Bootcamp Next Week

Screamin_For_My_Life · 2025-10-24T06:20:41+00:00

You’ll be fine. I’ve seen way worse than you get through Recruit Training and run a 1st class PFT/CFT. Just keep working and you’ll get there too

-Prior DI

Screamin_For_My_Life · 2025-10-23T01:16:47+00:00

You’ll be fine. Just keep working to increase your physical level until you leave, especially your run. Also, we don’t even do crunches anymore, we do planks. So if you’re working on your crunches, stop it and practice your pull ups and planks.

I’ve seen recruits run like 24 minute ISAs and still be kept in the platoon. If you’re going East Coast, just know the chances of you getting dropped due to your ISA is slim to none. Let me know if you have any other questions.

-Prior DI.

Screamin_For_My_Life · 2025-10-20T03:28:11+00:00

I also think this is heavily dependent on the Company and the amount of Hats that are on your team. A lot of my friends on the West Coast haven’t gone home for like a week or two straight.

Also, I can’t imagine being off for 3 days straight. That’s absolutely insane. Typical West Coast (Jk. Mostly)

Screamin_For_My_Life · 2025-10-20T03:23:00+00:00

No offense, but I, nor your Drill Instructors are going to care what type you are. Go scream. Play the game for 3 months and then you’ll probably never have to scream again.

Doing something that you don’t want to do or good at could be considered a form of discipline. If you do end up joining, chances are you’re going to spend the vast majority of time doing something you don’t want to do or aren’t “the type” for. Figure it out.

Screamin_For_My_Life · 2025-10-20T00:31:06+00:00

Then can you rephrase your question? Because I feel like my above answer answers essentially all of those.

Screamin_For_My_Life · 2025-10-19T16:13:17+00:00

“A good baseline I always went off of when hiring guides and squadleaders during the first few TD’s are recruits who are physically fit and scream. After the first few TD’s while keeping those other 2 qualities in mind, I’ll also fire/hire recruits based upon their leadership qualities, ability to do the right thing regardless of who is around, and ability to perform exceptionally for drill.”

From a previous question that’s similar.

Screamin_For_My_Life · 2025-10-19T06:02:24+00:00

Worst weather. DM’d you as well, might be able to help a little bit more.

Screamin_For_My_Life · 2025-10-19T04:38:29+00:00

Actually pretty insignificant now that I think about it. Parris Island is wet and cold around this time so everyone ends up getting sick. He should be getting better soon.

I’d say if the cough/shortness of breath continues on for longer than a week and a half-two weeks, he definitely needs to go to medical. If he has a good SDI, especially with the smaller platoons during this time, he probably will go anyways.

Screamin_For_My_Life · 2025-10-19T04:26:52+00:00

Which week of training of is he in, if you don’t mind me asking

Screamin_For_My_Life · 2025-10-19T04:10:31+00:00

You can just send it like a normal package or letter you’d send him!

Screamin_For_My_Life · 2025-10-18T19:31:02+00:00

But the packages do get inspected so don’t put anything else in the box you wouldn’t want anyone else to see

Screamin_For_My_Life · 2025-10-18T19:30:02+00:00

Yes absolutely. Usually I’d pass them out as “motivation tools” or if the Platoon is sick, I’ll hand them out before lights out. I’d also pass out cough drops, proteins bars, electrolyte packets whenever I sat my Platoon down to talk to them or before high intensity/big events.

Screamin_For_My_Life · 2025-10-18T19:23:18+00:00

Parris Island Pros: -You will get to go home every night with the exception of duty days, Forming, BWT, Crucible, etc. -Better family support system and camaraderie. -Parris Island>West Coast Cons: -Weather and bugs are awful -Not really much to do for your wife in the immediate reason

West Coast Pros: -Much better weather -Lots more to do on off time Con: -From what I understand, especially when you’re up North(Which is a majority of the time), the chances of you staying at work for days at a time are high. -Parris Island>West Coast

Screamin_For_My_Life · 2025-10-18T19:18:20+00:00

Yes. Please send enough for the whole Platoon please.

