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 Terminology and Acronyms for Recruits
The United States Marine Corps has a rich history. Born on November 10, 1775, the Continental Marines were founded to serve aboard naval ships as marksmen and security forces. They were infantry who could fight just as well on land as they did at sea.
Marine Corps Ranks | Enlisted and Officer Ranks
Marine Corps recruits must learn all Marine Corps Ranks from Private to General, including enlisted, officers, and warrant officers. Marine Corps customs and courtesies require junior Marines to address all senior Marines by their rank, which is denoted by a rank insignia device, usually worn
Marine Corps Enlistment Requirements | The Hard Truth
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 strength. You must pass an
Marine Boot Camp Pay
A question we are often asked is, how much is Marine Boot Camp Pay? The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) pays Marine recruits as an E-1 with less than 4 months of service. Many will graduate boot camp as an E-2, but while training as
Marine Corps Obstacle Course | Conquer the Challenge
One of the first challenging events that recruits face in boot camp is the Marine Corps Obstacle Course, also called the O-Course, or the Tarzan Course. It looks difficult, at first, but there’s a technique to it. Your drill instructors will show you how to
How do I train for Marine boot camp?
How do you train for Marine boot camp? First, you’ll need to get your physical fitness in order. All Marine Corps recruits must pass an Initial Strength Test at their recruiter’s office and once they ship to boot camp before they are eligible to begin training.
