How to Become an Honor Graduate at Marine Combat Training (MCT)

Becoming the top marine recruit is an honor.

Becoming an Honor Graduate of Marine Corps combat training requires more than physical toughness and a mastery of fighting skills. It means excelling in all aspects of training, both physical and academic. After 12 weeks of arduous training, recruits become Marines. An Honor Graduate is the best of his class of Marine recruits. To be considered the best among your fellow Marines entails not only a strong performance in meeting all the physical and mental challenges of training, but an outstanding display of character and leadership while doing so.

Instructions

1. 

   Get physically ready.

   Get prepared physically. Prior to the start of recruit training, develop your own training program. Push yourself to be in the best condition you can before you arrive for training. Learn about what you will be up against. Beyond rigorous daily calisthenics, training also involves running long distances in full gear. There are also obstacle courses and simulated combat. Martial arts instruction is based on the philosophy of one mind with any weapon. You must learn to use your hands and virtually all objects as weapons. Recruits must qualify as marksmen with a variety of guns and rifles, at ranges of up to 400 yards.

2. 

   Study marine corps history.

   Get mentally prepared. Learn about Marine Corps history. Study previous battles and strategy. Educate yourself about expected personal conduct both in and out of uniform. Read about Marine Corps culture and tradition. The academic part of recruit training will emphasize some of these topics. You will also learn about responding to medical emergencies and dealing with crises in combat situations. Try to think like a Marine. The defining values of the Marine Corps are honor, courage, and commitment. Marines are expected to uphold these core values in every situation. Think about what leadership means. By the completion of training every recruit is expected to show an ability to lead under any circumstances.

3. 

   Get combat ready.

   Be prepared to show your leadership skills while still in training. Recruit training is capped by "The Crucible," a 54-hour endurance test under combat conditions. The Crucible involves marching day and night with almost no food or rest. It entails team combat shooting and physical obstacles to overcome. There are also night infiltration and combat evacuation scenarios. The Crucible is specifically designed to push recruits' endurance to the breaking point and to test for leadership ability and adherence to core Marine values.

4. 

   Finish top of the class.

   Be able to explain what it means to be a Marine and what the Marine Corps means to you. Recruits under consideration for selection as Honor Graduate must go through a series of evaluations and interviews with senior drill instructors. As a potential symbol of the best of the Marine Corps, your confidence and poise during evaluations are considered important attributes.

References

• US Marines: Training Matrix - Physical Training
• US Marines: Training Matrix - Academics
• US Marines: Training Matrix - The Crucible