Announcements from RecruitParents.com
Stay up to date with the latest news and announcements from RecruitParents.com!
First Female Marine - Opha May Johnson
On August 13, 1918, Opha May Johnson enlisted in the Marine Corps.
8/13/2026
In 1918, as World War I was coming to an end, the number of male Marines deployed overseas led to the Marine Corps allowing women to enlist for the first time, filling the vacancies (primarily administrative) left by the deployed Marines. On August 13, 1918, approximately 300 women enlisted in the Marine Corps reserves, with Opha May Johnson being the first. Her first duties were as a clerk at the Headquarters of the Marine Corps (HQMC) in Arlington, Virginia, managing the records of other female reservists.
OPSEC: Operations Security
An Overview for Parents and Family Members of Marines
8/13/2026
OPSEC is keeping potential adversaries from discovering critical Department of Defense information. As the name suggests, it protects U.S. operations — planned, in progress, and those completed. Learn what that means to you as the parent or family member of a Marine.
Complete Care During Boot Camp
From Health and Wealth to Religious Ministries
8/13/2026
Marine Corps boot camp recruits receive the best training possible and are cared for throughout their thirteen weeks on the Recruit Depot. Every base, including Religious Ministries, is covered from injury prevention and dental treatment to recruit pay and the Thrift Savings Plan.
Knowledge is Power!
Learn more at Recruit Parents
8/12/2026
Everything you need to know about Marine Corps Boot Camp Recruit Training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot MCRD Parris Island. Our website map breaks it down into articles for you.
Western Inn San Diego Hotel
For Boot Camp Graduations
8/12/2026
The staff at Western Inn are here to serve you during your recruit's graduation from Marine Corps boot camp. We offer a special rate for Marine family members; please mention MarineParents.com when making your reservations. We are a 5 minute drive (1/2 mile) to MCRD and a 5 minute walk to the Old Town Trolley station.
Stages of Your Marine's Career
We are here for you at every stage!
8/12/2026
The mission of MarineParents.com is to provide support, information, and services to recruit and Marine family members and troops over the course of the life-cycle of your recruit or Marine's career in the Corps.
This sentiment is reflected in our Marine Corps Career icon. From the time your future Marine is a poolee, through boot camp, the school of infantry and military occupational schooling, permanent duty stations, and deployments. Then after your Marine's time in the Corps or if he or she is recovering from wounds or injuries sustained while serving, we have information for every step of the journey.
Structure of the Marine Corps
Learn More About the Corps in Civilian Terms
8/11/2026
The USMC is organized with two parallel chains of command, service and operational. The Service chain begins with the President, through the Secretary of Defense, and continues through the Secretary of the Navy and the Commandant of the Marine Corps. The operational chain runs from the President, through the Secretary of Defense, directly to commanders of combatant commands for missions and forces assigned to their commands.
The Matrix and Recruit Parent Articles
The Perfect Starting Point for Parents of Poolees & Recruits
8/11/2026
Get started here preparing for your son or daughter leaving for Marine Corps Recruit Training, also known as Boot Camp at both Parris Island and San Diego.
Marine Speak
Learn some of the common words and phrases Marines use on a daily basis.
8/10/2026
The Marine Corps has a rich and proud tradition. The countless battle streamers earned by each individual unit is a testament to this fact. There are many things that the Marines do that set them apart from the other branches of service. However, the Marine Corps has always had a long-standing history with the U.S. Navy. This is to be expected, considering that the Marine Corps falls under the Department of the Navy. The United States has a military unlike any other. Specifically, we are fortunate enough to have a maritime tour de force. As such, the Marine Corps and Navy often times operate hand in hand. Consequently, one of the many things that we use in conjunction with the Navy is their terminology.
Knowledge is Power!
Learn more about what's after boot camp!
