Confirming Information During Boot Camp

MarineParents.com has been providing support and information for Marines and their loved ones for over 20 years. We take pride in ensuring the information we provide is accurate and relevant. We believe that boot camp is a time to start the process of letting go.

Since our Facebook groups became active in 2015, there have been many requests to confirm information throughout the 13 weeks of recruit training. Some things are more important to confirm than others. Some don't need any confirmation at all. If the Marine Corps believes it is important enough that the public needs to know, they'll release a statement. We are constantly on the lookout for new information from the Marine Corps. When we find it, we will pass that information along.

Confirming Graduation Dates

Boot camp graduation dates are probably the most important aspect to confirm. We understand that when rumors start getting out they can be difficult to contain. The Marine Corps understands it's important that a recruit's family knows when graduation will be. It's difficult to plan for travel and lodging when you don't know which dates to plan for. The Marine Corps does a great job of keeping loved ones informed when graduation dates change. The most recent example being when Hurricane Florence caused Charlie Company graduation to change a few times within a 96 hour period in September 2018. The Marine Corps released several updates during that time, and even though parents and loved ones were prohibited from attending the ceremony, the Marine Corps provided a livestream to be viewed by all.

Confirming Crucible Dates

Crucible dates are the most common request we receive for confirmation. These dates can change at the last second and are not announced by the Marine Corps because the Corps doesn't believe this is information that parents necessarily need to know. At MarineParents.com, we agree with that notion. We understand the importance for loved ones to show their support for their recruit as they go through the Crucible and we don't believe that support is lessened if the exact Crucible dates aren't known.

Location Change for the EGA Ceremony at Parris Island

This isn't a common request but is a recent one, as well as relevant. There have been rumors that the Marine Corps has moved the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor ceremony at Parris Island due to excessive amounts of people watching the ceremony. First, I must say that as a Marine it frustrates me that the Marine Corps felt they needed to move the ceremony when those watching should have respected the privacy of the new Marines. The EGA ceremony should be a private and personal moment between new Marines and the Drill Instructors who helped lead them to that moment. Second, if the Marine Corps did in fact move the location of the ceremony, they are not likely going to confirm or deny. They clearly wanted the new location to be private, and don't want civilians on base searching for it.

Going forward we realize there will be other aspects of recruit training, beyond these highlighted portions, that will lead to requests for confirmation. Whether or not we confirm that information will depend on the Marine Corps making an announcement. If the Marine Corps doesn't make an announcement then they must not believe it's necessary for loved ones to know. That's good enough for us.

Written by David Ogden, Sgt. USMC '11-'16.

David was a Sergeant with the United States Marine Corps from 2011-2016. He is a combat veteran. He has worked at Marine Parents as a writer since he left the Marine Corps. He is currently in college and writes for the organization full-time. Click here to read more about the author.