Boot

[LCpl Lamm]

Marine Corps Boot Camp Changes
from United States Marine Corps

Jun 16 2003

A new updated recruit training schedule was implemented May 21 (2003) with Company M at the San Diego Recruit Depot, for the purpose of reducing the number of injured recruits missing training events and send healthier Marines to the School of Infantry.

The new recruit training schedule will reinforce physical training as a part of the Marine Corps culture and will ensure that recruits will be mentally and physically prepared for the Marine Corps way of life while reducing the number of recruits in Medical Rehabilitation Platoons and the Basic Marine Platoon.

The recruit training schedule consists of three, four week phases.

The first phase is the transition of civilian to recruit and it takes at MCRD, San Diego.

Recruits undergo strenuous physical training, martial arts and classes on such areas as Marine Corps history and first aid.

The second phase starts when recruits move up north to Edson Range, Weapons Field Training Battalion.

gas chamber training, field week and the crucible event.

For the third phase, recruits move back to the Depot where they undergo swim qualifications, a defensive driving course, testing of Marine Corps history, first aid, physical training, drill, and inspections prior to graduation.

The phase prepares recruits for the transition to being a new Marine, according to Staff Sgt. Todd A. Leach, senior drill instructor, Platoon 2074, Company F.

The new training schedule lengthened the third phase by two weeks, giving recruits more time to recover from the physical rigors of phase two.

The new schedule is expected to decrease physical training waivers and increase physical fitness training scores, according to Col. Thomas F. Thaler, commanding officer, Recruit Training Regiment.

"This new recruit training schedule will allow recruits more time to validate, reinforce and refine skills and traits learned in phase one and phase two," said Thaler.

Thaler said he is open to new ideas and believes the mission of this updated schedule will make better Marines and decrease injury attrition.

The recruit training schedule will affect not only the Recruit Training Regiment but also Headquarters and Service Battalion, according to Gunnery Sgt. Fabian Sosa, company gunnery sergeant, Service Company.

Sosa said he believes supply division will be affected the most, especially those involved in uniform fittings.

"I believe that the Marine Corps will save money with uniform fittings if the initial fittings commence on week nine as opposed to week four," said Gunnery Sgt. Brett Guenther, clothing chief.

Gunnery Sgt. Gregorio Mendez, company gunnery sergeant, Headquarters Company, agrees with Sosa. Mendez said that all personnel will be affected to a certain extent because everyone on the Depot supports and makes recruit training happen in their own way.

[Grimmy]

I dont believe any waiver should be given to any boot in boot camp.

Boot camp is supposed to be the time of seperating chaff from wheat. If a body cant cut the mustard then that body should be let go. No exemptions.

[Field_Sailor]

I say recycle them, if they still can't make it, issue DD214.

[USMC Chuter]

What the FUCK is a PT waiver?

[Grimmy]

pretty much the same thought that ran thru my head, chuter lol.

[USMCRET6391]

Originally Posted by usmc chuter

What the FUCK is a PT waiver?

Sounds like a bloody "Light Duty Chit" to me........but I am more confused about the crucible thing. I was lead to believe that the crucible was essentially the last event in Boot Camp and that all Recruits who completed it were given the EGA and considered "Marines".........christ when I went through Boot Camp no one called me a Marine until the day I graduated.

[ASUMarine]

Sinced the cruicible is now in week 9 of training you don't recieve you Eagle Globe and Anchor (its not called the EGA anymore) until the day before graduation. As for people not wanting recuits to be recycled in training thats pretty stupid. I agree that PT waivers are a load of crap and that Physical Conditioning Platoons (PCP or Pork Chop Platoons) are a joke but as far as injuries are concerned those recruits deserve to get a chance. Many get pneumonia. In my boot platoon about 8 guys were dropped because of pneumonia and ended up graduating a week after me. Also, many recruits get stress fractures in the cruicible. I got one along with 2 others in my platoon, one guy had them in both feet and he got his before the cruicible started. I got mine the first day but we both finished it together (he was my hoochmate). He never reported to medical. I only reported after I was ordered to by a Captian and I still ran 3 PFTs on my bad foot. Getting hurt in boot happens my dad even got stress fractures in his shins during boot camp (he was at MCRD for 6 months) 30 years ago. It happens that doesn't mean they shouldn't be able to pick up training where they left off once they are healed.

[USMC Chuter]

Ok, that's all well and fine. Shit happens, recruits get boo boos, and boot camp sucks. But I stick to my original question: What the FUCK is a PT waiver? I have been a Marine for 11 years and some change, and I've never heard of it. Matter of fact, the thought of it makes me want to fucking vomit. I worked long and hard to become a SNCO and I'll be damned if I'm going to accept the idea of a goddamn PT waiver in my Corps. I can only imagine what those Marines on this board who are senior to me in grade and years must be thinking.

