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Prepare for BootCamp

Category: Prepare for BootCamp

Published: Wednesday, July 29, 2009

So, your interested in joining the Marine Corps?  What do you need to do to prepare for BootCamp?  I found myself in Feb 1995 in recruit training having signed up 2 weeks prior to standing on the yellow footprint at MCRD San Diego.  I found myself in front of Drill Instructors wondering what in the world is going on!  I had no clue what was going on because I did not know anything about recruit training or what to expect.  The recruiter did not give me anything to prepare for bootcamp like general orders, chain of command, exercise programs, ect.  The Drill Instructors were shouting out commands and I had no idea of what was they were saying..........   Well, I did what allot of recruits do, follow everyone else that had an idea, had military training or saw an informative film on BootCamp.  I made it through recruit training obviously but it would have been allot easier if I could have been informed on what was needed to prepare and what was going to take place in bootcamp.  Well, I graduated recruit training May 5th, 1995 and went on into the fleet (duty station).... 

I found myself back at MCRD San Diego now in DI School several years later.  This was the toughest training that I had endured in my 12 year career in the Marine Corps.  This time, it was bootcamp all over again plus academically challenging like college.  For all those former Drill Instructors out there, I am sure you would agree with me on this!  Of course I made it through DI School and went across the street to train recruits with 1^st Battalion, Charlie Company.  On my 1st Senior Drill Instructor cycle which was my 7^th platoon, a movie director was embedded with my platoon.  At first, I did not want any camera crew with me at all.  As a DI, you don't want to be micro managed and having all eyes on you because it was not a good thing.  Imagine this, having someone follow you all the time when you did not want them to!  It's not good but like all good Marines do, we adapted to our environment no matter what that environment might be.  That footage of that platoon when on to become known / called "Ears, Open. Eyeballs, Click."  Basically it shows 12 weeks of recruit training.   

Well, I left the Drill Field and went on to Hawaii to become Protocol Chief for a 3 star General for 2 years and then on to Camp Pendleton where I deployed to Iraq.  Upon my return from Iraq, I left the Marine Corps after 12 years of service in March 2007.  From there, I went on with my life and became Co-Owner of 10 convenience stores in Louisiana.  While there, I would be invited to go MC at different military events, fly to Quantico to sign autographs for the film and attend Marine Corps pollie events and speak to them about the Corps because of the footage on my platoon.  While I was moving on with my life, this whole film on my platoon was growing.  It was placed in 37 Marine Corps exchanges around the world and aired on Direct TV Documentary Channel for the last several years.  Several months ago, I felt in my heart that something bigger for me was coming and God had spoken to my wife and told here to be ready to move/leave Louisiana.  When she first told me that, I was like whatever!  I was a Business man and our company was doing outstanding moving over 2.5 million in sales a MONTH! with 2 more convenience stores under construction........  In most people’s eyes, I had it made.  The same felling I had about getting out of the Marine Corps came back and then I felt God started tugging on my heart to get ready for a change.  I was lead to get my myspace up and running, then facebook, then youtube, then twitter.  Almost overnight people were flooding my website asking questions, comments, ect.

Some of the biggest questions where:

I am going to bootcamp, what do I need to do to prepare?  How long is bootcamp?  What exercises should I be doing?  What is a day in bootcamp like?  How often do you drill?  Do I get to call home?  Do we get to go to church?  How much time for this and that, What branch should I join?  Or comments like I saw EOEC and loved it, it motivated me to join the Corps, it lead me to become an office, your documentary prepared me for bootcamp, it showed me things that no one could have and that is why I made it through bootcamp, ect….

Then, people wanted to know where to get the film.  I would always refer them to others website and never really thought about my own website until you, the fans (past, present, future military) would suggest to do so.......  All the feedback gave me the motivation to start this website and in July, it became a reality.  Now that it's up and running, I am working on an EBook to help any  that is going to BootCamp or interested in BootCamp prepare for bootcamp.   

So, for all those that want to know about recruit training, how to prepare for bootcamp, what is bootcamp going to be like, what are the Drill Instructor's like, how much do you sleep, how often do you stand firewatch and the knowledge you will need to know before you go!  If that is you, stay connected by signing up for my newletter for I will announce all new footage that is released through there and when my EBook is ready that way.

Immediate answers to most of your questions.  Get up early (0530 Military Reveille) every morning Monday - Saturday, get out and go exercise daily.  Build up your Physical training according to where you currently are because you don’t want to overdue it because you will burn yourself out.  Most importantly, START doing something!  I would also seek out as much knowledge about the Marine Corps through your Recruiter.  They have knowledge at there fingertips and if you seek it, you will find it.  Also get online and get on Marine Corps websites and see what they have and what guidance they are given.  If it is important to you, you will find it out and get many different answers to your questions.  If not, you will not be prepared for bootcamp.  And for now, my final answer is to get "Ears, Open. Eyeballs, Click.".  It will show 12 weeks of recruit training in "The Movie".  Recently, "Chapter 1" was released which shows the first 24 hours of bootcamp.  In Sept/Oct timeframe, we will be releasing "Chapter 2" which will show you 40-45 min of week 2.  Basically, it will become a "Band of Brothers" type series but of Marine Corps BootCamp showing you 40-45 minutes of each week of bootcamp.  The film will open your eyes into the reality of basic training and what your going to go through in order to earn the title U.S. Marine!  Many have come and many have gone and the future is in your hands, follow the desires of your heart because I can honestly say, it was the best 12 years of my life so far.  God Bless, Semper Fi and thank you for motivating me to launch my website and to write this EBook.  I see some outstanding things coming in the near future because I have decided to follow my heart and not what others wanted me to do or thought that I should do.

SSgt. Nichols, 

P.S.  I also asked that each of you sign up for my newletter on my home page and pass my website alone however you can on facebook, myspace, family, friends, websites, ect......  CARRY ON!

SSgt. Nichols' GUEST BOOK

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