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Marine Corps Knowledge

Becoming a Marine takes more than hard work, sweat, and rifle marksmanship. It means being educated on the history, customs and courtesies, rank structure, and operational guidelines of the Marine Corps. Recruit training is balanced between physical fitness, close-order drill, and classroom time where recruits begin to learn “Marine Corps Knowledge.”

Recruits are issued a handbook that Drill Instructors refer to as “recruit knowledge,” but learning about the Corps and how to be a better Marine is a career-long process. On this page, we will list a great deal of what you’ll be expected to learn as a United States Marine Corps recruit. But there’s no way we could list everything. 

Click on the articles below to learn what Marine Corps Knowledge recruits are expected to know and memorize during basic training. You can get a head start here before even getting to the yellow footprints!

Recent Marine Corps Knowledge Articles

Marine Corps log drills - recruits carry a 250 lbs log at MCRD San Diego
Marine Boot Camp

Marine Corps Log Drills – A Challenging Squad Event

One of the most challenging events during recruit training is the Marine Corps log drill.  Each year, tens of thousands of young Americans travel to a Marine Corps Recruit Depot to begin their journey as United States Marines. For many, it is their first time

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Recruits from Bravo Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, hold up their money valuable bags during receiving at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.
About Boot Camp

Marine Corps Boot Camp Pay

Marine Corps Boot Camp pay is set according to the Department of Defense Military Pay Chart. No matter if you’re enlisting in the US Navy, Army, or Marine Corps, recruits across all branches of service are paid the same.  Marine Corps recruits earn pay as

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Marine Corps Enlistment Requirements - What standards need to be met.
Marine Boot Camp

Marine Corps Enlistment Requirements | The Hard Truth

(updated on August 3, 2022) There are multiple factors taken into consideration, and some of them can be ‘waivered’ meaning your recruiter can ask the Marine Corps to accept you anyway. Becoming a United States Marine means meeting high standards of moral, mental, and physical

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U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Daniel Lee instructs a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) course for Marines aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor
Marine Boot Camp

MCMAP – The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program

The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program was established in 2002 with Marine Corps Order 1500.54. It was described as a revolutionary step to replacing all other martial arts programs before it.  According to the Marine Corps Martial Arts Center for Excellence, “the Marine Corps Martial

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A Marine Corps recruit carries a simulated casualty during the Crucible event.
Marine Boot Camp

The Crucible – Marines Epic 54-Hour Test for Recruits

The final challenge before earning the title of United States Marine is called the Crucible. It’s a 54-hour event that tests physical stamina, mental toughness, and the ability to think critically while under multiple levels of stress including hunger, sleep deprivation, and physical exhaustion.

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Get the Recruit Training Schedule

Before you leave, download the Recruit Training Matrix for future reference!

The recruit training matrix is a simple guide to Marine Corps Boot Camp events week by week. Enter your email and we’ll send it to you for free. 

marine corps recruit training matrix