Alright, here is the deal, I was planning on joining the Marine Reserves and my ship date was going to be around early October. Two days ago I received a call from my recruiter saying a reserve infantry job has just opened up and I'll be able to leave for boot camp in early June. (Right around the corner)

The dilemma here is that I don't know if I'm physically or mentally ready to go just yet. I met with my recruiter today down the track and my PT Test goes as the following: 18 pullups (on field goal post), 100 sit-ups, 12 minute 1 1/2 mile run. The recruiter did say I fared pretty well and that it is tough for someone my size to have a real good run time. I'm 5'11 and weigh 200-205lbs so I'm carrying a decent amount of weight around. My estimated 3 mile would be around 25 to 26 minutes right now and according to the USMC PFT Calculator, http://usmc.pftcalculator.com/ , my score is anywhere from 248-242, both a PFT 1st class. That surprised me a lot considering how my run time wasn't very well, I guess the pullups and situps made up for a lot of that.

Now mentally I'm sure there is nothing you can do to fully prepare yourself for boot but I've been waking up earlier than normal and studying what I need to know. So far I know/remember the: enlisted ranks, 11 general orders of a sentry, definitions of honor, courage and, commitment, first 3 Code of Conducts, first verse of Marine Corps hymn, and most of the military alphabet. So I do know a decent amount but obviously have a lot more to study.

The thing is that I was preparing and focusing on October for me to leave and then all of a sudden a job opens up for June. So I was kind of caught of guard and really wasn't sure if I should go or not, even though my recruiter says I should be fine and I'm ready to go. The good thing about going in June is that I won't miss a whole year of college, I would only miss one semester. Also though I would have less time to prepare. For October I would have more time to prepare but I would miss a whole year of college. What do you think I should do or what advice would you give me?

Thanks. (Sorry for the long post)

You are prepared. Just go. There are people who were less prepared than you who went and came out as the Honor Grad.

When my recruiter called and told me I had gotten my waiver, I left three weeks later.

Plans change in the Marine Corps all the time. You might as well get used to it.

Uhh 5'11 200 pounds isn't really that big. You can do 18 pullups so I imagine that your not carrying all that in flab. Its not unusual to lose 20+ pounds during bootcamp. Its also not unusual to shave 4 or 5 minutes off your run time. Boot camps not physical, its mental. A couple more months isn't gonna change anything upstairs.

technically you are a few pounds overweight, but it sounds like you're prepared physically. you can easily lose that in a few weeks.

run more and lift a little less and the run time will go up and the weight will go down.

Ignoranceisbliss is right in that you will probably shave 4-5 minutes off your run time. you can make that your goal.

based on what you are doing now, if you cut that run time down to 20-21 min, don't be surprised if you become a squad leader. (leading by example)

be prepared for to be unprepared. it's a mental and emotional challenge. it's only challenging physically if you are way out of shape. (or if you have to push because of others mistakes)

good luck.

GO!

quote:

Originally posted by Ignoranceisbliss:
Uhh 5'11 200 pounds isn't really that big. You can do 18 pullups so I imagine that your not carrying all that in flab. Its not unusual to lose 20+ pounds during bootcamp. Its also not unusual to shave 4 or 5 minutes off your run time. Boot camps not physical, its mental. A couple more months isn't gonna change anything upstairs.

Yeah it is mostly muscle, though I will admit I am carrying some fat on me, especially around the midsection. But like you said I'll most likely lose a lot of weight in boot camp, both fat and muscle.

quote:

Originally posted by Caesar08:
technically you are a few pounds overweight, but it sounds like you're prepared physically. you can easily lose that in a few weeks.

run more and lift a little less and the run time will go up and the weight will go down.

That is what I just started doing, I've been lifting 3x a week and running 4x a week. If I'm going to ship in early June then I'll probably cut out weights all together for the last few weeks and just focus on endurance running, sprints, situps and pullups.

