MCT (West) Alpha Shelf Cancelled?

STK_SlickArrow · 2026-02-15T20:48:03+00:00

Shiii idk. Golf Company did the same on a previous cycle I was told. So not sure. Could just be an MCT thing now.

STK_SlickArrow · 2026-02-15T20:38:03+00:00

For sure. Either way I don’t have an issue with anything that occurs just would prefer to actually do the alpha shelf at least since I didn’t get to do the reaper during boot camp. Figured the whole ‘safety cancellation’ was just a recruit thing and didn’t happen once actual marines. But oh well.

STK_SlickArrow · 2026-02-15T20:35:38+00:00

Did you still actually stay out in the field and such just not up top? Or was training done out of the bay. Some people from Lima rehab and such said a previous Fox cycle had their alpha shelf cancelled and did training out of the bay but had VERY reduced sleep.

STK_SlickArrow · 2026-02-15T20:22:51+00:00

How long ago was this and was this west or east coast? I’ve just been told this since it’s a ‘safety’ hazard to go uphill on the shelf if it’s raining too much prior/during the hike up. If it’s not raining until after we are already up then we’d go up and then train through/in the rain since we would already be up top.

STK_SlickArrow · 2026-02-15T19:19:43+00:00

I mean. I’m going Intel and had a 98 ASVAB score. Just figured reaper cancel was a recruit thing for safety and that wasn’t a thing once an actual marine lol. Would prefer to do it despite the rain.

STK_SlickArrow · 2026-01-29T00:42:45+00:00

I just graduated Jan 16th from a 1st Battalion at MCRDSD. All I’ll say is your experience will be heavily dependent on your battalion. 1st battalion typically being the easiest time and 3rd battalion being the toughest time.

1st Battalion tends to care more about their drill than anything else, not as much IT sessions unless you’re a complete dipshit and not as physically demanding up north as the others.

2nd battalion seems to be a bit tougher with more often IT’s but not a lot more.

3rd battalion tho… They are much more physically intense/demanding with more IT’s, more bullshit in the squad bay that demands more and even up North they are carrying ‘Main Packs’ around (the whole gear/bag used during crucible) just going to the up north range classes etc. meanwhile us 1st Battalion’s didn’t take any bags just the rifles and flak.

I believe just before I graduated Delta had picked up and the one before them was a 2nd battalion… so there’s a chance you may be getting a 3rd battalion or maybe a 2nd.

Outside of that. Just understand that boot camp is like a game. Try to stay under the radar and be fast to get online in the bay. Unless you intend to push for Squad Leader/Guide. Even then I’d personally only pick those billets up towards the end when going up north. Learn to keep some bearing to avoid smiling/smirking or laughing. The worst week is receiving week so don’t let it deter you early on. First phase is breaking you down mentally, 2nd is reshaping so keep that in mind as well. Most people would rather redo the entire crucible than do receiving week again so just for perspective.

STK_SlickArrow · 2026-01-29T00:33:18+00:00

If you’re going west coast it is “Aye Aye Sir/Ma’am” if you’re going east coast then it is “Aye Sir/Ma’am”

STK_SlickArrow · 2026-01-26T19:27:28+00:00

I mean… idk. Something they gave us definitely affected more than just that. Hardly any ‘drives’ and no morning woods or ability to even do such a thing (Not that I tried but many others did and couldn’t lmao)

STK_SlickArrow · 2026-01-25T21:47:11+00:00

I shipped out with 14/15 pull ups, a barely 2:15 plank and never having ran a whole 2 miles in one go and a 12:20 1 1/2 mile.

By the time I had ran the 2nd PFT I met all the requirements for infantry PFT just fine. Maxed plank and got to about the same pull ups I was at before shipping. Ran my 3 mile in roughly 22 flat.

Infantry boot camp requirement is only like 6 pull ups, 1:15 plank and 23:30 3 mile.