8/10/2026
Everything you need to know about what comes after Marine Corps Boot Camp Recruit Training. What's the next phase of training for your newly minted Marine? Our website map for "What's After Boot" breaks it down into articles for you.
Live Stream Videos for Graduation
Links to Marine Corps Boot Camp Graduation Live Stream Videos
8/10/2026
This page includes the links to MCRD San Diego and MCRD Parris Island Marine Corps boot camp graduation videos. We provide these links to you as a courtesy to family and friends who are unable to attend graduations. The link to You Tube San Diego videos includes archive videos.
Please be aware of websites or social media links asking you to pay to view the graduation. Those are NOT official Marine Corps graduation videos. You are NOT required to pay to view the videos.
Video Marine Corps
Following the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor: The Legacy
8/9/2026
The Eagle, Globe, and Anchor is so much more than the Marine Corps insignia. It's a symbol of the honor, courage, and commitment of every Marine who has fought and won our Nation's battles.
Henderson Field Secured
August 9, 1942, in Marine Corps history.
8/9/2026
On August 9, 1942, the 1st Engineer Battalion began work on an airstrip taken from Japanese forces on the island of Guadalcanal.
The work was done with captured Japanese equipment and three days later, on August 12, the first American airplane, a Navy PBY, landed on what by then was known as "Henderson Field" to evacuate two wounded Marines.
Over the next few months, as U.S. Marines fought to take control of the island, Henderson Field would be the staging area for the evacuation of almost 3,000 wounded Marines.
Knowledge is Power!
Learn more at Recruit Parents
8/9/2026
Everything you need to know about Marine Corps Boot Camp Recruit Training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot MCRD Parris Island. Our website map breaks it down into articles for you.
10-Day Leave After Boot Camp Graduation
Learn about the 10-day leave Marines earn after completing recruit training.
8/8/2026
The next phase of training after boot camp is SOI, or School of Infantry. Your new Marine is entitled to ten days leave after recruit training. Your new Marine may report to SOI early in order to save leave if desired.
Deployment Pages on Marine Parents
About Deployment, OPSEC, Emergencies, and Support
8/8/2026
Got a deployment looming? In the middle of deployment? It happens and Marines love it, but their family members, not so much. Remember, information is power. Here's what you need to know to lessen the bumps in the road.
I had two sons and a daughter-in-law deployed at the same time: two soldiers and one Marine. This website was my go-to every single morning. It was my saving grace. I never did find an Army site like this one, but you helped me through that, as well. Thank you.
—Jackie, Marine Mom in Missouri, 2006
A Good Review for the Parent of a Marine
Our article written by a Marine talks about helicopter parenting
8/7/2026
This article was written by a Marine in our office probably ten years ago. This is as true today as the day it was written. It was written for parents of recruits in boot camp, but it's a good review for parents with a son or daughter in any stage of their career in the Marine Corps. Read and share!
U.S. Troops and Aircraft Sent to Saudi Arabia
August 7, 1990, in Marine Corps history.
8/7/2026
On August 7, 1990, President George H.W. Bush ordered U.S. military troops and aircraft to Saudi Arabia as part of a multinational force to defend that nation against possible Iraqi invasion. The following week, the Marine Corps announced that it had committed 45,000 Marines to the Persian Gulf area as a part of Operation Desert Shield, which would become the largest deployment of U.S. forces since the Vietnam War.
Core Values: Honor, Courage, Commitment
It's what Marines learn from day one as a recruit.
8/7/2026
To understand how to do what is right, recruits and Marines are taught about ethics and the core values of the Marine Corps. The Corps' core values are Honor, Courage, and Commitment. These values make up the bedrock of a Marine's character. During recruit training, recruits are taught these core values and numerous others related to them, such as integrity, discipline, teamwork, duty, and "esprit de corps."
First Phone Call at Boot Camp
Recruits are allowed to make a phone call to inform their loved ones they have arrived safely.
