Day 1: It's Not Just 8 Weeks

Capt. Todd Prestidge, the commanding officer of Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, N.J., addresses new recruits at the service's only enlisted basic training center.
The average Coast Guard recruit company will lose more than 30 percent of its ranks to reversions, rephasals and washouts over the course the eight-week training program.
The Coast Guard is the most selective and recruits the most qualified applicants for their rigorous basic training program. Applicants can find official and proven preparation materials here: goo.gl/U5joCf.
U.S. Coast Guard video by CWO Donnie Brzuska.

[@eliesercepeda686]

What the? For a second I was having flashback of my Marine Corps boot camp...Jesus the intensity looks the same! Ha! Damn! Massive respect! Rah!

[@jackmitchell9548]

Elieser Cepeda Coast Guard models their Basic training after the Marines. It’s almost the same in intensity and difficulty, Marines is still harder I think though.

[@luuisa789]

My husband is there at Cape May now with X-Ray 191 Send your prayers :) Plus, to all who want to join, congratulations, I hope you all make it!

[@minnesotamild253]

Gives me goosebumps. I hope I have the privilege to be there next year.

[@carnaljohnson4399]

Did you make it?

[@Runescythe9852]

Ah, that takes me back. I remember when I arrived on July 2nd 2006, it was in the middle of the night while it was raining. They had these orange storm light blaring down on us while we stood on these little yellow triangles in front of Sexton Hall, the first thing they did was have the drill instructors come onto the buses, yelling and screaming at us until we had ourselves in our first little formation on the triangles mentioned before. Even while we were standing there soaking, the drill instructors were even louder than the thunder and rain before filing us into the main hallway where we recieved our first bag of gear before being sent to bed in the adjacent bunk rooms on either end of the building. Alot of people were chatting still, but little did they know, the drill instructors were listening through the PA system and loudly shouted for everyone to be quiet and go to sleep. I swear it was the kind of stuff that came straight out of movies.

[@dejinz3771]

Cape May is awesome. I spent my childhood vacations there. Hopefully 9 years from now when I'm 22 I'll spend 8 weeks there to start my career!

[@soulofaspartan3878]

College first?

[@usfbullsrule]

This training is much tougher then when I was in summer of '79

[@gyrozeppeli6193]

Currently a junior in high school and I am half looking forward to joining and having the experience and half terrified of my future lmao

[@FloridaPeople]

Semper Paratus!

[@chloejones7993]

Health disqualifies me. But massive respect to y'all talking about wanting to join ot joining! Semper Paratus

[@nr3rful]

I remember eatting sand also. But when I went thru at CM boot training was 16 weeks.

[@TheJuaxo]

Hopefully I will be en route there by the end of this year.

[@smith_machine]

Petty Officer Milligan at 1:57 is now Chief Milligan, the James Hall Section Commander.

[@ImReadyD151]

April 5th anyone?

[@squalii3]

+ImReadyD151 see you there

[@ImReadyD151]

William Newton awesome!

[@MariposasMane]

+ImReadyD151 same here, april 5th. see you guys tuesday!!

[@airplanebuilderman]

FORMED G/H 145 GRADUATED K-145

[@Dbulkss]

Im leaving for cap may February 2nd 2015!!! Anybody else joining me?

[@Philitron128]

How is it?

[@Dbulkss]

Philitron128 graduated a 2 months ago. Definitely a challenge. It's pretty simple and straight forward.

[@Philitron128]

I'm leaving Monday, maybe our paths will cross. Good luck!

[@Dbulkss]

I already went through bootcamp. You have any questions?

[@Philitron128]

How "bad" was it? Was it just absolutely ridiculous, or was it more of a learning experience. Another way to ask it is maybe, are they just trying to break you?

[@richardjenkins4061]

B-123/SCD Summer of 1986

[@christusomnipotens3751]

April 11th anyone?

[@clidelivingston]

February 2nd anyone?

[@joshuawalker3222]

August 9th

[@epicfailandwinmoments9654]

so easy haha just wait till you go to Rescue Swimmer School

[@ngoquyen9285]

Can't wait for Army boot camp.

[@jeffflower4895]

Just an 8 week mistake

[@alfonsoaguilar5871]

looks easy