Basic

[Apollo]

So I am two weeks away from hitting up the Great Lakes for basic training.

What should I really expect from basic. Like what happens day to day, and how is it during the winter months? I have never really been above Southern California and I have lived in Houston, Tx my entire life.

[CVal]

Hey apollo! Thanks for signing up. You will be issued the gear you need for the weather. It's been in the 50s the past few weeks. Expect it to gradually become cooler as we move into November. It's not unusual to get snow in November, but it usually doesn't start really piling up until late November or into December.

Check out the Weather Channel web site for zip code 60088 during the next two weeks to get an idea of what it'll be like. You could go hang out in the fridge of the local restaurant to get a feel for the weather!

[smarg]

Expect to be challenged, expect rigid rules, expect physical training, and do your best.

Then, see the world.

[Apollo]

Could you tell me how the base assignment goes? I am going in for hospital corpsman, and I understand that those A schools are being moved to Texas. Will be there by January? And do they really take into consideration the preference for the base you want when you put down your choices?

I kind of want to be stationed overseas. Possibly in Tokyo, Japan. I would love to go to Turkey, but I think there is only an AF base there, sooooo.

Also, what should I really be studying before I went? I didn't get a DEP book because there is no money to buy anymore allegedly, so what should I brush up on?

And thanks for the info so far

[CVal]

Sorry, Apollo, I can't answer your non-weather-related questions.

[navgrl74]

Originally Posted by Apollo

Could you tell me how the base assignment goes? I am going in for hospital corpsman, and I understand that those A schools are being moved to Texas. Will be there by January? And do they really take into consideration the preference for the base you want when you put down your choices?

I kind of want to be stationed overseas. Possibly in Tokyo, Japan. I would love to go to Turkey, but I think there is only an AF base there, sooooo.

Also, what should I really be studying before I went? I didn't get a DEP book because there is no money to buy anymore allegedly, so what should I brush up on?

And thanks for the info so far

The Corps School will not be moved to Texas until sometime 2011 so you will stay there for your A school.


I can tell you this. If you pass Hospital Corps "A" school, as a male you should prepare for the fact that you will be sent after graduation straight to Field Med School (8404). If that happens your chances of getting overseas orders are slimmer unless you get a Marine Unit out of Okinawa or Iwakuni.

The way it used to be with pick of orders out of school was where you were in the line up. Top of the class had first picks. Now things are different. It's the needs of the Navy.

[ElectricElvis]

Welcome aboard, Apollo!

I went to boot camp in Great Lakes from November to January, and "A" school on the same base as your corps-school.

It will be cold. And windy. When you get your new uniforms during week two or three, your legs will chap at the inseam, so take a small bottle of lotion. (think airline carry-on size). It will save your sanity. You will freeze, no matter what the assigned uniform of the day is. Alternately, when you get inside, you will probably also freeze, because those barracks are never more than 68 degrees. Do not sleep between your sheets; just use a blanket. Otherwise you'll have to remake your rack, and you won't have time to do it credibly before they start you on your new day.

Don't worry about the DEP book. It's just a head start on the stuff you'll learn there. There is nothing in the DEP book that you won't be taught during boot camp.

Make sure you wear tidy-whities (or plain white granny panties and sports bras for us girls) to report for duty. Otherwise, they'll make you change your underwear and send the dirty scivvies home to your parents. Embarrassing.

If you wear contacts, leave them home. Take your glasses, for graduation and photos, but Red Rover medical will make you a pair of glasses for while you are there. These special glasses are almost indestructible. They are also ugly. Resign yourself.

Corps-school is long. Worry about that first, then worry about where you're going to be stationed. Everything one step at a time. Boot camp, A school, possibly a C school (if they offer you one, TAKE IT!).

I'll be happy to answer any other questions you have, although it might take me a couple of days.

[Yggdrasil]

When I went through boot camp 10 years ago, it didn't matter if you slept between the sheets or not, because we had bunk drills where we had to strip our racks every morning anyway. I would think that that's one thing that wouldn't change.

[ElectricElvis]

We only did bunk drills three times a week, and usually after lunch. Since the compartment was open for inspections while we were gone for chow (including breakfast), we had to have our racks neatly made at all times.

We did not sleep between our sheets. Except, sometimes, on Saturday night, since we had all of holiday routine on Sunday to fix them.

[Apollo]

Thanks for all the info so far. I have never slept between the sheets, so that won't really be a problem for me. I do toss and turn a lot, but I figure once we get into the roll of things, I will be in dead sleeps in one position all night from exhaustion.

After basic, and in A school, do we get to ship our personal stuff to us whereever we are?