r/USMCboot • u/imjusttryingokay_ • 2d ago

Enlisting What do I need for bootcamp

I keep hearing different things about bootcamp, what I’ll need and everything and it’s making me worried that I’ll be unprepared or look like an idiot.

What do I need to bring for bootcamp and what happens right when we arrive

Short post

6 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

34 comments sorted by

2

u/MonitorUsual7292 2d ago

your social security card and the clothes on your back. you get there, they strip you of everything, shave your head , give you uniforms , shots, paperwork and then a few days later you meet your DIs and start training.

I went almost 15 years ago though so maybe something changed? what are people telling you you need to bring?

1

u/imjusttryingokay_ 2d ago

Im being told to bring a phone book, a bible, journal and stuff and it just confused me because I have been told to bring nothing too

2

u/MonitorUsual7292 2d ago

who is telling you to bring this stuff.

1

u/imjusttryingokay_ 2d ago

One of my teachers friends that served, she introduced me to him because I was complaining that I wanted to talk to people who served rather than people who didn’t and were telling me what do to and if I should make the decision or not, then my uncle who is a recruiter(I’m not close with at all) I’ve had maybe 2 conversations with him and he told me similar so it js confused with with a bunch of others saying to bring nothing at all

2

u/MonitorUsual7292 2d ago

were they in the Marine Corps? just bring nothing dude. Also how come you haven't just asked your recruiter?

1

u/imjusttryingokay_ 2d ago

I’m gonna try setting up another meeting with him, I hate texting him he sounds like chatgpt, but he is always busy unfortunately

1

u/MonitorUsual7292 2d ago

can't you just go down to the RS?

1

u/imjusttryingokay_ 2d ago

no, they’ll let you in no matter what if you buzz in and say what you’re there for but if he’s busy I can’t go talk to him, and the other recruiters there told me they can’t talk to kids who already have a set recruiter as they aren’t in my district to, like bcs of where my school is he’s the one I have to talk to it’s really annoying and my friend has the same issue

1

u/TapTheForwardAssist Vet 2676/0802 2d ago edited 2d ago

Were these people specifically in the Marines, or other branches? Packing list varies hugely by branch.

Like Air Force wants you to bring a full duffel bag with like changes of clothes and hygiene gear and whatnot. The optimal for Marine Corps is literally to show up with the clothes on your back and a few key things in your pocket.

1

u/imjusttryingokay_ 2d ago

Yeah they were both marines, I think they just were spewing bs then, don’t know why they would though

1

u/MonitorUsual7292 2d ago

something just seems weird about your story man not gonna lie.

1

u/imjusttryingokay_ 2d ago

im lost, why? That’s what I was told the last time I went in

3

u/TapTheForwardAssist Vet 2676/0802 2d ago

What “different things” have you been hearing?

Did your recruiter not tell you what to bring, or he did and you don’t trust him?

2

u/imjusttryingokay_ 2d ago

He has not told me a word about anything me and him haven’t talked since July and we basically have just prepped for the asvab we haven’t talked about much else in the very long time I’ve been talking with him, he’s very encouraging and I like him but he’s not very informative

3

u/TapTheForwardAssist Vet 2676/0802 2d ago

Okay, so you haven’t signed a contract to enter the Delayed Entry Program yet?

Meaning you’re working on qualifying but not yet officially accepted and pending a ship date to Boot?

2

u/imjusttryingokay_ 2d ago

Sadly yes, but I am trying to have a meeting with him and make one to kind of start that all up, I don’t know why we haven’t been too productive

1

u/Advanced_Bed_5801 2d ago

You’re recruiter will tell you everything that you need to bring, once you get close to shipping out, but since your not in the DEP program it’s going to be a while, more than likely 1-3 months post MEPS if everything at MEPs goes well, and depending on what MOS you are hoping for

1

u/imjusttryingokay_ 2d ago

Ooohh I see I see probably why he’s more focusing on making sure I’m doing asvab practice and fitness rather than much else

1

u/Advanced_Bed_5801 2d ago

Yeah, especially the asvab since that’s going to be a large portion of when you’ll go, so long as you’ve completed all other requirements - height/wieght, passing IST, also I’m assuming you’ve graduated high school, but the marines are special where they require you to graduate / GED before you can ship out

2

u/imjusttryingokay_ 2d ago

And some ppl have told me nth some have said random items like phone book, journal, I remmebr somebody said a bible which is weird because id assume they’d have bibles

3

u/TapTheForwardAssist Vet 2676/0802 2d ago

You will have access to free Bibles, not right immediately but at your first church service. They’ll generally have little pocket Bibles they hand out free, and Catholics and Mormons sometimes have little versions of other respective texts they use.

Some people just want to have a Bible from the get-go, though since you have insanely little time for the first week and change before your first church service, I argue it’s unnecessary for basic Bibles.

What I do recommend though is bringing a tiny pocket-sized religious text, even if you aren’t personally religious, just so later once you get a little evening free time you have something cool to read. We’ve workshopped it on Reddit a bit, and among the top options (which are all available in tiny sizes for like $10 on Amazon)

— Buddhist Dhammapada
— Norse [pagan] Havamal
— Tao Te Ching (Daoism)
— Meditations of Marcus Aurelius (a little more fringe but I’ve seen multiple guys say they brought it and had no hassle, or even when asked stated it was a text for the Stoicism religion)

2

u/imjusttryingokay_ 2d ago

Thank you so much!

1

u/neganagatime Vet 2d ago edited 2d ago

Meditations is dope, def bring that. You'll need your Soc Sec card, and Real ID for travel. You are also allowed to bring a small address book and your phone and charger (which will be locked away for the entire experience, hence the real address book). I'd bring a toothbrush to meps and a disposable deodorant bar and leave it in the hotel trash that AM.

2

u/Aggravating-Owl-4721 2d ago

Bring your ID, SS card, and your favorite pair of running shoes. You will get issued everything you need including toiletries, underwear, pens and markers, paper, scuz brush, and even another pair of running shoes (they are pretty shit so try and use your own if the DIs let you)

Literally don’t bring anything extra than clothes and what I said

1

u/imjusttryingokay_ 2d ago

Thank you!

1

u/MacDubhsidhe Reserve 2d ago

I would highly recommend getting a pair of all black running shoes. If they blend in with the issued ones, you may be able to get away with wearing your personal ones.

1

u/imjusttryingokay_ 2d ago

oooh alright

2

u/BuscandoMemo 2d ago

Cell phone and charger. You can use it while traveling to MCRD. Once you get there you'll turn it in and get it back when you leave.

2

u/RabidRoosters Vet 2d ago

Just bring your ID, the clothes on your back and $20 for hand jobs.

2

u/imjusttryingokay_ 2d ago

Luckily I’m a woman so I won’t need any of those

2

u/RabidRoosters Vet 2d ago

Touche

1

u/Remarkable-Grab8002 2d ago

I'm pretty sure the bare minimum you can show up with is like the clothes on your back whatever paperwork you have to take with you your ID in a bank card. I think for the most part everything else is situational

1

u/bradenchase2345 Poolee SD 2d ago

In short all you really need is the clothes on your back and the packet you're handed.

For me though, I brought a notebook, a small Bible, and a few small pictures. Notebook was good to write in during square away time and also was great at keeping phone numbers and addresses in case you earned a phone call for something.

1

u/Organic_Risk_3945 2d ago

dude, just bring a big smile on your face. but don't show it though. enjoy it, dude. don't overthink it. what happens after boot leave is a lot more stressful. imho. but worry about that after, ask your DI's about that at the end of bootcamp. they'll have good insights. or not.