The Marine Corps

The Marine Corps

The Marine Corps is the smallest of all the armed forces in the U.S. It is highly respected and has the hardest basic training of them. The Marine Corps was founded on November 10, 1775. It was founded in a bar called Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There are many jobs in the Marines, but some can be very hard to get into.

Marine Corps basic training takes place in two spots. They are Recruit Training Depot at Parris Island, South Carolina, and Recruit Training Depot at San Diego, California. Male Recruits who enlist west of the Mississippi go to San Diego. Those who enlist east of it go to Parris Island. Females who enlist all go to Parris Island. The training is pretty much identical at both locations. The San Diego recruits are sometimes referred to as "Hollywood Marines" because the weather is much nicer there. Parris Island graduates more than 17,000 a year, while San Diego graduates more than 21,000 a year.

Marine Corps boot camp is the most physical and mental challenge of all other services. The requirements are higher, and recruits must know a lot more information. It is also has the longest basic training, with 13 weeks of basics. The first step at recruit training is receiving. This is where recruits receive all their supplies, get their heads shaved, and get their dental and physical exams. This lasts three to five days. During this time recruits also take the Initial Strength Test. The requirements for this are: 2 pull ups, 44 crunches in two minutes, and a 1.5 mile timed run in under 13.5 minutes. During basic training recruits will