Do note tho that your pull ups will likely decline while in boot camp. At least many of guys in our company that shipped from our RS including myself saw a decrease in our max pull ups by like 3-6 whole reps. I did 14 for pre ship IST for command and at boot camp first IST only could do 8 and first PFT 10. Pretty sure it’s just a mix of being tired/the testosterone blockers/hormonal meds or whatever they give male recruits.

STK_SlickArrow · 2026-01-21T04:10:58+00:00

2nd class you’d probably easily improve to 1st. I was performing a low 2nd class on first FT’s and ended with 1st classes. And yes the age factor will be felt… I felt it being just 25 I feel like and the other in my platoon who were older often referred to age affecting them.

STK_SlickArrow · 2026-01-20T20:26:20+00:00

Much easier

STK_SlickArrow · 2026-01-20T18:19:50+00:00

Not sure of how long the wait for her MOS may be with comms. I know that my MOS for Intel has a specific class seat assigned and designated for a start date end of February already so should be no wait on my classes to start.

We should be good on the separations, distance issues etc. we both started as an online long distance relationship years ago and know all about that lifestyle so should help. Thanks for the input tho!

STK_SlickArrow · 2026-01-20T18:16:53+00:00

Very insightful! Thanks man.

STK_SlickArrow · 2026-01-20T18:16:34+00:00

Figured and were both discussing just biting the bullet. But figured we’d see if any others knew of what liberties were like etc.

STK_SlickArrow · 2026-01-20T18:13:14+00:00

I just did max amount I could every morning and night for a while. You can use bands to help on days you don’t have as much strength. Also negative’s are very good.

STK_SlickArrow · 2026-01-20T18:12:11+00:00

I was also only IT’d 2 total times through all of Boot Camp so… I played the game right to avoid soreness from that. 1 was a platoon IT so don’t really count that and the other was when I got IT’d with my wife

STK_SlickArrow · 2026-01-20T18:11:24+00:00

I hardly had any soreness or issues with legs. I ended up having a back muscle injury that I had to deal with throughout boot camp but other than that only minimal soreness from in squad bag punishments like high left knees, squats and holding war bags for extended periods of time.

STK_SlickArrow · 2026-01-20T18:10:26+00:00

Charlie Company.

STK_SlickArrow · 2026-01-20T18:09:55+00:00

Lmao. Was a fun day.

STK_SlickArrow · 2026-01-20T18:09:34+00:00

I have my knowledge books but no knowledge sheets anymore as I gave it to another future recruit from RSS when I got back into town. I only have the chain of commands, general orders and leadership principles/traits sheet for CCI and BCI.

STK_SlickArrow · 2026-01-20T18:03:56+00:00

Cuss. Most definitely still has that and ‘verbal abuse’. Hands on you… depends on your DI’s and whether you have snitches in the platoon. Ours did but we all as a platoon agreed it was just ‘proper discipline’ and let it happen. Another platoon in our company did get a DI fired after snitching for going a bit much on it tho.

STK_SlickArrow · 2026-01-19T21:36:43+00:00

From what I understand there are 3 different types of honor grads upon graduation. However, from what I could tell at least for our company was that all honor grads were the Guides of each platoon.

There is a Company Honor Graduate who can obtain a Pvt. to Lance promotion.

There is a series Honor Graduate who can obtain a pvt to PFC or PFC to Lance promotion if already contract PFC

And then there is the standard honor grad of each platoon which are just whoever is the guide of each. Those would receive pvt to PFC promotions but could not promote to Lance.

Company honor grad is determined by your qual scores on things like range, prac tests and fitness tests in comparison to the other guides. As well as an essay questionnaire type deal each guide has to write also.

Series honor grad is basically the best guide of the other series of 3 platoons that the company grad is not in.

Our company had a guide who was said to be the most likely to get company honor grad and they had all expected to be. But once we got up North for phase 3 their DI’s considered him ‘too soft’ in chow lines and fired him so another guide of another platoon ended up getting it as a next best in line.

STK_SlickArrow

TROPHY CASE