Making Marines (DVD, 2007, Miltary Channel)

This is an outstanding day to day account of what it is like to be a recruit going through the thirteen and a half weeks of Marine Corps Basic Training. It is almost a diservice to call it 'basic' training, because there is nothing basic about much of the training these young men and women have to undergo. From the haircut to the 'Crucible', these young recruits are worked harder than most, if not all, have worked anytime in their life. Watching the account, seeing them develop, pulling for them as they overcome obstacles they fail at time an time again, and finally defeat, this video is a rare opportunity to see what few people outside the corps ever get to see. They follow several young men and women from day to day as they progress through the training. There are drill sargeants there to explain the need for each activity, and you can see why your son or daughter is better prepared after the master each one. This is a great account of the Marine Corps Basic Training and every USMC parent should watch it, and every potential USMC recruit should watch it and see what you are in for.