Expert: Jason Grabill - 4/18/2007

Question
Hello my name is Christopher, I'm an High School student who  has been interested in joining the Marines ever since my uncle told me about his Marine days and I've just wanted to ask some questions, thanks for taking the time to help me out, sorry to be a bother


1. Ive heard that just recently recruits completing basic training, get issued their dress blue uniforms and they get to wear them at graduation, is this true?

2. I have never learned how to swim and i heard that at the Swim Qual they separate the people who know how to swim and those who do not, will they teach me with the others? or should i just learn before i go to basic?

3. Approx how long is basic training now? I heard they got rid of Team Week, so it would make it 12 weeks (including the week of processing) now?

4. I'm pretty sure i am going to apply for 311 Rifleman, after i'm done with basic how long is the "School of infantry" training?

5. If i am deployed to the middle east will they allow me to bring my digital camera to take pictures and document my stay there?

6. What is life on an base/post like? Will i have my own personal room like this that the army guys have?(http://www.goarmy.com/life/life_on_post.jsp), or would i have a barracks style room with lots of other people? Also Will i be allowed to leave and go into the nearest city?

7. As far as i know, the minimum service length for a marine is 4 years, if i reenlist as infantry again will i have to go through another training period all over again? If so for how long?

That seems to be all the questions, thanks in advance

Answer
Hi Christopher:

  First, it's not a bother, that's what I'm here for!  Here are the answers to your questions:

1. Ive heard that just recently recruits completing basic training, get issued their dress blue uniforms and they get to wear them at graduation, is this true?

At this point, yes, that is correct.  That policy changes from time to time, but it's been recently revised so that new Marines do get issued Dress blues prior to graduation, and get to wear them.


2. I have never learned how to swim and i heard that at the Swim Qual they separate the people who know how to swim and those who do not, will they teach me with the others? or should i just learn before i go to basic?

It would probably help some if you learned before you went, but it's ok if you don't, they will teach you how to swim.


3. Approx how long is basic training now? I heard they got rid of Team Week, so it would make it 12 weeks (including the week of processing) now?

No, I'd still plan for 13 weeks just to be safe.  

4. I'm pretty sure i am going to apply for 311 Rifleman, after i'm done with basic how long is the "School of infantry" training?

Approx six weeks.  

5. If i am deployed to the middle east will they allow me to bring my digital camera to take pictures and document my stay there?

Yes.  I'd encourage you to take a camera!

6. What is life on an base/post like? Will i have my own personal room like this that the army guys have?(http://www.goarmy.com/life/life_on_post.jsp), or would i have a barracks style room with lots of other people? Also Will i be allowed to leave and go into the nearest city?

It will depend on where you are stationed, but for the most part, Marines are living in 3 man rooms now.  You may be in a squadbay, but these days, I highly doubt it.  Yes, you'll have time to go on liberty off base on the weekends and at night, as long as you aren't training or in the field.  


7. As far as i know, the minimum service length for a marine is 4 years, if i reenlist as infantry again will i have to go through another training period all over again? If so for how long?

Actually, the length of service is 8 years;  4 years active, 4 years inactive reserves.  When you reenlist for the same MOS, you are not required to retrain.

Hope that helps, and good luck!

Jason