Reflection of the year

This year was very exciting. Prior to the beginning of the school year, I had heard numerous horror stories about how difficult junior year was. Now, I'm glad to say that it's coming to an end. It went by a lot faster than expected. The countless hours of studying, it's all finally over. However, I learned a whole lot throughout the year and I feel a lot more prepared and ready for college. I have become a much better student, even though I took a tumble during the middle of the year and slacked off a lot. It really burned me, but I have almost recovered fully and am back up to my regular standards. I am thankful that junior year is over and I'm more excited then ever to become a senior.

Benefits

There are many benefits that come from being a Marine. They are supported by the Marine Corps brotherhood, and are also supported by personal and professional resources. Other major benefits include financial support, family healthcare, housing, education, travel, vacation, and recreation. They want the best of the best to be in the marine corps, so they will help educate you to make you as well rounded as you can be.

Life Away From Home

There is a reason that boot camp is so emotionally and physically draining. The deployed life of a Marine is difficult. While they have the shortest average length of deployment in the military, they have the highest average number of deployments per career. They spend 80% of their deployment time somewhere away from the states, or working 16-18 hour days in support of operations stateside. Marines are also constantly traveling and moving throughout the three divisions, which are Camp Lejeune, NC, Camp Pendleton, and Okinawa, Japan.

#TheStruggle

The 12 week training camp is not an easy road at all. However, most people who enlist are able to make it through, about 85%. The usual reasons for not making it through and graduating on time is due to injuries during boot camp. Along from the grueling physical exertion of energy that the recruits have to go through, they are also cut off from all forms of communication with others, aside from sending letters. They are not allowed to have phone calls, emails, or even see their families until the day prior to graduation. The aspiring-to-be marines are also held to a single title - "recruit." They are called nothing else throughout the boot camp, and must earn the title of Marine.

Transformation

Last week I went over the fitness procedures that are required upon joining the United States Marine Corps. Herezwhatwegonnado. This week I will be researching and sharing with all of ya'll what goes on when you have completed the fitness tests and are enlisted in boot camp. The first thing that you do is contact a recruiter. They will share all the necessary information that will be needed to get to boot camp. You will have a date set and pack. Then you'll be shipped off to begin your boot camp experience. You'll get off the plane and your 12 week experience will begin. Week 3 will send you right into the action with bayonet practices. Week 4 will be pugil sticks, where you will have to face a live human being in combat for the first time. Week 5 will be MCMAP, or Marine Corps Martial Arts Program. Week 6 will be rappelling, 7 will be rifle safety, week 8 is firing week, 9 is confidence course, week 10 is simulation of actual combat, week 11 is 54 straight hours of demanding physical exertion, and finally, week 12 is the emblem ceremony. As you can see, the 12 week transformation into a Marine is a difficult and demanding process but with it comes a lot of self pride and respect.

Preparation for Enlistment

After research on the internet, I found a lot of interesting information about preparation for enlistment. The first thing you have to do before you can begin training is the Initial Strength Test, or IST. This is a strength test that consists of pull ups, crunches, and a timed run. The minimum amount of pull ups that you have to do is 2. You can prepare for this by regularly doing pull ups a couple of months prior to the test date. The minimum amount of crunches that you must complete is 44 in a span of two minutes. However, you can stop and rest any time throughout the two minutes, so you have a chance to catch your breath. There is a 1.5 mile run which must be completed in 13:30. The female requirements for these tests are a little less then those of males. Women must do a hanging arm flex from a bar with their elbows at 90 degree angles for 12 seconds, the amount of crunches is the same, and they have 15 minutes to complete the run. In my opinion, these tests are a little easy for the amount of physical demand there will be.

Requirements

The branch of military that I am most interested in exploring and finding out information is the Marines.  The first thing that popped into my head when thinking about this was if there were any requirements to enlist, such as age, physical fitness levels, and health. The minimum age requirement to enlist is 17 years of age, and the maximum age is 35 years. However, if you are 17 years old, you will need a parents consent because you are still a minor. For citizenship, you have to either be a United States citizen OR have been legally admitted into the country for permanent residence and posses immigration and naturalization documents. You must be able to pass a medical exam and be in good physical condition. I believe that this is a very important factor that people should be aware of because the military is very physically demanding. You must also have a high school education and pass an aptitude test.