[goose0656]

I've never heard of a PT waiver, either, and I graduated boot in May. Sounds like they mean light duty chits to me, but what the hell do I know, I'm just a PFC.

[USMCRET6391]

Originally Posted by ASUMarine

Sinced the cruicible is now in week 9 of training you don't recieve you Eagle Globe and Anchor (its not called the EGA anymore) until the day before graduation. As for people not wanting recuits to be recycled in training thats pretty stupid. I agree that PT waivers are a load of crap and that Physical Conditioning Platoons (PCP or Pork Chop Platoons) are a joke but as far as injuries are concerned those recruits deserve to get a chance. Many get pneumonia. In my boot platoon about 8 guys were dropped because of pneumonia and ended up graduating a week after me. Also, many recruits get stress fractures in the cruicible. I got one along with 2 others in my platoon, one guy had them in both feet and he got his before the cruicible started. I got mine the first day but we both finished it together (he was my hoochmate). He never reported to medical. I only reported after I was ordered to by a Captian and I still ran 3 PFTs on my bad foot. Getting hurt in boot happens my dad even got stress fractures in his shins during boot camp (he was at MCRD for 6 months) 30 years ago. It happens that doesn't mean they shouldn't be able to pick up training where they left off once they are healed.

I was a DI for almost 3 years (if your dad went through MCRD San Diego 30 years ago I might have been one of his) and I understand that injuries happen.....hell they happen to DIs, what I dont understand is why they would give a PT waiver to recruits. That is NOT the same as being set back a Series or two because you cant train due to injuries. If they are unable to PT or train they have no business getting out of Boot Camp.............

[ASUMarine]

I have never heard of a PT waiver either. USMCRET6391 mentioned a "light duty chit" that excuses a Marine from PT for up to a week but thats due to injuries. The only other thing that I can think of is that some recruits do get waivers in the begining of training. These are for those who cannot do the minimum PFT requirements. They can get them for their initial IST and initial PFT but not for the final PFT. Those are up to their SDIs. Thats all that I can think of.

I also just graduated boot in May and never heard of a PT waiver and still haven't, in my company if you missed to much training because of light duty you where dropped until you were healed.

[USMC Chuter]

I'm glad to hear what you younger Marines are putting down. Maybe that article just used poor wording. If you become a broke dick in bootcamp, you go to MRP. If you're a fat body, you go to PCP. If either of those don't work your ass goes home with a shaved head and nothing to show for it.

[SpongeJuan]

I just graduated

1st Bn, Alpha Co. Plt 1009

and I never heard of a PT waiver, i say it's all scuttlebutt

[phillyb24]

that better be a fucking rumor!!! the marines are all about pt! if we start giving waivers for pt i'm gonna shoot someone!!!!!

on another note: i had 4 stress fractures in my legs in bootcamp(probably from bad accident the day before boot) i stopped training(went to mrp) on td 22 and three months later when i was healed i started back on td22. i didnt get a waiver or get to skip days cuz i was hurt. i did my healing then started where i left off. pft failures should be the same way!

and another note: dont think mrp was easy either. i was in a wheelchair and the di's still fucked with me! my 1st day in mrp i was scared and shit, and when i get there 3 of them jump in my face and "ask" me why i broke my body! in retrospect it was a preety cool experience. they used to make me do facing movements in my wheelchair... left face now, right face now. it was kinda funny actually!

[Bunny]

Originally Posted by ASUMarine

The only other thing that I can think of is that some recruits do get waivers in the begining of training. These are for those who cannot do the minimum PFT requirements. They can get them for their initial IST and initial PFT but not for the final PFT. Those are up to their SDIs. Thats all that I can think of.

Hold on one second. I was under the impression that you had to be able to pass the PFT before shipping out. I mean I know there is an IST and all, but that’s friggin Navy PT. If I was a recruiter I would not want to send a recruit in who can only pass an IST, I would at least make a standard to have them pass the PFT (because in all reality it’s not that friggin hard). In OCS you need a 280 to even consider applying, now that’s a challenge.

There aint no pt waver.

[phillyb24]

sorry to jump your post... just wanted to add something related to this topic... marines only have to do 3 pull ups! 3! that always seemed really to me. and i've seen several people not be able to do 3!!!!! in my opinion 3 is just to low.

[Vulture6]

That's the minimum acceptable standard... no one should be satisfied with simply achieving the minimum.