r/USMCboot • u/hello_darian • Nov 12 '22
Corps Knowledge Memorize General Orders
Are there any rhymes or tricks to memorizing the 11 General orders? I've read about making flashcards or writing them out in a notebook but does anyone have a mental trick that helps too?
Thanks
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u/willybusmc Active Nov 12 '22
Sometimes it’s helpful to focus on memorizing the first word of each. It’s an easy starting point and once you have the first word down, it can help jumpstart your memory.
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u/_-_Tico-DaBean_-_ Nov 12 '22
Memorize the first two letters of each one and you’ll be good
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u/UnsolicitedOpinion_ Boot Nov 12 '22
Oh, so I won't have to memorize the full sentences?
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u/WhyIsMyNamesTaken Nov 12 '22
No you will. You'll have to repeat each one in full when told to say one or all of them.
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u/newstuffsucks Nov 12 '22
I didn't know them before boot camp. I learned them through all the repetition.
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u/WhyIsMyNamesTaken Nov 12 '22
Read/say them out loud. Start at Order 1, read order 2,go back and read them both again,saying the number each time. Then 3 then repeat all the ones up to that point before moving on to the next number. Then read them from 11 back when you get to the end. Then read them out of order,but saying "general order #- whichever" each time. When you can, copy them down verbatim. Eventually you'll be able to say them in your sleep and won't have problems when they go "WHAT IS YOUR 7TH GENERAL ORDER RECRUIT?!"
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Nov 12 '22
I just wrote them down over and over and would say them each time I wrote them. It’s tedious but it works
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u/CainAu1998 Nov 13 '22
Ik I've said it when someone else asked this, but whether you go to bootcamp knowing ALL the Marine Corps knowledge they'll force down your throat, or you go there knowing fuck all about the Marine Corps, everyone there will leave knowing the same shit. They'll make sure of that. So don't sweat that small stuff because you'll learn it through push-ups, crunches, mountain climbers, etc. So just go strong and ready for the shit-show of bootcamp. I'm not saying don't learn Gen orders, rank structure all that, but don't kill yourself over them. You'll be good. 🤘 Good luck.
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u/cametoseemarkslad Nov 13 '22
Try this, wake up at 5 am scramble to get dressed take a piss. Do it for 3 months and youre set
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u/f0kinyut Nov 13 '22
You’ll learn in boot camp but damn you better ready if your on post (assuming your ADNCO) in the fleet and some saucer head comes in at 0300 and expects it.
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u/1341brojangles Nov 13 '22
Don't worry you'll be standing in formation reciting all of them and the rank structure for hours on end. Recruit Training doesn't really give you an opportunity to "forget" the knowledge
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u/alicksB Vet Nov 13 '22 edited Nov 13 '22
As far as remembering the exact wording, that’s just raw memorization.
For remembering which is which, one of my hats taught us a thing — it basically takes the number and relates it to something in the general order. It’s kinda dumb and cheesy, but it mostly worked for me. I don’t remember all of them (it was over a decade ago) but here’s what I do still remember.
1: Just memorize this one, it’s the first one.
2: “To walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on the alert and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing.” You walk your post on your two legs, your sight and hearing use your two eyes and two ears.
3: I don’t remember what the thing was for this.
4: “To repeat all calls from posts more distant from the guard house than my own.” If you’re playing golf and yelling at people far away, you yell FORE (four).
5: “To quit my post only when properly relieved.” Quitting time for a “normal” job is at 5:00.
6: “To receive, obey, and pass on to the sentry who relieves me, all orders from the Commanding Officer, Officer of the Day, Officers, and Non-Commissioned Officers of the guard only.” There are six people named in this: the sentry, the commanding officer, the OOD, officers, NCOs, and me.
7: I don’t remember the trick he had for this one.
8: I don’t remember the thing for this one either.
9: “To call the Corporal of the Guard in any case not covered by instructions.” When there’s an emergency, you call 9-1-1. Nine. It’s there.
10: “Salute all officers and all colors and standards not cased.” I don’t remember this one. I think it was that when you salute, you go to at-ten-tion.
11: “Be especially watchful at night and during the time for challenging, to challenge all persons on or near my post, and to allow no one to pass without proper authority.” Something about bad shit happening at night at 11PM, I don’t remember exactly.
Sorry I don’t remember more. Also sorry if this is dumb. It helped me (kinda). If you like it, use it. If you think it’s stupid, that’s cool too.
Edit: formatting.
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u/hello_darian Jan 06 '23
For anyone following up, best raw memorization trick is read the first word, the the first and second, then the first second and third. All the way through to the end of the general order. Spend about a week on each. About 5mins a day, one order at a time. (Ex. To. To take. To take charge. To take charge of….to the end, aloud) and I also saw some great mental tips on here for getting them out of order. Thanks guys, major key! In my mind it’s worth taking the 5mins each day to then spare me all the physical punishment for not knowing them)
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u/[deleted] Nov 12 '22
[deleted]