Slurpee,
I did 2 stints in the Corps One AD for 5 years as a 5953 ATC Radar Mait. Tech. Then as Active reserve for operation enduring freedom.
Let me tell you this. I hope you READ your contract. If not get a copy of it and actually read it to know exactly what your obligations are. Those years in the IRR that it talks about....yup you do get recalled in them. I was enjoying 11 months of civilian life and got a fedex package with plane tickets and orders to report in 12 days. I missed my Son's birth because of that.
2 years ago I couldnt find a job so I enlisted in the Air Force. I did my time with the Corps and don't regret a minute of it. Now I work on Ejection seats and love this as well.
Second,
Know your rights under the UCMJ. Especially your art. 31 rights. They are a lot like Maranda rights. The reason is I've seen a lot of young dumb Marines do dumb things and get burned for it because they incriminated themselves or let statements made prior to their rights being read be used against them. They burn you for being late to work so this is important.
third,
You're right don't worry bout the PT keep up your routine so it wont be that much of a shock to your system. If you are not the running type you soon will be plain and simple. Get used to being completly sore from head to toe....then go to bed only to wake up what seems like 15 minutes later to start the new day hurting even more. Then subjecting your tired body to more PT.
Don't let that scare you because by week 13 you'll be wanting to go to PT...the quaterdeck....you will want to be "beaten" pysically because it makes you feel good when all they can throw at you aint chit!
The mental part is the hard one. Get used to somone telling you what, when, and how to something. Get ALL your friends addresses and write them regularly so they write you back. This is important because contact with the outside world is limited. One of my favorite days was sunday because:
1. we got do wash our clothes
2. We got to go to church
3. we got 4 hours of free time (in wich the above mentioned 2 were completed in)
4. Most of all....I got to read a news paper and feel a little human again.
You'll notice the little things in life that you took for granted that you got to do everyday with out somone telling you do to it. As I said before EVERY THING IS DONE TO YOU FOR A REASON. From the way you put your "palms up for targets" (targets are Napkins in the chow hall) to the way you have to side step through the chow line (think: "Side Step...March" or "close March")
When you get issued your weapon you'll love it at first. It usually lasts about a week until you actually have to cary the thing at right shoulder arms for 3 hours strait and the magazine well is turning your shoulder into hamburger. Or when the DIs are pissed at you and beating you by making you hold the front sight tip by nothing but your figner tips with your arm fully extended. That 7.65lb weapon feels like 20lbs real quick........Respect it...and keep it clean!
You will feel no greater joy in life (untill you have kids if you dont allready) than when you are marching down the back corner of the parade deck for the last time to do pass and review and the Marine's Hymn gets played. You spine will tingle a bit and your eyes get glassy and it all SNAPS together what it all was for.
Edit:
Ive heard alot that the swimming pool is the killer. My dad was a Navy rescue swimmer/aircraft mechanic for 9 yrs so im hoping he can help me out with that part.
If you know how to swim its not hard. we had a bunch of guys (mostly kids that grew up in the inner city) that didnt know how to swim. They struggled. The hardest thing is the 200 meter swim in full gear (BDUs Flack, Boots, Kevlar helmut, rifle) everything minus the alice pack. It's easy if you can get yourself to relax. During the buddy swim try and get somone who isnt an idiot. My "buddy" tried to drown me and quit halfway through. I got "beat" just as much as he did.
Wich MCRD are you going to? PI or SD?
Gunslinger out,
Semper FI.
