| Life in the Marine Corps is in many ways like a | | | | known as "the Fleet" or "FMF", the Fleet Marine |
| civilian job once you have completed all of your | | | | Force! |
| training and schooling. In a typical civilian job, most | | | | Once you are in the FMF, your real job begins. In |
| people work from about 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. They | | | | the FMF your life will be very similar to a civilian's |
| show up for work in the morning grab a cup of | | | | life. You will be paid a salary, and will work from |
| coffee and often start their day with some sort | | | | about 5:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m much of the time. In |
| of regular routine before focusing on more | | | | the infantry, you will often start your day with a |
| specific tasks that need to be completed. Around | | | | healthy dose of PT (physical training). The PT will |
| noon a one hour lunch is taken and in the | | | | often consist of a multi-mile run, combined with |
| afternoon specific task's are focused upon. Life in | | | | other exercises like push-ups, sit-ups, |
| the Marines is much the same way! | | | | side-straddle-hops, etc. When you are "in the rear" |
| I was an infantryman in the Marine Corps for four | | | | or not out in the field training, you will often have |
| years from 1993 1997. The first 6 months of my | | | | classes about such things as how to read a map, |
| four years as an active duty Marine were much | | | | how to do first aid, how to call in mortar fire, and |
| different than a civilian job. The first six months | | | | how to conduct a patrol. Other times you will be |
| for me consisted of boot camp, and formal | | | | preparing for the next field exercise by packing |
| infantry training at what is known as the School | | | | up your gear and getting briefed on what type of |
| of Infantry (SOI). We all are pretty much aware | | | | exercise it will be. As a boot, you will be sent on |
| of what boot camp is like. In boot camp, nasty | | | | "working parties". These are odd jobs that need |
| civilians are transformed into one of the few, the | | | | to be done around the base and within your unit. |
| proud, a Marine! You will get yelled at a lot, you | | | | You may be asked to help sort gear at supply, |
| will PT (physical training) a lot, and you will either | | | | help build wooden tank targets for a firing range, |
| lose or gain a lot of weight! You will learn how to | | | | or you might just be out picking up trash. |
| fire a rifle with pinpoint accuracy at 500 yards, | | | | Whatever you are asked, do it and do it well you |
| learn how to wear a uniform correctly, and will | | | | will be rewarded for it. The rest of the time, you |
| learn about the many traditions and customs | | | | will be performing your job. For an infantryman, |
| Marines live by. You'll also learn a lot about Marine | | | | that means conducting field exercises. This |
| Corps history, first aid, and how to do basic | | | | includes attacking an enemy position at a live fire |
| warfare. In three months you will be transformed | | | | range, shooting live rounds and throwing live |
| into one of the Few. I won't lie; boot camp is | | | | grenades in a house made out of tires, and |
| tough, very tough. Once you get through it | | | | rappelling of the side of a 100 foot rock wall. |
| though, you will be a much better person for it | | | | When you are done with these field exercises, |
| and will be bursting with confidence. | | | | you'll return to "the rear" and the cycle will begin |
| After boot camp comes your formal schooling. It | | | | again. That's the very bare bones basics of what |
| is at this point that you will attend some sort of | | | | it is like in the Marines as an infantryman. |
| school to learn the skills needed to perform your | | | | Of course, there is much, much more to it than |
| job well. It may be communication school, the | | | | what I have just described here. If you have a |
| school of infantry, or some kind of avionics school. | | | | question about what life is like as a Marine Corps |
| Whatever it is, it will be much easier than boot | | | | Infantryman, find your way to this free Marine |
| camp and you will have much more freedom than | | | | Corps Community where there are hundreds of |
| in boot camp. At this point, you will be considered | | | | members willing to answer your questions! I'd be |
| a "boot" a Marine who has just completed boot | | | | more than willing to answer any question you |
| camp. Boots still have no idea what the "real | | | | may have myself! |
| Marine Corps" is like. The real Marine Corps in | | | | |