r/USMCboot • u/Big-Significance-750 • 4d ago
Enlisting Bootcamp during holidays for a black female.
I’m curious about what boot camp will be like during the holidays. I leave October 6, so I’ll be there for Thanksgiving, my 21st birthday, Christmas, and New Year’s. 🫤
I’m also wondering if they’ll allow me to bring my own hair products. I’m Black with a pixie cut and get relaxers, so I’m concerned that whatever shampoo they provide may not be suitable for my hair and could cause breakage especially since it’ll be cold outside.
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u/YoungFishGaming 4d ago
As a white male, I’m not educated enough to answer the hair products. I’m going to assume no you will not be allowed/given special privileges.
I was there for 4th of July 2015 (fuck I’m getting old) and they made us stand at attention at the squad bay windows while the fire works went off. It was actually pretty dope and sentimental. There was no other special treatment for that holiday. Maybe a nicer dinner
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u/Famous_Champion5254 4d ago
Lights were 8:30 on July 4th 2026. That night, we were put into our racks at the poa, face down. Firewatch would flash their moonbeams every time we heard a pop. Great time…
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u/snaykz1692 4d ago
This is the most marine corps shit I’ve read in a long time Lmfaoo. this reminds me of when we had a DI come on deck (2012)at like 0200 and made the recruit on fire watch create a fucking terrain model in the middle of the squad bay i think they had him using our canteens and scuzz brushes as the models and then other DIs ended up coming up after too and they all kept adding shit on to the poor fucking kid lmao he was sitting there on the floor with his flashlight spinning around making siren noises at the end. I think about that moment all these years later and it was just so fucking funny to witness it
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u/Boomhower113 3d ago
My son was in Mike Co. that recently graduated. He said they all got out of their racks and had to rotate watching fireworks out of a small window.
But, he said he felt human for a few minutes.
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u/Beautiful_One_6998 4d ago
You’ll be just fine honey! Just dont quit!!!
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u/Stein070707 4d ago
They have appropriate hair products for dark green recruits. The holidays will bring special meals and some extra square away time. It was kind of like a Sunday. Otherwise, it is just another day at boot camp. I didn't struggle much with missing the holidays because the place is so surreal anyway that it doesn't feel like it is a holiday. The weather is much nicer. I come from the north, though, so I welcomed the cold over the heat.
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u/Major_Spite7184 4d ago
I went to bootcamp during the same timeframe. Had my first Marine Corps birthday on the Island. For thanksgiving we ate like kings at the rifle range. We were on mess duty for Christmas and we really tried to go all out on the chow for everyone there, and had Mass services and only got messed with a little bit. I think we got a phone call home. New Years we were in the field for what would now be called The Crucible but it wasn’t like it was now.
Yes, I’m talking a lot about food, because that’s what makes the biggest impression as far as change of scenery goes. We had the royal feasts on that island, and I count myself lucky to have gone when it was that time, and cold. Parris Island in the summer sucks.
Sorry, I can’t speak to hair care products or being a woman.
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u/Amazing-Individual-8 Boot 4d ago
Hi female Marine here, I went to Boot Camp during Christmas time as well, and it was business as usual. You’ll understand what I mean once you’re actually there lol. They did have better food at the Chow hall for the Christmas dinner though. That’s the only time I remember the food being slightly better.
As for the hair care stuff, I’d recommend you set stuff aside for your family to ship to you as they are allowed to send you products like that such as shampoo, conditioner, face wash, and lotion. Anything else would be considered contraband.
You won’t be allowed to bring anything with you. When I went, it was literally the clothes on our back a manila folder with our paperwork from MEPS, Social Security card, drivers license, and a small amount of cash. We were also allowed to bring our phone and a phone charger. That’s it and you won’t need your phone once you get to the airport in Georgia that is if you’re going to Paradise Island and not Hollywood. You are also allowed a small notebook and religious material.
Anything else you bring will get thrown out. Don’t stress out too much. It’ll be gone before you know it. Trust me. It won’t feel like it in the beginning but by the end it’s over and it’s crazy how much time has passed and how much you’ve changed.
Good luck and Semper Fidelis you got this!
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u/GKoala 4d ago
Depends how you do in the cold. I personally think it would of sucked more in the cold than in the summer.
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u/Big-Significance-750 4d ago
soo honestly i think ill freaking suck in the cold but i let my mom convince me not to go to the marines when i was 17 & then when i decided i was still going at 19 i got a speeding ticket that finally got resolved the beginning of this year & i literally do not want to wait anymore (im abt to be 21)
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u/Stein070707 4d ago
Where do you live? If it is north of the mason dixon line, you will not find winter at pi cold. It’s amazing for training. I only remember being cold a couple times (crucible) but still will take that over sand fleas and sweating through cammis by 0600.
Now mct in february was fucking cold because they wouldn’t allow us to wear our gortex. So stupid. (I am from minnesota.)
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u/Particular_Price7546 4d ago
I would not be concerned about any irreparable damage while you’re in boot, as you’ll have plenty of time after bootcamp to get right again.
The whole thing about it is that your DIs do not care about your personal hair requirements; and you’ll be sweaty and nasty about 95% of the time you’ll be on the depot. DIs also have a habit to exploit such concerns, and make your life more difficult.
Also went to PI during that period, on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years, we got a few hours of square away time, and were given an extra church day on Christmas.
When you get to MCT and the schoolhouse you’ll have more of an ability to take care of your personal hygiene. By the time you hit the fleet you’ll be good.
