If you get to end of boot camp, and the drill instructor doesn't know your name, you have done it right.

Always that one guy who no matter how hard he's pushed can't wipe the smile off his face because he loves being there so much if they keep it up week after week they gain respect

Being forced to complete someone else’s punishment because they had a seizure and couldn’t finish is absolute insanity😭

as a fomer 0311 from 07 to 11 this is what i tell all young men going into the military no matter the branch. treat boot camp like a game, they are testing you, nothing is personal they just are making sure you have what it takes to handle the chaos. if you cant handle getting screamed at while trying to get dressed in the morning you arent going to be inclined to perform well when being screamed at in combat to do something. treat it seriously but also remember its kind of a game, have fun and enjoy basic training because as chaotic as it may seem its actually the potentially the least stressful time in service. enjoy the memories and life long friends you make

One thing to remember is that they want you to succeed.  A standard to meet certainly, but they want you to rise to the challenge.

I was under the radar in boot camp at Parris Island because I was born with a speech impediment (stutter). The drill instructors would put me on fire watch at night so I could report my post and gear watch while the other recruits were at the chow hall. I was physically fit and could do 27 dead hang pull-ups, and so the drill instructor respected me for that. I was good at PT. I unqualified during the rifle range. That was horrible and I suck at swimming. I was an iron duck. I was good at knowledge because I did Navy JROTC at high school but because I stuttered, I didn't volunteer to answer any questions that I knew unless I was called on. Most importantly, I made it and earned my eagle, globe, and anchor and got an honorable discharge. Semper Fidelis David! I love your videos 😊

This chap is on the money.  I've been out of the Marine Corps for 54 years, but I do recall vividly gaining the realization in my first five days or so that boot camp was 90% mental and 10% physical.

I was raised by a Scottish mother and a violent alcoholic father.  Boot camp was a breeze and I smiled the whole time!

I went to boot camp 30 years ago and it was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. We got hazed all day long. The DI's were knocking around recruits. I seen so many recruits shoved into the maintenance closet for hours. There were no rules back then. Today's military, they get to watch YouTube videos to see what they are getting themselves into. My era we had to go by the the recruiter said and they lied all the god damn time. The only thing they told us was boot camp is 12 weeks long that's it. When I was riding on that bus at 1130 at night with my head between my legs, my whole life flashed before my eyes. I had absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into. Once the DI's came on the bus and started screaming, I knew this was gonna be 12 weeks that I'll never forget.

When I enlisted in 74, my father, a WWII Marine in the pacific theater, told me that boot camp would be THE hardest thing I would ever do. Then told me that boot camp is one big head game and he was right. I didn’t have any problems in boot camp except #1: pull ups! I was like private Pyle in “Full Metal Jacket”. Couldn’t do one pull up but, with the help of the Drill Instructors and another recruit, I was able to do 3 for final pft. Also couldn’t march in a straight line if my life depended on it. Had to sit out final drill comp. in the bleachers with a “Twisted ankle”. I was an excellent swimmer and licensed scuba diver in high school so I was on fire watch during water survival training. Graduated with my platoon (Plt. 3105 MCRDSD 1974) an 0311. The Marine Corps made a huge impact in my life which helped me through a law enforcement career spanning 30+ years over two agencies. Dad passed away in 2017 at 92 years. Rarely spoke of his time in combat but we were both on Okinawa. He in 1945 (Purple Heart for mortar fragments from a Japanese mortar) and I in 1975. To my Dad, I hope peace and rest has come to you. I miss you dearly. To my Father, Mr. Pere, and all my brothers and sisters in arms in the Marines, SEMPER FIDELIS! And, in a couple of weeks, Happy 250th birthday, Marines. Uuhhhrrrraaaaahhhhhhhhh!

"Embrace the suck" is great advice for many things even outside the military. Great video.

As a former recruiter myself, I too prepared my poolees for the rigors of recruit training. I even did a mock arrival on the bus so that they would get an idea of what to expect in terms of shock and awe! I had new Marines come back home and tell me it wasn't as hard as I made it out to be. I wish my recruiter did that when I joined in 1976. I saw my recruiter twice. When I enlisted and when I shipped. Good video bro!

My son is at boot camp right now. He's pretty fit. He's also a quiet thoughtful human. He pointed out two things...moving loud and fast and learning the customs and courtesies are the hardest part for him.

The two things I remember my recruiter emphasizing-
1) Basic training is above all,  a head game. Don't take insults or screaming personally- they simply want to know who you are.
2) If you hit it off with someone at processing that is going into the same branch, stay close.
Just happened to find a guy that was on the same wavelength, going into the Air Force. Made a great friend, went to the same tech school and are still friends 40 years later!

Major rule to remember for any aspirants: you know you’re done for if Drill Instructors go from messing with you daily to suddenly ignoring you.

They’ll mess with you because they want to see your reaction to the pressure, or they want to better you through the trials and tribulations. Once they stop doing so, you know you’re probably gonna be dropped from training. They don’t want you reporting nonsense against them on your way out the door. Saw it happen to a few kids who didn’t quite figure it out, including one who was too scared to even pull the trigger on the first day of range. Failure to adapt, we held him for about a week until they could process him to a cycle earlier in the training schedule. Don’t know what happened to him afterwards, but up until we got rid of him the DIs barely interacted with him, even got to the point that they basically ignored him, and told all of us to ignore him.

Semper Fidelis, my brothers and sisters!

In Army basic training, I really didn't have the opportunity to stay under the radar. A GT score of 155 put paid to that. The drill sergeants nicknamed me "Perfesser."

On the upside, I earned a reputation for being prepared. One time, a drill sergeant needed a sewing kit. He didn't ask who among us had a sewing kit. He didn't ask me if I had a sewing kit. He just told me to bring him my sewing kit. Which, of course, I did.

6:44 I was in naval aviation, and when my brother-in-law went to Air Force basic, I sent him a letter with “Fly Navy” written on the envelope. He wrote me back telling me to never do that again. lol

"Be the grey man" is what my dad taught me, it worked.  Don't be first, don't be last.

Hands down one of the best recruiters that I met. Along with Ssgt.(at the time) Stuart, you guys were the reason why I was able to complete the training. I hope you’re enjoying life on the other side brother!

When i went to basic at fort jackson in 1975 i learned the best way to make it thru basic is to not call attention to yourself.