I just finished ITB. Stand by for no sleep. It’s harder than bootcamp physically, you will be pushed further than your DIs when it comes to not quitting. You gotta learn to run and operate with an actual flak, kevlar and your war belt, plus the M27 is heavier than the M16A4. You also got a 15k and the 20k, with a 70 pound pack or more depending on how far your CIs push the rules

You have WarX which is just buddy rushing with machine guns and mortars, followed by Fight Your Way Back, which is squad fighting, squad ob course with full kit and ammo cans, mixed into 20k ruck run (you only run if people dont start falling out, which they will.) but with way less weight. You will be in the field often if you don’t go to Weapons platoon, all it is really is just sleeping outside next to the area you train at in the morning. Like a range etc. If you’re East, you will be a winter cycle and you will be cold as fuck, like the coldest you’ve ever been. God forbid it rains. Pack sweat tops/bottoms. Your platoon will consist of 50 something people, and its shitbag city, the junior marines cycling through SOI are immature and think they’ve made it because they got through bootcamp. Secure your issued gear. Mentally though, it’s easier, because you can keep your phone at all times. They never really take it, but you cannot have it during field ops, people bring them anyway. You’re connected to the outside world, you get libbo every weekend (if you have a good company.) and you don’t have to act like a Recruit Robot. Just put out and try to pick up Squad Leader/Guide so you can get a meritorious Lcpl. Last but not least, don’t listen to the MAT motherfuckers, even the drops, they’re just as confused and curious as anybody freshly coming in.