Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
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Alex Cabrero reporting Today, future Marines got to see what life will be like when they actually go to boot camp.
Marines in the Delayed Entry Program often get together to keep enthusiastic about their decision to join the corps after graduating high school. Sometimes it's swimming, hiking, or just a meeting. But Saturday it was a lot more.
"Good morning, sir!"
It's usually when you think of...
"Yes sir!"
...when you think of boot camp.
You probably wouldn't want to spend your weekend here, unless you're a Marine getting ready to join the corp after high school.
Maj. David Bradney: "We all joined the Marine Corps for a lot of reasons."
This is boot camp preparation, a way to see what life will be like in real boot camp.
Michael Crall had to conquer a rapelling wall.
Michael Crall: "It's going to be fun."
"You can do the wall side of the free-hanging side."
On the wallside you get the wall to walk down. On the free-hanging side you get to pray.
"Your body has to go well below your waist."
Crall did both.
Michael Crall/ Marine, Delayed Entry Program: "When you're up at the tower, you say that's no problem. Then you get on top of the tower, and you're looking down, and you're like, 'That could hurt.'"
MRE's-- Meals Ready to Eat-- is also a part of being a Marine.
"The chicken breast was really bad."
And of course there's team-building.
Nathan Packer/ Marine, Delayed Entry program: "Teaches you to think..."
When you break it all down, this is about teamwork, learning to work with each other, and more importantly trusting each other. Because when you have to do it for real, the training here is what you remember.
"You need to move your team into a location to place small arms fire on the enemy."
It's not for everyone, and with a war going on, it's for even less.
Natasha Mansfield/ Marine, Delayed Entry Program: "I definitely signed up knowing that. If I get sent to Iraq, then I go, and I'll do my job there."
But that's far away, if at all. For now, it's just getting ready to be a Marine.