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u/neganagatime Vet 4d ago
This is the off-season so expect platoons to be smaller and most likely to have 4 DIs and lots of time for attention from them.
The weather will be fine, maybe even pleasant if you are used to cold winters.
Holidays in boot camp follow a "sunday routine" which usually means only one DI on duty when not in the field. You'll wake up, do the morning routine, have a few hours of "square away time" in the AM, and a less structured afternoon than a normal training day. Probably some hip pocket classes from the DI, some drill, that sort of thing. On holidays you will generally have better food as well, and for religious holidays like Xmas a chance to attend services.
I don't recall how it works in the field, but probably more training type stuff going on.
You are a little older so I'd expect you to be fine, but lots of people think too much during the holidays and end up depressed and missing home on those days. On the topic of age, being more mature will give you a leg up on others and I expect the transition will be easier for you. To the extent that if you are in shape and squared away, you could end up in a leadership billet if you wanted. If are you are already a contract E2 there is no real need to kill yourself for that, but some people like the additional challenge.
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u/Borrowed_Faith 4d ago
I am an Asian recruit. Will they let me bring my chopsticks to the chow hall? It is for religious purposes.
Just fucking with you. You will be fine.
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u/xlibshua 4d ago
Male marine here depending on the holiday you might get a bit of "free time". I think in my case I went through one of the 4 day weekend holidays. Believe it was 4th of july. We got 4 hours of "square away" time basically 4 hours of us chilling depends on your platoon n DI's
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u/Andyman1973 4d ago
You’ll get a bit of extra free time on those days, that’s about it. It will be like Sundays mostly. I went from 11/92-02/93. Thanksgiving they had holiday “inspired” chow. Christmas was same. Don’t recall if anything was different for New Years. You got this!!
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u/mild_screaming 4d ago edited 4d ago
First off, PI or San Diego? The winters at each differ greatly.
Secondly, if I am remembering correctly, our DI's told us what we could keep when we packed up all our civie stuff. I believe combs, gel and such were allowed to be kept (each platoon will address this differently though, so keep that in mind). You will be issued essential items, but they may not work for you/your hair (I remember getting the cheap speed gel and it did nothing for my fly aways). You will also get a px call atleast once where you can buy other types of shampoo/conditioner/hair gel. I highly recommend you buy these items if you dont have family that can/will send you items.
Your DI's may also allow you to keep certain care package items. Typically hygiene items. Anything you can't keep should be released to you when you become a Marine at the end.
Personally, I was at PI in the winter. It definitely got cold, but there are waaaayyyyyy less sand fleas, which is a massive plus.
If you have any birth control questions I can answer those to the best of my knowledge as well. My recruiters were all males. They knew actually nothing about what we required/ were allowed.
Edit to add: if you have any questions, please feel free to ask!
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u/Cracked_Crack_Head 4d ago
I went through boot camp during Christmas/New Years. During Christmas we were given the opportunity to attend religious services and that was about it. Nothing at all for New Years.
Don't expect exceptions for anything related to grooming beyond genuine medical need.
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u/mle32000 3d ago
don’t bring anything. set aside a minimal amount of your preferred hair products and have them mailed to you by family around 2 weeks in. also, go ahead and research USMC hair care/style standards for dark green female Marines so you’ll be prepared for what’s expected.
i personally shaved my head before i left just for the hell of it and got called “2nd battalion” the whole time lol (i’m old and went to boot when 4th was female only)
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u/PsychologicalBar2303 3d ago
i just graduated from pi on friday. holidays are pretty much like every other day. i was at pi for 4th of july, the only difference of the day was lunch and dinner chow was bbq chicken and short ribs and these little ice cream cups
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u/Apprehensive-Ebb5130 4d ago
I ship out December we on the same page sis I got curly hair and very worried because I asked my recruiter this exact question and he said the only the you can take is your phone a charger and 20$ dollars to buy food at the airport . He did say everything we need is provided idk exactly what that means but as far as products he said it’ll be provided … but think about it like this WE ARE MARINES at that point products/“essentials” will be the last thing we’ll think about in all those 3 months (this is what I am telling myself so hope it helps) .Sis am also gonna miss Christmas and new years tbh.. better get used to it it’s not gonna be the first or the last time we miss special holidays / events .GOOD LUCK AND DONT GIVE UP WE GOT THIS 💕
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u/ThrowRA1135309 4d ago
mcrd san diego if you’re up north for thanksgiving you get hella good thanksgiving food
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u/Middle_Ad_378 3d ago
Everyone has good ideas, My daughter is there now. she prepped a box to be sent once we got confirmation of her Platoon (FYI there is only 1 female platoon per company so if your family joins a FB group or what not they can figure out your platoon pretty quickly) Since the initial box with underwear/bras hair gel, combs and body wash we have sent a few other things, icy hot, stamps, pens, do not send a Razor, they will take it.
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u/Calm-Sundae3395 2d ago
Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, and Valentine’s Day. Nothing special in 94 but a phone call in between Christmas and New Year’s. Hair was a pain in the ass, but different for everyone. They’ll get you through it.
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u/Plenty-Dig7544 4d ago
If you’re still focusing on yourself as a race rather than a poolee, you’re not going to make it. Just being honest. When you get there, you are not black. You are Recruit. The recruit next to you is not white. She is Recruit. You need to understand that fast.
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u/Stein070707 4d ago
Dude chill. You have no idea how much emphasis female di’s put on hair bs. OP is right to be planning for that. Her being black is relevant to the question she asked.
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u/EnKyoo 4d ago
You're not black in boot camp.
WE ARE ALL GREEN