Preparation for Bootcamp

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Carmaletta on February 22, 2009 at 1:11pm

My son was in the DEP program so he had weekly meeting at the recruiting office and the did PT as well as studied chain of command and he also had to know the alphabet in code. He had a book and I helped him study like that. It was also track season so he was working out with that. He left for bootcamp in June after graduation.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Trish on February 22, 2009 at 1:18pm

Well my son played football and basketball so he pretty much was in shape.......or at least he thought until he started working out with the DEP program!LOL. But really the DEP program got him "Navy" ready. Good luck! Wow your from Colorado...I used to live in Aurora.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Navy 08 mom on February 22, 2009 at 7:07pm

Wow I just read all your advice. Good stuff! My son went to BC a year after he graduated. He was in football and track in school. He said that BC was a piece of cake compared to Coach Kitchens 2 a days. (LOL) He ran 3 miles a day and did push ups and set ups while he was in DEP for 6 months. He also studied his DEP book. He did awesome. He was the RPOC of his division. He truly had an awesome recruiter that was straight up with him from the get go. I wish you as much success as he has had. He wore his Navy sweatshirt there and never mentioned being singled out. He told me the key to sucees was to keep your mouth shut and do what your told and also that it's more a mental game then a physical one. I wish you the best in your Navy Career! HOOYAH!!!! Semper Fortis/Always Courageous

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Angie F.- WA: HM mom on February 22, 2009 at 8:25pm

"the key to success was to keep your mouth shut and do what your told and also that it's more a mental game then a physical one."

My son said the very same thing. If more Recruits would take this to heart and follow this advise, there would be much less yelling and much better teamwork at BC! :-)

My son was an an athlete in top shape when he went, so BC PT was a piece of cake for him. In fact, he felt there wasn't enough and got special permission from his RDC to do extra with some of his shipmates. Warped, I know! :) Still, he was first in the run, second in the rest and Quarterdeck PO; he never got in trouble, so he must have done some things right. Definitely, do some memorizing, running, push ups, sit ups and pull ups and running. Know what the targets are for female Recruits. The worse thing in the world is to be near the end of BC, looking forward to doing Battle Stations and graduating, but then failing to pass the final PFA (run) by several seconds or more. It happens. You get another chance or two, but it's very stressful and you will very much want to be going through BS and PIR (Pass in Review-Graduation) as scheduled with your Div/Shipmates, so set yourself up for success from the get go. Good Luck!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Diana on March 9, 2009 at 5:15pm

I was just wondering is the RPOC the person that carries the sword at graduation? If so, I would like to become the RPOC and I was wondering how your son had achieved this.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Karen - Proud Mom of Amber on February 22, 2009 at 9:25pm

Nicole~My daughter is in boot camp right now and she says the drama with the girls is horrible. This was in a different discussion "A females perspective on boot camp" I know this doesn't have to do with physically preparing for boot camp but feel it is important to remember while you are in bc.

Reply by Anti M on February 19, 2009 at 6:32pm
I went to boot camp ages ago, but the basics of basic don't change.

1. Bring your sense of humor. Boot camp can be surreal and absurd, enjoy it. Imagine how you'd laugh if you saw what is happening to you in a movie.

2. Listen, listen, listen. One of the things you are learning to become a sailor is how to follow instructions exactly, and attention to detail. So PAY ATTENTION. Remember, you are always more intelligent with your mouth shut.

3. Don't gossip. It just gets feelings hurt and there's your drama. Oh, you can not like someone, you will, but don't say it out loud.

4. Do your best, but don't beat yourself up if you are not perfect. Everyone in charge will do that for you.

5. Don't listen to rumors too much. Boot camp, well the entire Navy, thrives on speculation.

6. Be helpful, watch out for your shipmates, but look after your own responsibilities.

7. If you make a mistake, own it. Don't shift blame to others.

8. If you fail a test or an inspection or a PT, you have the opportunity to learn how to do it right.

9. Don't complain or shirk your duties. You'll get a rep as a whiner and a slacker. Just do it and be done.

10. Never say "I can't", just keep on trying to improve a bit more each time.

Now for the realities. As a new recruit, you will be tired and cranky and short on sleep. You will be confused and irritable. You won't like some of the girls, but you have to respect them and work with them. You will miss your family, your pets, your independence. You'll dislike your uniforms, the way you have to fold them and making beds. You'll hate getting ready in a hurry, just to stand at attention and wait.

