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I'd suggest this book if you are just starting out with fitness/body building in general. https://www.amazon.com/New-Encyclopedia-Modern-Bodybuilding-Updated/dp/0684857219

If you have Air Force ROTC at the college you want to get your masters degree from that will only make your military transition even easier as they can write you good testimonials and help open doors.

The military in general, active or reserve, will not make you into a fit body. The transitional period during boot camp (That good old 13 week fun course) is only going to give you average fitness levels. They just want to train you enough to pass the fitness test, because that is their job. If you want to do anything beyond that you will have to do it on your own (and on your own time). Fitness is a habit that can be gained through repeated action just like everything else.

Books are a fountain of knowledge especially non-fiction.

You have to think deeper in life. Why aren’t you where you want to be? What does my dream day look like? How I can I start creating my dream day? Ask questions of yourself to learn more about you.

One of the books I’d recommend you read is Discipline Equals Freedom by Jocko Willink EX-Navy Seal

Discipline Equals Freedom: Field Manual https://www.amazon.com/dp/1250156947/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_9kGMAbA9YZ894


https://youtu.be/78I9dTB9vqM

Also above I have linked to a ex-navy Seal David Goggins who was once in your place, it will help give you guidance.

> My son is leaving for Paris Island on the 28th.

A small correction: It's Parris Island. Two "Rs".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_Corps_Recruit_Depot_Parris_Island


He honestly doesn't need a damned thing as he leaves for Boot Camp.

Put him on the bus with his driver's license with a $20bill wrapped around it with a rubber band, and the clothes on his back.

(Plus whatever else his Recruiter tells him to bring, obviously.)


But, if you wanted to:

Recruits are authorized to keep a small address book.
Keep it SMALL. A 5x7" address book would be too large.

Moleskine 2.5"x4" Address Book

Tape a couple of wallet sized photos inside one of those.
Obviously fill it with appropriate mailing addresses & phone numbers.


Ok, he ships out on 28 Oct. He's gonna graduate end of January - early February then, right?

That means MCT in Feb-March. That's gonna suck.

For graduation, you might consider something like a nice Leatherman multi-tool.

Example 1

Example 2

Just make sure it has a belt pouch of some sort with a good closure mechanism (snap or velcro, nothing with a magnet).

Save the rest of your money to make sure he has fresh regulation socks, t-shirts and whatever kind of boot insert he thinks appropriate.

Lots of recruits exit Boot Camp with foot, ankle or shin issues, and they have no choice but to grin & bear it during Boot Camp.
But after Boot Camp, you can spend some money and throw some technology at the problem.
Issued boots are not well insulated. North Carolina isn't exactly the arctic tundra, so don't go crazy.
But six pair of fresh, standard issue wool socks, and a similar number of fresh standard issue t-shirts are cheap investments.

We just had this question yesterday. Look man, here is what I would do if i was you to ensure that I made it. You will be RECON if you do this i can ALMOST promise you that:

1. Id get a recon prep guide off the net and complete it.
   
2. Id find out what happens at BRC to the best of your knowledge and train for those events BEFORE boot.
   
3. Id ensure I have enough time in the DEP so that I could properly prepare my body
   
   1. Meaning Swimming, PFT and id learn all about Marine Corp knowledge
      
   2. I would speak to recon members if possible from the internet if you can find one
      
4. Id make sure im a 300 PFT before I left for boot.
   
5. Id find a local swim school and swimming instructor and have them teach me proper strokes and have them time you on events that youd do at BRC and in any course prior to BRC.
   
   Id show up to boot camp knowing that in my mind and body that I will make it. The easier it is physically the easier it will be on your mind.
   
   Here is a guide on prepping for BRC by a former Recon Marine
   
   https://www.amazon.com/Marine-Recon-Prep-Reconnaissance-Training/dp/1987705548
   
   And another:
   
   http://store.stewsmithptclub.com/sixwemacorew.html
   
   How bad do you want this?

Scored a 91 QT last week and had good line scores across the board. They told me I qualified for every job.


I used this book to study for a week or two beforehand. It comes with practice tests too that are a good representation of what the real test is like.

1. When you meet with an OSO mention this, but NROTC/MO is certainly not your only option. The OSO will explain PLC, FAP/TAP to you as additional options. You certainly won't need to transfer to a new school.
   
2. You're definitely not too small. There was a female Lt in my TBS platoon that was maybe 5'0" and she did fine. Your pack at OCS will be manageable but you'll struggle with the packs at TBS that are regularly over 100#, but others before you have done it, so you can too.
   
3. If you want a straightforward "do these exact things," I'd recommend Stew Smith's 12 Weeks to BUD/S program. Obviously you aren't going to BUD/S but the fundamentals of his programming translate well to USMC OCS. If you want to make your own routine, look into "Run Less, Run Faster" or any reputable 5k training program, do upper body pyramids until you puke, get in the gym to do squats, deadlifts, and back work, and spend the time to adequately recover with stretching and/or a foam roller.
   
4. Talk to your OSO about whatever specific medication you are taking. This could likely be a waiver but he/she will know.

Here's some things outside of the obvious JJDIDTIEBUCKLE stuff that will make your life a little easier.

• Bring erasable black pens for essay writing.
  
  
• Bring a pair of cheap black walmart flip-flops. You wont get issued shower shoes for a few days, and the walmart ones are better anyway.
  
  
• Sharpie Magnum. Buy two, label both, one for you to mark your t-shirts and one to loan out to all the candidates jealous of your big ass marker.
  
  
• At least in my platoon, the company letter stencils were always in short supply and falling apart because they were made of manila folders. Bring your orders in a plastic folder like this if you can find one. Once you are done with in-processing you can use it to make your own indestructible shirt stencil (you will need a small pair of scissors). Put your name on it so that you get it back when you loan it out.
  
  
• Whatever cell phone you have, make sure you know how to turn it all the way off (not just sleep or standby). That way when you get it back on libo it will not be dead.
  
  
• Assuming you are flying there use a backpack for your carry-on. It will be a lot better than a suitcase or duffel bag when you are on libo.
  
  
• If/when you end up in a billet, delegate. If you are platoon sergeant, task your squad leaders and supervise. Make corrections and adjustments, but don't try to manage everything yourself. It is a lot easier to manage 3 squads than it is to manage 30-40 individuals. Similarly, as a squad leader task your fireteams.

My mother got me a really nice scrapbook. Oversized, so awards/certs can be put in it. Marine stylized.

United States Marines Scrapbook (Military Scrapbook Series) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0883636298/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_uzDEAb9NZ42VP

If you're serious and want to learn more about OCS by gobbling up every bit of information you can to get an edge.

I can give you a decent primary source.

Costs you 17 bucks, and you will only read around 20-30 pages from the book.

(Feel free to read the rest to see how we train our SEALs and what makes them one of the best SoF units in the world.)

Breaking B/UDS

This book as you can tell by the title is not exclusively about OCS, but the man who wrote it does write about how HE got into OCS with a SpecOp Billet for the SEALs.

Which obviously is light years more harder to get into SEAL contract for OCS. But the process is somewhat similar and in the book he focuses 3 chapters about how to get into OCS, what requirements are and what they look for, how to be competitive and what to expect life to be after becoming an officer instead of an enlisted.

Edit: Clarification

this one