until you can run a mile in eight minutes or less. If you smoke, now is the time to quit. You are going to be running almost every day in Basic Training.

If you know self defense or have practiced self defense tactics in the past, brush up on it now. Martial arts and self defense moves are related to the combat training you will receive as a Marine. No doubt you will learn something very new and very different, but you will prepare yourself by developing your agility and flexibility.

Finally, learn to pay attention to the little details. Part of your Marine Corp training will include very tedious cleaning tasks. You will be expected to be meticulous about everything from your boots, to your bed, and your clothes. Everything you have will need to be neat and orderly, so if you’ve got bad habits, it’s time to change them. When you clean your room or your car, be meticulous. Try to keep in mind the expectations of a Marine in everything you do and deliberately set out to uphold those standards.

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