How Hard is the Marine Corps School of Infantry?

The US Marine Corps is infamous for creating some of the finest fighting men and women on the planet. But how do they do it? And how hard is the training?

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[mtcondie]

Sleep deprivation was probably the hardest part of SOI. Sleep deprivation messed up my immune system and my brain. I was on camp guard before SOI started. I had a guard rotation every few hours, every day, for almost six weeks. We would break into places on base to sleep during our roving tours. Abandon quonset huts kept us going. I remember getting so tired that I would hallucinate. SOI taught me to keep moving, dont think, just keep going. Sleep when you die.

[WFOHara-gtku]

Motivating. Makes one want to do it all over again. Golly.. how did I get so old?

[rickchollett]

I went to Camp Geiger. It may be flat but it's no piece of cake! And the mosquitos are hell.

[KM-cmjp]

ITB is the most fun I’ve had in my life with my boys, just smoking, and joking. We ate good, slept good, trained good, and had lots of laughs, and free time to just chill in the squad bay with the homies. Literally best time of my life, would do anything to go back, and see the boys again. On the weekend I would go to the SMP, and play my gaming laptop, and watch movies with the boys. I spent Halloween, and Thanksgiving there and ate athanksgiving meal at the SMP, and for Halloween, everyone on my deck dressed up, and would go section to section getting candy from other marines. Even the field is crazy fun, and we got to sleep on our packs when we weren’t shooting, and I was always so squared away, even now in my unit, but ITB was way more chill, and fun. We graduated 3 days before Christmas, and I was home for Christmas, and it will always be a great memory for me. I made some of the best friends I have ever made in my life, and have become a really good rifleman. My boys, and I would build a big tent, and all get cozy, and keep ourselves, and our gear dry. I was cool with everyone in my company, so it was nice just being able to shoot the shit with anyone, and everyone. If anyone has any questions, let me know, and I will answer them as best as I can. I will be posting this comment on multiple YouTube videos so more people can see it.

[cajatron]

I went through MCT, wasn't the hardest, but watching the ITB (infantry) Marines go through their training was wild... and then there was Recon.. Different breed

[alexelliott]

This is crazy!!! I clearly remember going through Alphatraz @ Camp Geiger back in 2004!!! So much has changed since then. I went on to serve 2 tours in Iraq with 2/6 Golf Co. 0311 for life!!!!

[TheSeriousMatte]

If you read this title and answered Yes...then you must be a Marine. Semper Fi gents. RAH

[mukahirwajanet]

The training drives me crazy, so proud of you guys & much love

[SpclOps]

Is SOI hard? 🤔 It’s hard when you’re there! 🤣
USCM 0311 ‘98-‘02

[sancocho]

I had the misfortune of going to both SOI east, and west. Well, that's what happens when you get out for a year and change your MOS 🤦🏽‍♂️

[cm-prys]

I'm interested in seeing the changes IMC is going to make for the Corps. Some of the footage I've seen makes sense, especially Week 10's Infantry Physical Assessment, but here's hoping it makes us better. Furthermore, now that grunts are getting a new entry level training curriculum (because of increased demands), I think the POG's should get an extended version of MCT. At least give them the old ITB, otherwise the skill gap is going to be too great for non-03's to cover down on provisional rifleman duties when needed.

[shermhart]

Been there, done that and got a lousy shirt. Not hard, not easy just skill learning, weapon tactics and carrying your shit around. Semper fi gents.

[blin]

Not American, but I worked with some marines in RIMPAC 2018. U guys r awesome... I still remember when my leadership fucked me off. U guys brought me a burger king. I will never forget it. Marine Infantrymen r hard as fuck.

[Roadrunnderjarhead]

I went through 2nd ITR at Camp San Onofre at Camp Pendleton in 1961. It was fun.

[DougCaldwell]

So much better preparation for today's warfighters then a few weeks at the then Infantry Training Regiment [ITR] at Camp Geiger in 1965. Just very basic combat skills.

[aidansouthall]

Currently in holding for itb. Doing some new 18 week commando program tho called imc. Fuckin thanks marine corps.

[gardennovice]

Hazing and sleep deprivation was the hardest part. You had some instructors that had huge egos and would just make you suffer for their enjoyment. Regardless, the vast majority of us all graduated.

[cappierising]

I lived in Okinawa Japan.
It was like a planet of marines.

[Lemmon_]

It was tough in 1988, especially when you were 6’0-131lbs.

[gabesanfran]

Just graduated from geiger, itb. Some fun stuff