You will look like crap when you roll out of the rack in the morning. No one cares. You won't have jewelry or make up or phones or fingernails. No one cares. No one cares who you know at home, who your family is, how much money they make, what type of car you drive, how many designer shoes or fancy clothes you own .... all the status stuff falls away. Stow it. What matters in boot camp is your attitude, your spirit, your willingness to bust your hump to get the job done, your word to others.

BUT!!!!! Sometime in the first week or two or three, or even four .... You will begin to catch on, you will learn many new things, you will gain skill and strength. You will work as a unit with your shipmates. You will accept responsibilities and be competent and confident. You will experience an amazing feeling of pride and accomplishment. You will feel as though you can do anything!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Anti M on February 23, 2009 at 11:10am

LOL, thanks and I am happy to see someone thought it was important enough to share.

The physical stuff will come, I was in DEP for exactly one week and had no chance to get ready. I wasn't overweight, but I surely was not in shape. I did fail a run or two, but as I've said, you get the opportunity to do it right. Better to be able to meet the standards before you go in though!

I strongly suggest memorizing those 11 General Orders. Recruits will be required to spout them off under stressful circumstances and not in order. And think about them too, what they mean. They are not simply some words to please your new navy bosses, they have content and meaning.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Linda 424 on February 23, 2009 at 9:38am

Nicole: Just A Friendly Suggestion: - If You Can Increase Your Rank To An E3 Before Going To BootCamp - Do It. Study And Work On The Physical Stuff. Check With The Recruiter. My Son's #1 Regret - Just Hanging Out Til BootCamp And Missing Out On E2 Status Earlier. He Went To BootCamp Last April And Just Got E2 In Jan 09. Best Of Luck To You!!!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by susan on March 16, 2009 at 10:03am

what is E1 and E2, E3. Is that before you go to boot camp ?

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by LMN on February 23, 2009 at 12:09pm

My son went in right out of high school...he was delayed entry and had some time, however, he was also on the cross country team, and we have a pool at home so he really didnt do anything out of the norm as far as preperation.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kelly **gunnerJ's mom** on February 23, 2009 at 4:31pm

hello nicole,
my son is a depper and still has several months left to go before he goes to BC. are you in DEP? if not, you may talk to your recruiter about getting a book(it outlines everything you need to know before BC). mainly, you know what you need to work on, whether its endurance(running) or other physical things,pushups. Just keep trying to increase your endurance in these areas and you'll do ok. It is just as important to prepare yourself mentally for BC too, you'll go thru a lot while you're there. My son is trying to build more muscles in his legs as he's a bit thin and tall. he stays active, lifts weights and does PT with his dep group. good luck, nicole!!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by marthab on February 24, 2009 at 12:09am

If you have a few weeks of months: work out all you can. The DEP guys/girls here have a great trainer. They do PST weekly with the trainer to be sure they can keep it up and pass at book camp. Try to do more than the requirements: the DEP book tells what you have to pass. They work out a few days a week for a couple of hours at a time, usually they made plans to meet and work together as a group. Yes, learn the 11 general orders. DEP meetings are good at getting you ready to go..... Then it will be harder than you thought it would. My son is in boot camp now, he says it is a good thing he worked out so much, many guys are kicked back from special forces to regular and many people are "rolled back" a week for more physical fitness preparedness. "the key to success was to keep your mouth shut and do what your told and also that it's more a mental game then a physical one." he learned that the hard way. Got extra duty on sunday morning and had to miss church.

▶ Reply to This

• First
• Previous
• Next
• Last