Marine Corps Recruit Training is approximately 13 weeks long. Receiving is the first week and actual training takes place for 12 weeks after that.
Frequently Asked Questions for Parents
FAQs
Parents often have many questions when their child has shown an interest in becoming a Marine, or is preparing to leave for recruit training. Below are some of the most common questions parents have.
In Marine Corps Recruit Training, recruits are transformed into the world’s most elite fighting force over the course of 13 weeks. Recruits will acquire the knowledge, discipline, teamwork, and fitness level required of a Marine through physical training, classroom instruction, and developing combat skills.
Receiving week is 3–5 days processing to prepare recruits for their first day of actual Marine training. They complete paperwork, receive haircuts, are issued uniforms and gear, undergo medical evaluations, and take the Initial Strength Test. At the end of the week, they meet the team of drill instructors who will be responsible for leading them through training.
During a typical day in Marine Corps recruit training, recruits will eat breakfast before attending training or classes. They’ll break for lunch and then continue the scheduled training until dinner time. Recruits may also spend part of the day discussing core values and receiving coaching about future training from their drill instructors. The remainder of the evening is spent preparing for the next day, cleaning the squad bay, and enjoying one hour of free time before lights out and 8 hours of sleep.
The Marine Crucible is the final 54-hour training exercise that tests recruits on the knowledge, skills, and values taught throughout training. Those who complete the final challenge earn their Eagle, Globe, and Anchor, symbolizing their transformation from recruits to Marines.
Marine Recruits are required to make one phone call the night they arrive to inform their next-of-kin or recruiter they’ve made it to training safely. After the initial phone call, all correspondence is made through letters and postcards. Recruits will send their first letter home seven to nine days after they arrive. The letter will include their mailing address with company and platoon information.
Marine Recruits are required to make one phone call the night they arrive to inform their next of kin or recruiter they’ve made it to training safely. After the initial phone call, all correspondence is made through letters and postcards. New Marines can make personal calls and use the internet during on-base liberty on the Sunday after the Crucible, the following Saturday and Sunday, and the Thursday immediately before graduation.
Marine Recruits will send their first letter home seven to nine days after they arrive. The letter will include their mailing address with company and platoon information.
The best person for families to contact with questions is your Marine Recruit’s local recruiter.
If you need to get in touch with your Marine Recruit, the best person to contact is the original recruiter.
If there is a family emergency situation at any time during recruit training, please contact American Red Cross Emergency Communication Services.
If recruits have to leave, they’ll be moved to another Marine Corps base to continue training until it’s safe to return. Recruits will be unable to call their next-of-kin during an evacuation due to the large number of recruits undergoing training.
Recruits will be kept informed about possible actions leading up to a natural disaster. Rely on letters from your recruit for information or monitor official resources such as the MCRD website.
If a Marine in recruit training gets an injury, training delay, company transfer, or separation, the recruit will be permitted to call one person to notify them of the situation, its cause, and what happens next. If the recruit cannot remember the phone number or is unable to reach someone, the recruit’s recruiter will be contacted. If the recruit is unable to make the phone call for any reason, depot personnel will call someone designated by the recruit.
You may not visit your recruit until Family Day, the day before Graduation.
Families can see their recruit at Marine Recruit Training during liberty on Family Day, the day before Graduation.
Marines Family Day is the day before graduation from recruit training. The purpose is to give family and friends a chance to see their Marine on base before the final graduation ceremony.
Information regarding Marine recruit training graduation day is available on the website of each Marine Corps Recruit Depot.
Marines receive one day of travel and ten days of leave after recruit training graduation before attending the School of Infantry (SOI). Marines participating in the Recruiter Assistance Program will receive up to thirty days of leave before attending the SOI. Those with an Infantry Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) are trained at Infantry Training Battalion (ITB) over the course of 59 days, and those with a non-Infantry MOS are trained at Marine Combat Training Battalion (MCT) over the course of 29 days. They are then assigned to a unit with a Permanent Duty Station (PDS).
Marines can drive, fly, or take a bus with their families. If you plan on taking a bus or flight home and will not be purchasing tickets for your Marine, provide them with your travel itinerary as soon as possible so SATO Travel can try to match his or her travel plans with yours.
Marines will receive a set of orders when they leave training telling them exactly when, where, and how to get to their next duty station. All recruits are required to book commercial travel from their leave location to Camp Geiger or Camp Pendleton.