Ignoranceisbliss is right in that you will probably shave 4-5 minutes off your run time. you can make that your goal.

based on what you are doing now, if you cut that run time down to 20-21 min, don't be surprised if you become a squad leader. (leading by example)

Thanks for confidence boost but I know I'll have to earn that. Definitely motivation right there though.

be prepared for to be unprepared. it's a mental and emotional challenge. it's only challenging physically if you are way out of shape. (or if you have to push because of others mistakes)

good luck.

Once again thanks for all the advice and help. I think I am leaning towards June to ship to boot camp.

Go!

When I and many others went there was no preparation. We had no knowledge of what we were going into except whatever it took to become a Marine. We became Marines.

You and every wannabe who comes here can too.

Come back as a Marine.

Thanks again everyone. I just talked to my recruiter and the reserve infantry job was taken just like that. But he had some good news and that was that I can be on "call". Not completely sure how that works but he said as soon as the Marines need a reserve infantry job then I go. He said it can be as early as June or as late as October. I am hoping for June. Can anyone else further explain to me how "call" works? Do you sign all your papers, take the oath, and then just wait? Or does it work differently than that?

Thanks.

I just got back from taking my ASVAB and scored a 64 and got a 105 on my GT. My recruiter said that is pretty good score and the GT would qualify me for Recon, that is if I make it past boot, SOI, and then can get into Recon.

Tomorrow I will be going down to take my physical, sign to get in the Delayed Entry Program, and take the oath. I just have a couple questions regarding tomorrow. So you do have to sign a contract in order to be in the DEP? Even though I am not signing my contract because no jobs are available at the time, does it make sense that I'll be taking my oath tomorrow?

I just want to make sure I'm not doing anything to soon or will be signing something I am unsure of or that gets me locked in. My recruiter said I will not officially be in the Marines until I sign my contract before boot. Correct?

Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by KoScooze47:
My recruiter said I will not officially be in the Marines until I sign my contract before boot. Correct?

You wont officially be in the Marines until you've graduated Boot Camp.

I wont go as far as HollywoodMarine said said; you'll technically be in the Marines (just for pay purposes), but not a Marine...you'll basically be a grabastic piece of amphibian shit until you rate to be called Marine......which is upon completion of boot camp like HollywoodMarine said.

quote:

that is pretty good score and the GT would qualify me for Recon

There are no reserve Recon units in your area.

quote:

Originally posted by DeepRecon:There are no reserve Recon units in your area.

Yes, Sir. The only Reserve Recon Unit I know of is in Texas, Correct? Sorry, I should have mentioned that I was only referring to the possibilities of Recon if I go active.

Yesterday was a long day, it was the day I took my physical, signed contract to get into DEP, and took the Oath. Everything went well and I passed everything, though we did have someone pass out from giving blood. lol Now I am officially in the DEP and will be meeting more often with my recruiters for PT.

Ahh the wonderful day of MEPs.

What Contract did you sign? Hopefully not an Open contract.

quote:

Originally posted by 16100572:
Ahh the wonderful day of MEPs.

What Contract did you sign? Hopefully not an Open contract.

No Sir, I signed for Marine Reserve 0311, 6 years reserve active, 2 years inactive reserves (?) and my ship date as of now is October 13, 2008. Hopefully October can change to sometime during the summer so I do not miss a whole year of college. Also as of now I'll be entering into boot as a Private but I have completed a whole year of college and have 26 credits. So hopefully soon I can get my official transcript to my Recruiter to earn a PFC for during boot camp. It is I believe about 200 extra dollars a month and I'll be six months ahead of other recruits, as I was told.

It has only been a few days and I am already wanting to go to boot really bad so I can become a United States Marine. I'm not sure if I can wait till October 13 and who knows if a job will open before then. I've been thinking about switching to active and I figure college will always be there for me after I serve 4 years or whatever it may be. I just keep picturing in my head the day of graduation, me in a USMC uniform, and nothing else makes me happier.