8/6/2026
All new Marine recruits make a phone call home after arriving at the Recruit Depot. The sole purpose of this first phone call is to notify the family that their recruit has arrived safely.
It's a short scripted phone call and typically you'll hear others talking in the background with Drill Instructors using their best "Drill Instructor" voice giving directions. Some families record the call on their phone. What was your experience?
A-4 Skyhawk Retired
July 6, 1990, in Marine Corps history.
8/6/2026
On July 6, 1990, the last two A-4 Skyhawks from Marine Aircraft Group 32 flew their initial flights from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina to Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland, as the Marine Corps decided to retire the Skyhawk from its active aviation structure. The Skyhawk was one of the oldest, most versatile attack aircraft in USMC history, having been in service for more than 30 years.
Life in the Corps Website Map
Marine Corps Knowledge, Marine Life, History, and Tradition
8/6/2026
These pages of our website are rich with information that you'll want to know while your loved one is in the Corps. We bring it to you in civilian terms. For help navigating our website, use this map of pages for Life in the Marine Corps.
The information I've learned from MarineParents.com websites has been incredible. They give me information in civilian terms. I feel more informed, but more importantly, I feel closer to my daughter in her journey in the Marine Corps. Semper Family, and thank you!
—Marine Mom Genevieve from Plano, TX in 2020
The Recruit Parents Website
Navigating Boot Camp for 20 Years
8/5/2026
We've been helping families understand recruit training (boot camp) for 20 years. We speak in civilian terms to help family members who are new to the military. For help navigating our website, use this map of pages on RecruitParents.com.
I couldn't have gone through my son's 13 weeks in boot camp without the support and information right here on this website. I got 13 weeks of education, too. Thank you for teaching me how to be a Marine Parent!
—Jill from Iowa, Marine Mom, 2007
MUSIC VIDEO
Trace Adkins Singing Semper Fi
8/5/2026
This is an awesome song and an awesome singer. Worth watching!
The Marine Parents Website
Over 2 Decades: Information in Civilian Terms
8/4/2026
We've been helping Marine Corps family members navigate the Marine Corps for 20 years. We're your trusted source for information in civilian terms. For help navigating our website, use this map of pages on Marine Parents: a Place to Connect & Share®.
VIDEO: A Day at the MEPS
Video by John Toniolli Published on February 1, 2018
8/4/2026
The Military Entrance Processing Station, or MEPS, is where applicants for military service go to complete the enlistment process. MEPS ensures that each applicant meets the aptitude, physical, and behavioral standards set by the Department of Defense and Service Branches.
United We Stand: We Need Your Help
Please support the organization that supports you
8/3/2026
Please donate today to support the organization that supports you during your Marine's career.
Your donation finances the dissemination of information to educate families about the Marine Corps, casework disaster relief for Marines and their families, and building communities for family members to have a place to connect and share® before, during, and after their loved one's service in the Marine Corps, and monetary assistance to Marine Corps family members who would otherwise be unable to attend boot camp graduation.
MarineParents.com, Inc., was founded nationally on January 21, 2003, to provide support, information, and services to Marines and their family members and create opportunities for the public to support our troops through outreach programs.
Graduation & Travel
Everything you need to know about graduation & travel for Marine Corps boot camp.
8/3/2026
Could there be more i's to dot and t's to cross when you're getting ready to go to your recruit's graduation from boot camp? Talk about an overwhelming time! Some families have never traveled out of state. For others, it's an old hat. Regardless, it's the moment you've been waiting to get that first hug from your newly-minted Marine! We've got tips for ALL travelers: both seasoned and brand new.
This page contains all the information you need for graduation and travel for Marine Corps boot camp. Some information for Parris Island and San Diego is different so be sure to choose the correct headings.
Medical Discharge
Learn the process Marines go through when they are medically discharged from the Corps.
