Before heading to boot camp, erase any photographs or videos which could be considered lewd or pornographic. Your cell phone may be inspected during the initial briefing, and you may be required to sign a policy agreement.
Drill sergeants still monitor all phone use and often restrict photography, texting, and social media usage. If the recruits can send texts or check Facebook, it is entirely because the drill sergeant saw fit to reward them with such privilege.
Can You Bring a Cell Phone to Marine Corps Boot Camp? No, you can not bring your cell phone through Recruit Training. If you bring a cell phone, it will be stored with your other civilian items until you graduate as a United States Marine.
In basic training, cell phones may be confiscated and kept by the MTI, and only returned to you to call home or during other emergency situations. You'll have to remember that during basic training you are only permitted to use a phone when supervised, and told it is okay to do so.
If you're having difficulty with a specific aspect of basic training, you will be “recycled.” This means that you will be put into training with another unit that's in an earlier part of the basic training cycle.
“You are not allowed to use them in military treatment facilities, and they are prohibited during basic military training and while on duty during technical training.”
Yes, it is possible to fail basic training. You could go through the trouble of leaving your home, job, family and friends and come back a failure. In fact, this happens to about 15% of recruits who join the military every year. Too many recruits I speak to think that it is impossible to fail basic training.
If you enroll in boot camp, expect to be on duty seven days a week, though you might get several hours of personal time on Sunday since it's a day with lighter responsibilities.
You'll get a lot of chances to make friends at boot camp. Keep an open mind, respect others, and be kind. Last but not least, remember that you're not alone and that both your fellow recruits and instructors are there to support you.
Technical Stuff: The Air Force used to also require qualification on the M-9 pistol during basic training, but this requirement was recently eliminated. During the actual firing, you'll fire a total of 80 rounds at a man-sized target (upper body only) at ranges from 75 meters to 300 meters (1 meter = 1.094 yards).
Many camps do not allow cell phones/emails because the goal is to have an electronic-free environment and to move youth away from the constant stimuli of technology. A child may avoid getting to know his bunk mates or may rely on her parents too much by using these electronics.
Cigarettes, cigars, pipes, tobacco, chewing tobacco, disposable lighters and lighter fluid will be confiscated when you arrive at basic training. If you have a nondisposable lighter, the fluid cartridge will be confiscated. Alcohol-based products.
At the end of the duty day, the drill instructor will enter the barracks, call out names and pass out mail. You're then usually granted about one hour of free time to read your mail. If you read fast, you may even have a few extra minutes to write a quick letter back.
While one platoon might get to have their cell phones 4 times during Basic Training, another platoon might only win 1 phone call, and never be given another opportunity to call besides that. It is all completely dependent upon a variety of facts that change throughout the training year (and with each Drill Sergeant).
Getting That Morning Wake-Up Call
In military basic training, there's no such thing as sleeping in. You'll get up at 5 a.m. every single day. Waking up in the morning is an adjustment process that's the same for every single basic training class.
Sleeping arrangements during Basic Training may differ depending on where you're at. Generally, you'll either bunk in a bay containing about 40 people or in a small room with three to six others. You can expect to get between seven and eight hours of sleep.
Army Basic Training Red Phase
Red phase is the starting phase and is typically considered the hardest part of training. The entire phase, which is 3 weeks long, is devoted to constant calisthenic exercises, and you will be spending much of your time in the push-up position.
The Army is the only branch of the military that honors the Holiday Block Leave for all recruits who are in basic training. This allows the drill sergeants and instructors to have a break during Christmas and prepare to come back for the New Year ready to train.
There's a great argument that the Marine Corps has the hardest military training of anyone, and here's why. Of course, when you reach the top, you can find them becoming SEALs or a part of the Marine Raider Regiment (MRR), but the training of any Marine is some of the hardest military training in the world.
The Coast Guard has eight weeks designated for boot camp, which is conducted in Cape May, NJ. Many recruits count the first week of Coast Guard training as the most challenging.
Marine boot camp is extremely challenging -- both physically and mentally -- and considered to be tougher than the basic training programs of any of the other military services.
During in-processing, you can expect the following: Drug Testing (Urinalysis): Within 72 hours of your arrival you will provide a urine sample to ensure you have not used any illegal substances. Even the smallest amounts of marijuana will be detected.
Once you're wearing a uniform ALL of your civilian clothes and unauthorized possessions are taken away and locked up until you graduate. While you're there you'll sleep in your issued underwear or PT uniform. (When I went to BMT they didn't issue PT uniforms. It was just plain GI underwear for sleeping.)
Hair: Do not shave your head before leaving for basic training. This applies to both males and females. Do not even arrive at basic with a military style cut (Flat Top, High-and-tight, etc.). All facial hair should be shaved thoroughly before arriving at basic training.