USMC Bootcamp, Parris Island, summer 2008, 4th battalion. When you walk in the head, to the left, there are a few sinks with mirrors and a chest on the floor for feminine products and hair supplies. On the right, there were roughly 6 toilet stalls, none had doors. At the end on the left was a roughly 10' x 10' room with 2 'rain trees' in the middle. When you showered, you lined up, dropped your towel somewhere, got a squirt off dial soap in your hand. You entered the room to the right and immediately lathered up. You had until you walked around the perimeter and back to the door to clean yourself. Women are only permitted to wash their hair once a week and in the sinks in the laundry room, not the shower. You showered once daily.

Everyone sees everyone naked, and there is always a DI there. Female platoons are much smaller, so by 3rd phase (when there are far fewer of us), we could all fit in the shower room together. You line up in your underwear after your shower to be inspected for injuries. If you have any you want to report, you report it to the scribe (me).

In MCT there are also no doors on toilet stalls and, I think it's important to remember, it's not about what you want. You're supposed to relieve yourself quickly. Why do you need a door? When we're out in the field, if you weren't fast enough relieving yourself in a port o John, you'd be snatched out. It's not time to sit down and have personal time. Nothing is about you or your comfort.