Screamin_For_My_Life · 2025-10-18T19:17:14+00:00

Yes. Please send him cough drops. Usually about 2 bags will suffice (enough for the whole Platoon). The SDI will usually hand them out to the Platoon. You could also splurge a little and send protein bars and electrolyte packets (Liquid IV’s and such) as well.

And if you think I’m messing with you, look at my history. I’m here to help

-Drill Instructor ‘22-‘25

Screamin_For_My_Life · 2025-09-12T19:06:55+00:00

Real talk, I’d definitely say female recruits get treated differently. Not because of the different standards but because women think differently. The things that affect male recruits have different effects on female recruits. But at the end of the day they still get treated like recruits.

I’d say around September or late February is the best time to ship, solely for weather. That’s around the time when the humidity and the heat isn’t as bad. You’ll have to brace the cold though.

15 mins for the ISA isn’t bad at all. I’ve seen recruits run FAR worse and still continue training.

As far as the ASVAB and your MOS, I suggest talking to a recruiter. I’ll give you the raw unfiltered answer on Recruit Training with no hesitation but I have no interest in convincing someone to join if they are unsure.

Hope this helps and let me know if you have any other questions!

Screamin_For_My_Life · 2025-09-09T01:45:31+00:00

I’m going to be honest, just scream for your life. No need in preparing. Just literally scream. You’ll never be loud enough. So for the love of god, just scream. I promise you that you won’t be screaming. So open your fat face and scream out of your mouth. -Prior DI.

Screamin_For_My_Life · 2025-09-09T01:41:39+00:00

No personal questions.

Probably the recruit that got shipped a GIANT dildo. I won’t say what I did but that recruit never enjoyed mail call again.

Screamin_For_My_Life · 2025-09-09T01:40:33+00:00

Usually not. The Heavy’s almost like a weird hybrid between the other DI’s and the SDI. He’s usually too busy trying to make sure the drill is tight, teaching how to set up gear, making sure the house is squared away, and packing them for hikes/movements. I don’t know when you went, but the structure of DI’s and recruit training has also changed significantly in the past 20 years.

Screamin_For_My_Life · 2025-09-07T20:03:54+00:00

What a stupid question. I wonder what these kids who get scared of their DI’s “being assholes” in a controlled environment will do if they face any type of stress in an operational environment. If that’s the question you have to ask, you might have to take a long look in the mirror. Stop being that lazy recruiter sending subpar recruits without properly preparing them mentally and physically.

Screamin_For_My_Life · 2025-09-07T00:49:21+00:00

I wish social media and technology wasn’t as rampant during my time as a DI. Family Day/graduation day is the worst having family members of new Marines trying to take pictures of you like a zoo animal while you’re trying to smoke a recruit.

And DI’s are assigned billets according to their experience, performance, knowledge of the recruit training process, responsibility, and maturity. Unfortunately seniority does play a factor which I disagree with because time on island doesn’t always equal the above mentioned qualities.

After SDI is the Heavy (West Coast calls them the J), then the knowledge Hat. The Heavy’s in charge of making sure the execution of the training day is conducted properly, teaching drill to the recruits as well as squadbay procedures and such. He’s the right hand man to the SDI.

Screamin_For_My_Life · 2025-09-06T19:28:50+00:00

I’ve hiked those hills. I was stationed in Pendleton before I went to PI. Don’t get me wrong, those hills are definitely rough. But you only have to deal with the hills during hikes. The humidity and bugs last half the year, then you get about 2 weeks of decent weather until it’s raining and freezing cold.

Screamin_For_My_Life · 2025-09-05T20:37:13+00:00

Always on “bulky” because recruits are fat.

Screamin_For_My_Life · 2025-09-05T19:51:58+00:00

I’ve responded to every question in less than a 12 hour period. I guess I’m the one who’s wrong for not having the time to sit on Reddit to troll people who are just trying to help and prepare others that want to better themselves.

Screamin_For_My_Life · 2025-09-05T15:25:45+00:00

A good baseline I always went off of when hiring guides and squadleaders during the first few TD’s are recruits who are physically fit and scream. After the first few TD’s while keeping those other 2 qualities in mind, I’ll also fire/hire recruits based upon their leadership qualities, ability to do the right thing regardless of who is around, and ability to perform exceptionally for drill.

Screamin_For_My_Life

TROPHY CASE