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).

Why Join the Marine Corps?

Why would any man or woman with good sense want to join the Marine Corps? Why go through the arduous rigors of Marine boot camp also known as Marine recruit training only to possibly be deployed to a combat zone and become a KIA (killed in action) or a disabled veteran?

There are many reasons men and women just like you, myself included, join the Marine Corps and to get some idea of the reasons why brave men and women join the Corps you can visit this site: Why Join The Marine Corps and if you have already enlisted and are wondering what is in store for you at Marine Corps Boot Camp you can visit this site for answers: Marine Corps Recruit Training

Marines Modify Rifle Qual

It seems that many things have changed since I enjoyed my time in Marine recruit training and was on active duty. One of those changes has to do with the rifle range and qualification. You can read this forum post from Leatherneck -> Marines Modify Rifle Qual

On your way to Marine Corps Recruit Training? If you are you are going to need an edge. It's no Sunday church picnic and if you know what's instore and how to adapt, improvise and overcome you too will be able to join America's most honored fighting force, complete your testing (recruit training) and earn the title Marine. This is the manual you need for success.