Preparing for Marine Corps Boot Camp: A Guide for Recruits and Parents
Marine Corps recruit training is 13 weeks long, and it is widely considered the most demanding entry-level training in the U.S. military.…
For Marine Corps parents and families
Your recruit is becoming a Marine. Here is what to expect.
Clear, practical guidance for the families behind every recruit: how to prepare for boot camp, what happens on the first night, how to get ready for graduation, and the history and traditions your Marine will carry for life.
Boot Camp
What your recruit will face, from the first night at the depot to graduation day.
Marine Corps Boot Camp Week by Week: What Your Recruit Is Doing Now
When your son or daughter leaves for Marine Corps boot camp, the hardest part for many families is not knowing what is…
Writing Letters to Your Recruit at Marine Corps Boot Camp
When your son or daughter leaves for Marine Corps boot camp, the house suddenly gets very quiet. There are no texts, no…
The Crucible: The Final Test of Marine Corps Boot Camp
Near the end of Marine Corps recruit training, every recruit faces one last challenge before earning the title Marine. It is called…
Arriving at Parris Island: What Happens the First Night of Boot Camp
For most families, the first sign that boot camp has really started is a short, oddly formal phone call that comes late…
Marine Corps Graduation Day at Parris Island: What Families Should Know
After about 13 weeks of letters and waiting, graduation week at Parris Island is the moment families have been counting down to.…
Parent Resources
Glossaries, guides, and support for the families waiting at home.
How to Cope When Your Child Leaves for Marine Boot Camp
The day your son or daughter leaves for Marine boot camp is one you will remember for a long time. One minute…
Marine Corps Terms and Slang Every Parent Should Know
The first letter from boot camp can feel like it was written in a foreign language. Your recruit might mention getting yelled…
Marine Corps Ranks Explained for Parents
Stripes, bars, oak leaves, and stars can be confusing when you are new to military life. Once your son or daughter becomes…
Marine Corps History
The traditions, nicknames, and turning points your Marine will learn by heart.
The Meaning of the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor
Ask a Marine what moment from boot camp they remember most, and many will describe the morning a drill instructor placed a…
Why Marines Are Called Devil Dogs
“Devil Dog” is one of the most beloved nicknames in the Marine Corps. Marines use it as a greeting, a compliment, and…
Marine Corps History: Why Marines Are Called Leathernecks
Once your son or daughter becomes a Marine, you will start hearing nicknames you may never have paid attention to before. One…
A Fully Integrated Corps
Today, Marines of every background train together, live together, and serve side by side. It is easy to assume it was always…
Today in Marine Corps History: 23 June 1812
The United States declared war on Great Britain on June 18, 1812. Just five days later, on June 23, an American squadron…
Today in Marine Corps History: 30 January 1943
By late January 1943, the long fight for Guadalcanal was nearly over. Marines had landed on the island the previous August and…
Medal of Honor
Marines whose courage earned the nation's highest award for valor.
The First Marine Awarded the Medal of Honor
Hundreds of Marines have received the Medal of Honor since the Civil War. The very first was a corporal from New York…
Medal of Honor: Second Lieutenant Terrence C. Graves
Second Lieutenant Terrence C. Graves was only 22 years old and less than a year out of college when he led a…
Medal of Honor: First Lieutenant James E. Swett
On his very first combat mission, a 22-year-old Marine fighter pilot named James E. Swett flew into a massive Japanese air raid…
Biographies
The careers of Marine Corps leaders, from their first assignments to the top of the Corps.
Who’s Who in Marine Corps History: General Joseph F. Dunford Jr.
General Joseph F. Dunford Jr. is one of the most influential Marines of the modern era. Over more than four decades in…
Sergeant Major Alford L. McMichael
Sergeant Major Alford L. McMichael rose from a young private at boot camp in San Diego to the top enlisted post in…
Marine Corps Biographies: Major General Tracy L. Garrett
Major General Tracy L. Garrett built a 36-year career in the Marine Corps Reserve and became one of the most accomplished reservists…
Marine Corps Jobs
Military occupational specialties explained in plain English.
Marine Corps MOS 6842: METOC Analyst Forecaster
If your son or daughter has been offered Marine Corps MOS 6842, they are headed into one of the more technical and…