The Marine Corps Birthday

We are only 12 days away from celebrating the 235th birthday of the United States Marine Corps - OOORAH! If you plan on attending the Marine Corps Ball and have not bought tickets you may be to late but there is always hope that your unit has made allowances for late comers. For information on The Marine Corps Birthday, the Marine Corps Ball, etiquette and how to purchase tickets visit: The Marine Corps Birthday

While Waiting Your Turn at Recruit Training ...

Since your wait to enter Marine Recruit Training could be as long as 9 month from your enlistment you should make good use of that time by making sure you can easily pass the Marine Corps PFT.

The minimum fitness standards, IST (Initial Strength Test) to enlist remains the same as in past years:  2 pull-ups (from a dead hang), 44 crunches in 2 mins and a 1 1/2 mile run in 13 1/2 minutes. But at pool sessions, enlistees are now warned that unless they can do considerably better, they may not be able to keep up with other recruits.  So you might want to make sure you are in top shape (hard as a rock with stamina to spare) if your goal is to become platoon honor man.

I would suggest that you be able to MAX the PFT from the start of your training. That means 20 pull-ups from a dead hang, 100 crunches in 2 minutes and finishing 3 miles in 18 minutes. But there is a lot more you NEED to know to excell during Marine recruit training and here's where to get the edge you need.

For more info visit: Marine Corps Recruit Training

In fact if you have goals of entering special units such as MARSOC , Force Recon and Scout Sniper Teams, you MUST qualify with a 1st Class PFT and Swim. You also must qualify EXPERT on the rifle range. So with that in mind you should take the necessary steps NOW to insure your success when you arrive at MCRD (Marine Corps Recruit Depot).

2 Marines Fishing

Sgt. Earl and L/cpl Bubba are quietly sitting in a boat fishing, chewing tobacco and drinking beer when suddenly Bubba says, "Think I'm gonna divorce the wife - she ain't spoke to me in over 2 months."

Earl spits overboard, takes a long, slow sip of beer and says, "Better think it over.............women like that ...are hard to find."

Beirut Bombing Remembrance Ceremony

On October 23, 1983, in Beirut, Lebanon suicide bombers detonated two truck bombs, one striking the barracks housing U.S. Marines and the other a barracks housing French paratroopers.

The attack on the Marine Barracks was devastating with the death toll at 241 American servicemen: 220 Marines, 18 Navy personnel and 3 Army soldiers, along with sixty Americans injured, representing the deadliest single-day death toll for the Marine Corps since the Battle of Iwo Jima during WWII.

Pfc. Christofer Baines covered the Beirut remembrance ceremony in Arlington National Cemetery and his thoughts can be read here: A Brush with History

Amos Takes Command of The Corps

Gen. Jim Amos took command of the United States Marine Corps on Friday, becoming the 35th commandant in the service’s 235-year history. After taking the colors from outgoing commandant Gen. James Conway, Amos’ first pronouncement reflected the electricity in the air and the chorus of “oorahs” ringing out from the stands. Read the whole story here: Amos takes command of the Corps

The Corps May Have a New Toy - The M27

From what I understand the Corps has been testing a variant of Heckler & Koch’s HK416, called the M27 and is contemplating the new weapon as a replacement for the M249 or SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon) which in my personal opinion isn't a good move because ...

The M27, with a normal 30 round mag (50 and 100 rnds avail), doesn't have near the fire power capability as the M249 with its 200 round drum of belted ammo. The M27 is a more likely replacement for the M16 or M4. It is a damn fine looking weapon and if it is anything like a shortened HK 92 it is most definitely a fine weapon. You can read more about the possible integration of the M27 as an IAR (Infantry Automatic Rifle) here: Marine Corps Times

Marine Corps Enlistment

Marine Corps Enlistment should not be taken lightly because enlisting in the United States Marine Corps is a life changing decision. In fact, it could lead to early death and that is one thing you need to come to grips with before you join the Marine Corps. Read more here: Marine Corps Enlistment

If you are thinking of joining the Marine Corps you may have to wait for your turn at Marine Corps Boot Camp simply because there is a line miles long. Young men are enlisting in the Corps at a rapid rate. They all want a chance to prove themselves worthy of wearing the Eagle, Globe and Anchor. And it's no surprise. Earning the Eagle, Globe and Anchor along with the honor of being called a Marine is not easy.

Waiting List For Marines Boot Camp

For almost a century young men have been going to San Diego or Parris Island for Marines Boot Camp to see whether or not they can pass the test, prove worth and tough enough to earn the Eagle, Globe and Anchor and the title Marine. Young men west of the Mississippi River enter training at MCRD San Diego while men east of the Mississippi and all women enjoy their basic training at Parris Island. However ...

Eventhough our country is at war; according to the Los Angeles Times the line is long and there is an actual waiting list to enter Marines Boot Camp. If you enlist in the Corps today your wait could be as long as 9 months to begin recruit training and that may be a good thing considering so many young men decide to join on the spur of the moment without thinking about what exactly they are jumping into. A long wait for an intense experience

If you are serious about joining the Marine Corps and becoming one of the finest warriors on earth you may want to prepare for boot camp because it isn't easy to become a Marine. You can use the information, tips and strategies taught in Prepare for Boot Camp to actually prepare for your time in Marines Boot Camp.