SFMC Boot Camp

Introduction

Star Fleet Marine Corps Boot Camp, otherwise known as "Recruit Training" or "Basic Training" is a program of initial training that each recruit must successfully complete upon joining the Star Fleet Marine Corps in order to be assigned to a unit. Individuals entering the Marine Corps will undergo Boot Camp at one of the various Marine Corps Recruit Depots (MCRD) throughout the Federation.

Time	Activity	Description
0500	Wake-up	Wake up and perform personal morning tasks. For males, shaving is mandatory every morning.
0510	Fall-in	Line up in company area, perform morning physical training (calisthenics and running).
0630	Morning chow
0830	Training	Begin the day's scheduled training exercises.
1200	Noon chow
1300	Training	Continue the day's scheduled training exercises.
1700	Evening chow
1800	Drill instructor time	Time for drill instructors to talk to the recruits about any subject they may think requires attention. Mail call is also performed during this time.
2030	Personal time	Time for recruits to engage in personal activities, such as writing letters, working out, doing laundry, or shaving. Recruits may also catch up on platoon duties during this time, such as barracks cleaning or boot shining.
2130	Lights-out	Time for recruits to sleep.

Organizational Structure

Boot camp is broken down structurally by regiment, battalion, Company, and platoon. One recruit training regiment, or RTR, is composed of three recruit training battalions.

Drill Instructors

Central to the experience, training and development of Marine recruits is the Marine Drill Instructor. Each Boot Camp platoon is assigned at least three, perhaps more, Drill Instructors. There are several (usually two) Drill Instructors serving under a more experienced Senior Drill Instructor (SDI).

A platoon will either have three or four drill instructors. The head drill instructor is called the "Senior Drill Instructor" and must be addressed as such. The second in command is officially the EDI, or "Experienced Drill Instructor" but is unofficially referred to as the "heavy hat"or "j-hat" for junior DI. This hat is usually responsible for ensuring the platoon has the gear it needs and for teaching them drill. The third drill instructor in a three-hat team is the ADI, "Assistant Drill Instructor" commonly referred to as the "kill hat". This hat is the one who teaches the recruits knowledge and is usually the one who "corrects" recruits.

Diet and Fittness

Recruits receive their initial weigh-in during the forming phase. If the recruit is under or over the height and weight standards, the recruit is placed on double rations (underweight) or in a "diet recruit" status (overweight).

Recruits on double rations, or "double rat recruits", are given twice the "chow" of their within-standards compatriots. Conversely, diet recruits are put on a strict diet composed of fewer calories and lower-fat foods such as baked fish and rice.

All recruits receive three meals a day. These are either served at the mess facility while in garrison or via Field Rations.

Training Schedule

Boot camp is broken down into three numbered phases, with a receiving phase during the first week at the depot. Each phase includes intensive education and training on history, customs and courtesy, close order drill, as well as other topics deemed essential for United States Marines.

Boot camp itself is a 12-week cycle of training, not including the first week of in-processing, called "forming".

Receiving Phase

The initial period of Marine Corps Boot Camp is called the Receiving Phase. This period begins as the new recruits are in transit, getting onto their recruit Depot. At this point they are civilians who desire to enlist, with little or no understanding of the requirements demanded of Marines in today's Fleet Marine Force. The recruits are then made aware of the UCJ (Uniform Code of Justice), which they are liable under.

After this, the recruits go through days worth of introduction to the Marine Corps and completing the paperwork necessary to accommodate them into the Marine Corps. This takes approximately three days, ending with the Initial Strength Test (IST). The IST consists of performance tests involving pull-ups, abdominal crunches, and running. From here, those recruits who pass are prepared for their actual platoons, while those who fail are dropped to PCP (Physical Conditioning Platoon).

At this point, recruits receive their "IT Brief", where the recruits learn of the consequences of disobedience, or even not performing to the Drill Instructor's expectations. The Drill Instructors physically, psychologically and mentally challenge the recruits, including yelling at maximum volume to induce stress, simulate stress of the battlefield, and elicit immediate compliance to instructions.

Phase One

Phase One lasts approximately four weeks. This phase is designed to break the recruits of civilian habits and to prepare them for Marine Corps discipline. This is done by disorienting them and instilling in them the mental and physical discipline needed to perform under stressful situations that will be simulated in subsequent phases, and experienced in combat situations. It is at this point that a recruit must come to terms with the decision he has made, and where he develops the true determination needed to make it through the process of becoming a Star Fleet Marine.