8/3/2026
The Marine Corps demands a lot from Marines, both physically and mentally. Physical training can take a toll on the body. The mental stress, whether a Marine has been in combat or not, can take a toll on the mind. Medical conditions can persist to a point that a Marine would be rendered unfit for duty and then be medically separated or retired.
Black Sheep Squadron Begins Marine Aviation Involvement in Korean War
August 3, 1950, in Marine Corps history.
8/3/2026
On August 3, 1950, eight Corsair fighter planes launched from the USS Sicily and carried out the first Marine aviation mission in the Korean War. The raid targeted enemy installations with incendiary bombs, rockets, and strafing runs near Inchon, Korea. The Corsairs were with VMF-214, more famously known as the "Black Sheep" squadron of World War II.
MCRD San Diego Graduations
A Great Hotel 2 Miles from MCRD!
8/3/2026
Town and Country Resort, located in San Diego’s Mission Valley neighborhood, is just 2 miles to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot and offers a comfortable and fun option for military families. Recently renovated with an authentic mid-century modern design and a friendly Southern California vibe, the resort is an ideal home base for a San Diego stay.
The resort offers a comfortable guestroom, 3 pools, a 4-story waterslide named “Twister,” 5 restaurants and bars, a penthouse fitness center with Peloton bikes, and 19 fire pits. It is pet and family-friendly with a 3-acre attached park and a host of family activities. The resort is within walking distance of Fashion Valley Mall and provides easy access to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, beaches, and area attractions.
Making Reservations
Special rates for military families are available when you book using the RESERVE link:
Deployment, OPSEC & PERSEC
A Message from the Founder, Tracy Della Vecchia
8/2/2026
Please maintain personal and Operations Security Standards in ALL environments. Help keep you, your Marine, and our military personnel safe by not sharing personal or military information in an email or online environment.
Matrix Terminology Explained
There's a lot to learn! Here's a place to start!
8/2/2026
The recruit training matrix shows what your recruit is doing each day of boot camp. We've included a list of acronyms and abbreviations for both Parris Island and San Diego. Knowledge is power!
Marine Parents Learning Center
Come learn about the Marine Corps with us!
8/1/2026
The Marine Parents website was started to complement information on the official United States Marine Corps websites. We rovide accurate, well-researched information about all phases of your Marine's career in the Corps, including boot camp, school of infantry, MOS school, duty stations, deployment, and homecomings.
Recruit Mission Control
It's your digital Marine Corps boot camp Matrix!
8/1/2026
Built by a Marine recruit's dad: free bilingual dashboards for MCRD San Diego and Parris Island families. Graduation countdown, what your recruit is doing right now, Depot weather, and more. No app, no login, no ads — RecruitMissionControl.com
Beginning the Transformation to Marine
You Tube Channel Marines Published on April 7, 2011
8/1/2026
Recruit training transforms civilians into Marines who can face any challenge. As recruits, they will be met with stress and chaos from the start at the hands of the drill instructor.
The Official Marine Parents Community Network
Join us today to meet other recruit and Marine Parents!
8/1/2026
Marine Parents is transitioning to our new, exciting social media platform, Marine Parents Community Network (MPCN). Our platform is a dedicated space for all things Marine Parents, featuring discussion forums and groups where Marine Corps family members and friends can connect and share their experiences. The platform is designed with your privacy in mind—we don't collect or sell personal data, and we don't track surfing habits. Join us at ConnectAndShare.com!
Tinian Declared Secure
August 1, 1944, in Marine Corps history.
8/1/2026
On August 1, 1944, Major General Harry Schmidt, commander of V Amphibious Corps, declared the island of Tinian secure. This declaration came after nine days of fighting Japanese forces that were occupying the island.
The combination of surprise, heavy pre-assault bombardment, and effective logistical support resulted in significantly fewer casualties (344 killed and 1550 wounded) than were experienced in previous landings during the Corps' Pacific Campaign. As a result, the assault on Tinian was coined "the perfect amphibious operation of World War II."
