The Crucible, Hard As Hell?

Really damn hard......you're constantly tired hungry and most of the time wet ....and especially cold at night....over all miserable.....but not impossible.....thousands do it every year. You just have to want it more than you want to quit

To make it through the cruicable, it is an indicator of someone who has the motivation and desire to be a US Marine. A US Marine is special. It is an individual who has accomplished a goal that others have said is not attainable. At the completion of the cruciable, you are not a soldler, not a sailor, and not an airman. You are a UNITED STATES MARINE (with a capital M). A person who has accomplished something that others said was not accomplishable!

You have earned an honor that is awarded at the end of bootcamp by receiving the emblem of the United States Marine Corps. You WILL be a United States Marine. The elite of the elite and you chose it because it was recognized as the hardest of the hardest of the four military services to join.

I have been a Marine since I was eleven years old when I was given the cover (hat) of a Marine Corps Captain who died in the Pacific in WWII. His son and daughter, twins, were impressed by his accomplishments, from OCS to the battle he died in, that, for whatever reason, they gave me one of their prized possessions! I will never forget that moment! What I had read in comic books turned into something real for me. Based on that motivation, I enlisted, went to Vietnam, and returned to obtain a Degree on the GI Bill, then became an Officer of Marines for a total of 27 years Marine Corps service. I never looked back. You too can attain the same level of satisfaction that I did. The crucible is only the 1st step. The second step is to do your best in every endeavor and duty that you are assigned. The result is promotions that recognize your endeavors.

Semper Fidelis to you for thinking of the Marine Corps as a possible career.

PS: The cruciable is NOT impossible. It is only another task that must be accompished. If you feel that you do not have the personal foundation to accomplish a hard task, then maybe the Army, Navy, or Air Force are what you really desire!

Lieutenant Colonel, US Marine Corps -Retired

I am going to tell you the good honest truth.

The crucible is agonizingly hard both mentally and physically. Like somebody said above, you are constantly hungry and tired and I could barely keep my eyes open the moment I sat down. When you keep moving you don't feel it as bad but you really feel everything the moment you sit.

But as a Marine Recruit you are motivated and excited to finally go through the crucible and finally become a Marine and earn that title. That is what motivates Marines to get through that phase in Boot Camp. It's a sign that it's finally over and that's all that's left. Little do you know that it's after boot camp when the real challenge starts. Boot Camp is just that, boot camp. Its when you get to your MOS and day to day life to me was more tough. LOL.

I just want to thank all these Marines on this site. My son is going through Boot Camp RIGHT NOW and is going to do the Crucible tomorrow morning at 2 am. These answers have really settled my mind. He's got this! I just know it!

My son enjoyed Marine basic including the Crucible he just had trouble on the march back because the straps on his pack were too tight and cut off circulation to his legs. Once the corpsman loosened his pack he finished. When it comes time for the Crucible you will be ready for it.

You'll be able to make it. Just try to have fun with it. Yeah you'll be super hungry and tired from the lack of sleep, but stay motivated and it can be fun. Imagine it as playing war games when you were a child. The drill instructors do something at the very beginning which will blow your mind away (Keeping it a secret). Also, it's good to remember that that soon as you hike down the Reaper, you'll be receiving your Eagle, Globe, and Anchor. Plus the Warrior's Breakfast is a good bonus too

My husband has been in the marines 2 and a half years now.. he said boot camp was easy physically--mentally was the hard part, and the crucible was the only physically exhausting part of it, but so worth it.It was tiring for him and exhausting, but you have the brotherhood of all the guys you're doing it with and it's an experience you'll never forget, especially at the ceremony afterward when you're considered a true marine and given your EGA. As another answerer said, many young marines do it every year! My husband said most of the guys that even made it to the crucible went on to finish it, and if they couldn't finish they would still graduate boot camp anyway. My husband was NOT in any way a physically fit person before boot camp. He could run, sure, but we spent most of our time eating hot pockets and watching TV, and were NOT at all in any way the sporty type. He conditioned himself to run for about 3 weeks before he left for boot camp and he did fine.. He says now, compared to what he does on a daily basis in security forces that he would prefer boot camp. If you put your mind to it, you can do it!

Your DI will ensure that you are ready for it. Every trainee that makes it that far in Boot is capable of completely the crucible. It is about drive and determination.

Of course it is hard as hell. If it weren't everyone could do it. But I will tell you that thousands of young Marines do it annually. If you have the heart, desire, and dedication to your Country, Unit and the Corps you will make it. If you lack dedication or a strong will to succeed don't waste the time.

So I take it you are going to enlist in order for your dad not to kick you out, which won't matter if you enlist.

Reading up on boot camp, not basic-that's what the Army does, won't do anything but leave you shocked when you actually get there and find out it's not what you thought.