The purpose of the First Phase is to psychologically break down the Recruit. At this point, civilian thoughts and habits are considered detrimental to training, so they are squashed during this period by intense physical training, unchanging routines, strict discipline, and heavy instruction. The process is designed to enable recruits to learn to survive in combat situations, when captured by the enemy, and generally to adapt and overcome any encounters foreign to the recruit. One of the principle ideals learned during this period is that any and all Marines must be called "Sir", or "Ma'am", because they have completed the journey and become "Fleet Marines." Also, from this point onward recruits are not permitted to refer to themselves with first-person ("I") or second-person ("you") pronouns, because traditionally Marines think of themselves as the Corps, or their unit, first (rather than thinking of themselves as an individual recruit/Marine). Instead, recruits are required to use third-person referrals, such as referring to themselves as "This (or the) recruit" or "These (or the) recruits", etc. Failure to do so usually ends with extreme punishment.

The bulk of first phase, other than the breakdown, consist of classes about the Marine Corps, First Aid, History, Rank, Protocol, Customs and Courtesies, and other relevant topics.

During this phase, recruits are also issued their PR-1 Rifle. This rifle is to be theirs through the entirety of Boot Camp. Recruits must learn their rifle's serial number, the weapons safety rules, the weapons conditions, and go through preparatory lessons in Marksmanship. In addition, recruits begin to learn close order drill, to instill discipline, and the immediate and willing obedience to orders. The weapon is always referred to as a 'weapon' and never a 'gun'.

By the end of First Phase, Recruits can march, respond to orders, and can PT adequately. At this point they are ready for Phase Two.

Phase Two

Phase Two of Marine Corps Boot Camp, is essentially the training that Marines require for the field. This includes two weeks of rifle training, 'field week', and the Crucible.

The First week of the second phase of boot camp is known as "Grass Week". This week is spent in class learning about the Marksmanship principles of the PR-1, and how to shoot efficiently. When not in class, recruits are "snapping in", or dry firing their rifles at painted targets similar to the targets they will fire at for qualification.

The second week is qualification week. This week recruits are awakened early in the morning to prepare the rifle range for firing. They spend all day running through the "KD" or Known Distance Course of fire, practicing their aim, firing, and recovery. On Thursday of that week is qualification day. There, recruits fire at the 200, 300, and 500 meter lines, in the sitting, kneeling, and standing positions, and must pass with one of three qualification levels: Marksman, sharpshooter, or expert.

After the Rifle range, recruits begin Field Week. During this week, recruits learn basic infantry tactics, designed to give every Marine the ability to function as a rifleman, should the need permit. During this week, recruits are trained in such topics as the use of gas masks, field movements (humping, the Marine term for hiking in full gear), night fire, bivouacking, field first aid, etc. At the end of this week, the recruits prepare for the Crucible.

The Crucible

The Crucible is the culmination of everything a basic rifleman Marine should know. It is three days of constant strenuous testing, humping, hardship, punishment, and starvation. The recruit is given four MREs, and this is meant to supply them for the next three days. Worthy of note is that while some recruits have food to spare at the end of this ordeal, others consume their rations quickly, and when they become hungry, other recruits aid their fellows, some even giving their last bit of food to another. This is one of the goals of the Crucible: to train Marines to look out for one another. This also distinguishes leaders among the recruits, something the Drill Instructors look for in their platoons. The Crucible consists of certain challenges for the recruits, broken into teams of 15, to accomplish as a whole, or fail as a whole. One single recruit completing an obstacle means almost nothing. If anyone fails, it means that those that completed it failed to aid their fellow recruit in the accomplishment of their given mission. This is perhaps the ultimate goal of the Crucible: to instill in potential Marines that completing the mission is paramount to anything else. Added to these tasks, the recruits only get 8 hours of sleep over the course of these three days, adding the very real element of fatigue to the situations. On the final day of the Crucible, recruits are awoken and begin their final march.

Phase Three

Third Phase is essentially the 'polishing' of the recruits, where their drilling, knowledge, and basic skills are honed and tested. Also, they are fitted for their full issue of service uniforms. After this, the recruits are tested out in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, and the knowledge test. After this, there is what is known as "team week", where recruits help out in the chow hall, pool, and other areas where labor is needed. The point of this week is to instill upon the almost Marines that they will be called upon for more than their given job, to help others in the accomplishment of their mission.

After Team Week, the recruits have Final Drill. This is a test not only of the recruits, but also how well the Drill Instructors have trained them. This is graded, as is the Battalion Commander's inspection, which happens after. At this point, the recruits, dressed in a Marine's service Alpha uniform, are inspected by a Lt. Col. They have their Service Rifle inspected, as well as their Rifle Manual, and their general knowledge and bearing. They are asked questions that they were not previously made aware of, such as, "What was the most important thing you learned in Boot Camp?" After this, the recruits turn in their rifles, and prepare for graduation, practicing for the ceremony. Also, these recruits are afforded more privileges than the first phase recruits they are around, such as getting first priority at the chow hall, as well as getting to occasionally eat at the Marine chow hall. At the beginning of the last week, the recruits receive their military ID, as well as their personal items (any items with them upon arrival).

Upon completion of the last phase, the recruits become marines and graduate to go on to begin training in their specific MOS (Military Occupational Specialty).