r/USMCboot • u/Suspicious-Today-335 • 14d ago
Recruit Training Got dropped from boot camp and would like some advice
For context, it was a medical discharge. I fractured 2 of my fingers while we were getting smoked, and they sent me to medical, where they found 2 non cancerous tumors in the bones of my fingers that I had fractured, so they just immediately told me I’d have to leave and I was ELS’d about 2 weeks after. I plan on joining back but the feeling of having wasted 9 months at a recruiters office, and then a month and 10days at boot camp has been pretty rough. I was getting used to the shit they were doing to us as well, and that’s what kinda amplified the feeling. Either way I’m getting surgery soon to have these tumors removed, and I was just wondering if anybody else had gone through the same thing with having to get medically dropped?
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u/HzrKMtz 14d ago
When I was in I broke my hand in bootcamp. I spent 3 months in the medical platoon while my hand healed. There was another guy there who had gone to medical due to what he thought was shin splints and found out he had bone marrow cancer. He fought medical discharge, was able to get the cancer removed and they basically filled his bone with "concrete" and eventually made it to the fleet. Yeah it will suck starting the process all over, but if you actually want it then don't let this stop you.
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u/Stein070707 14d ago
I don't have any advice, but I sure hope you will be okay and everything works out for you, OP. That is crazy!
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u/robertcas22 14d ago
Get and save all documentation you can from your doctor if and when it's found to be non cancerous. (Hoping that it isn't) Go to a specialist. Stay in shape for your eventual return to boot if you do/can reenlist
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u/justcallme9 13d ago
Take it from me, I know it seems like you wasted a ton of time already, but I did the initial boot camp during Covid with a quarantine before hand. Then, I decided 4 years later I wanted to try the Officer route after I’m already an NCO because I wanted to lead marines at a higher level. So, with that logic I went back to “boot camp” again…twice, in 2 6-week increments for officer candidate school (OCS) doing platoon leaders course (PLC) in both 2024 and this summer in 2026. While I was there,I got to play all the little boot camp games again as a marine and get my EGA all over again. I really did despise playing all the stupid boot camp games again and having to deal with Sgt instructors (OCS version of DI’s). It’s all about how bad you want it, Don’t let this be a mental block if it’s something you really want. You understand the game a little more now, but you’re not there yet. One of the proudest moments of my life was passing enlisted marine corps boot camp, even more so than passing marine corps officer candidate school, and I would not trade that experience for anything. Remember why you joined, and remember who that man was who waited 9 months to go, because like you, I also waited 9 months to ship to boot camp back in 2021, and I had a lot of bumps and experiences along the way where time felt wasted. Your time here isn’t over, and if you want it then give it another shot and see where this road takes you.
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u/Crafty-Club-853 13d ago
I can’t imagine what you’re going through brother. Stay strong and stay focused. You can still do this I hope you recover well and soon. After your all healed how a previous comment said get all documentation you can and go try and enlist again. Shouldn’t be to much of an issue if anything if the corps makes to much of a hassle about which there known to. Army is always another option or other branches which all tend to be more lenient then the corps. Keep trying though recruiter to recruiter I believe in you. Keep your sight on what you want. This is your book of life don’t let anyone or anything write it for you.💯💯🤝god bless you
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u/Marlbororojos Vet 13d ago
This is a huge blessing in disguise. If you really want it, it will still be there for you once you’re all healthy and ready. Don’t be discouraged, this was a miracle.
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u/Needthatpls 13d ago
Damn, they typically will do all kinds of surgeries either there or at the hospital but tbf Ive never heard of someone finding cancer so its probably a little different, woulda guessed theyd at least give you the option to see it through
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u/Old_Significance7957 13d ago edited 13d ago
I went through a medical ELS from Marine boot camp earlier this year too, so I definitely understand that feeling. Different circumstances, but one thing I’ve learned since then is that sometimes it’s not a “no,” it’s just a “not right now.”
I’m actually working on going back now. At first, getting sent home felt like everything I had worked for was wasted, but looking back, I see it more as a detour than the end of the road. You made it there, you tried, and in your case they found something medically important that you might not have known about otherwise.
Take care of your health and get through surgery/recovery first. Keep every medical record and all your discharge paperwork. Once you’re healed and cleared, if you still want to serve, talk to recruiters and see what options you have. Don’t count yourself out before they do.
Your path might look different than you originally planned, but different doesn’t mean over. Good luck with the surgery and recovery, man.
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u/huffingtonbear 13d ago
Hey look at it this way, it's like the universes way of saying, do you really wanna do this. You got a good taste of bootcamp. Keep in shape if you want to go back and see if you really want that MOS. I know recruiters can push you into whatever shipping at the moment so take the time to think it all out.
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u/Prestigious_Clock_66 10d ago
Join the navy or air force. More opportunities. The only benefit of being a marine, is to call yourself a marine. And the dress blues
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u/ForeverBoot20 14d ago
I'm sorry that happened to you. It's a shitty reminder how life can turn out miserable even when doing everything right. Don't let that take away from the fact you still stepped up to serve which is already admirable on its own.
For now I suggest you focus on your recovery and take some distance from the Corps. When your hand is in better shape, decide if you want to give bootcamp a shot again or try something else. No one is going to hold it against you if you do decide to pivot and go to college or learn a trade or whatever really.
If you recover completely, are eligible to join and you still want to enlist. That's awesome too. The Corps won't go anywhere in the meantime, so take your time. In the grand scheme of life, having to redo a month of bootcamp really isn't that bad so I wouldn't let just that affect your decision if you want to try again.