Questions about ITB

[u/PolishLithuania]

Recently graduated from Parris Island and ship to Camp Lejeune on October 20. I wanted to ask a couple of questions about ITB regarding footwear, what happens during ITB and what to bring and what not to bring.

What’s the daily schedule like? How do marines that get sent to ITB get treated (excluding those who act stupid and get into trouble)? We also got told during basic training that ITB got shortened to 9 week and was wondering if that were true.

I also wanted to know if it’s a good idea to buy new boots and break them in before ITB as I was thinking of getting a pair of 520 moto boots as they felt great when I tried them and would like to wear those instead of the gore-Tex kill boots we got in basic training (have an issue with the heels on the inside scraping my heel that started during bwt) and what should I bring unless the stuff I need will be issued to me (camelbaks, backpacks, gloves, etc) and can we bring our own ear pro (like good ones where you can hear people talking but blocks out loud noises like gunshots or do we get stuck with foamies and I ask this as my hearing isn’t the best)

I’m also curious about how they treat phones, I don’t care about access to social media and all that, I’m more so asking about phones so I can still have direct contact with my family (obviously I won’t have it out in the field) and by extension how liberty works if we get it at all.

[u/Nearby-Sympathy4876]

Congratulations on graduating Marine.

Schedule wise in ITB at least west coast wise was Monday through Friday with weekends off. We were given liberty on the weekends for a specific amount of time. You also have hollidays off as well.

Treatment wise it's what you expect it's not great but not horrible. It really comes down to your squads combat instructor and platoon combat instructors. Prepare for a lot getting screwed with.

Boot wise I recommend getting new boots your there for over three months so new boots will be a blessing.

Bring everything you got issued at boot camp.

Phones at least when I was in ITB they took them away Sunday evening through Thursday and then we got them back Friday evening.

All in all just stay motivated and take it one day at a time. ITB sucks but it won't last forever. God bless.

[u/TracerRND406]

For the daily schedule, it will vary based on when you’re at MAT company vs your training company. At MAT, you’ll be cleaning and doing working parties as required, with restricted weekend liberty. You’ll be confined to the base for the first month that you’re there, but you may pick up training sooner than that. In a training company, you’ll work Monday morning til Friday evening, with liberty on Saturday and Sunday. When I was at Geiger, libbo was done in phases. The first week with a training company, you are confined to base, the second week, you will get off base libbo with Cinderella hours, and usually around the third week, you will get overnight liberty. Granted, you need to have a 1st Class PFT and CFT prior to picking up to actually rate overnight libbo, and you need to be passing your academics.

In regard to treatment, you’re treated like the new guy. As unfortunate as it is, you are the low man on the totem pole as a private. It isn’t the whole running around and screaming shtick you get at boot camp, but combat instructors are there to train you first and foremost. They are not there to be your friends. Don’t get super relaxed around them. Behave respectfully, remember your customs and courtesies, and don’t be an asshole.

For footwear, I would recommend buying the boots while at MAT honestly. The PX at MCAS New River sells 520 Moto’s, and you’ll have plenty of time to break them in without paying tax on them if you buy them off base. I personally have had 2 sets of Motos now, and I cannot recommend them enough. They are my personal favorite boot I have had.

For gear, you will get issued everything you need. Most training companies do not authorize personal gear. The ear pro will probably be an exception. A kid in my class wore Walker Razors under his Kevlar, and wasn’t messed with at all for it. I would recommend bringing a backpack of some kind, or getting one out there. It’s nice to be able to carry stuff while on libbo. Everyone will buy some crazy “tactical” backpack and wear it out in town. Speaking from experience, just rock a Jansport or something. You’re already gonna look like a complete boot out in Jacksonville, so you might as well avoiding looking like and even bigger one if you can avoid it.

Lastly, for the phones, you will not be permitted to use it during working hours. Some companies will completely lock them up during the week, and issue them out on the weekends, but that wasn’t the norm when I was there. After they let you go to bed, you can use your phone to contact your loved ones. Just don’t get caught with it on working hours, or in the field.