What do you do in USMC bootcamp if you have to use the bathroom in the middle of night while everyone is sleeping?

PV2 J M — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 19:44:27 -0500

Response by SN Greg Wright made Dec 13 at 2017 7:47 PM

SN Greg Wright — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 19:47:02 -0500

You get up and go to the bathroom?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 13 at 2017 8:24 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 20:24:18 -0500

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 13 at 2017 8:33 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 20:33:45 -0500

There are no bathrooms in USMC bootcamp. That area is referred to as the head, same as in the USN. The process of relieving yourself is known as making a head call. So, you get out of the rack and proceed to the head and make a head call. You may be intercepted by the fire watch on duty, but after that you just carry on and take care of your business. It would be highly discouraged to wake the DI on duty to request permission to make a head call like you would during the day.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Dec 13 at 2017 8:43 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 20:43:08 -0500

What is a bathroom?

Response by SSG Will Phillips made Dec 13 at 2017 9:04 PM

SSG Will Phillips — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 21:04:20 -0500

Get up and go piss. Just do not go lurking around.

Response by SPC Robert Coventry made Dec 13 at 2017 10:06 PM

SPC Robert Coventry — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 22:06:15 -0500

Hold it

Response by LTJG Richard Bruce made Dec 13 at 2017 11:08 PM

LTJG Richard Bruce — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 23:08:15 -0500

I never had to go to the head after Taps during nine weeks of USCG recruit training. It's called self control and eating a good diet.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 13 at 2017 11:59 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 23:59:59 -0500

PV2 J M In 1968, our platoon was not allowed to go to the head after lights out. We were in Quonset huts, so those that could not hold it, would piss in a bucket. Very early in the morning, a recruit would take the bucket to the head and dump it. Our DI's were bad about letting us make head calls, and you could not request a head call or suffer the consequences. Those were different times.

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Dec 14 at 2017 12:07 AM

SSG Roger Ayscue — Thu, 14 Dec 2017 00:07:12 -0500

In the Army we raise our hand and ask permission to go, Mother May I....NO but really, you get up and go to the head.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Dec 14 at 2017 6:15 AM

Cpl Jeff N. — Thu, 14 Dec 2017 06:15:31 -0500

It does vary by Drill Instructor/Platoon. We were allowed to make head calls after lights out. There is a fire watch on duty who had to keep mental track of how many recruits were on a head call in case he was asked by the Drill Instructor if he came out of the duty hut. The secret was to make no noise and to be in and out as fast as possible. If the DI found you in the head after lights out he might conduct some extra military instruction on you.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Dec 14 at 2017 4:12 PM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Thu, 14 Dec 2017 16:12:14 -0500

Everyone isn't sleeping. Firewatch is posted throughout the night and you will get up and request permission to use the bathroom.

Response by Sgt David Hesser made Dec 14 at 2017 7:03 PM

Sgt David Hesser — Thu, 14 Dec 2017 19:03:20 -0500

Use the head it will be the only peaceful time you can, but never ever tell the D.I. You need to use the head no matter how bad during rifle cleaning , I learned that one the hard way.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Dec 14 at 2017 7:27 PM

Sgt Dale Briggs — Thu, 14 Dec 2017 19:27:00 -0500

You should go take a piss, I don't remember being restricted.

Response by SFC Cornelius Walsh made Dec 15 at 2017 6:43 AM

SFC Cornelius Walsh — Fri, 15 Dec 2017 06:43:38 -0500

Move quietly.

Response by Al Reynolds made Dec 15 at 2017 7:16 AM

Al Reynolds — Fri, 15 Dec 2017 07:16:17 -0500

Jordan Masters, You'll have to forgive my interference... I'm Navy. I had been making Head call decisions on my own all my life and I got to continue making those simple decisions upon entering the Navy... Boot Camp or otherwise.....

So, I never knew how archaic the corps was until I was assigned fifteen days in a Marine Brig .... Suddenly I was required to learn the two types of head calls: The 'Long' and 'Short' and then I had to learn that permission must be sought and permission must be granted before one is allowed the pleasure of relief. .. On those occasions when it was needed I was also required to get permission to draw thirty sheets of head paper. (I think I was limited to thirty sheets because that is a long way to count...) If you decide to go Navy you must understand that unloading your problem in the toilet is better than having to explain gear adrift in your skivvies in the morning ... If you go Marines there will be a form for that....

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Dec 17 at 2017 5:42 PM

SFC Joseph Weber — Sun, 17 Dec 2017 17:42:07 -0500

You put your urine in some type of sleeve. Then in the morning you casually walk around and dump it out in small amounts. This way the Germ...Wait a minute. That was a movie I saw and it involved dirt. Never mind.

Response by MAJ Raymond Haynes made Dec 19 at 2017 4:10 AM

MAJ Raymond Haynes — Tue, 19 Dec 2017 04:10:42 -0500

Top or Bottom Rack?

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Dec 19 at 2017 11:21 AM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Tue, 19 Dec 2017 11:21:15 -0500

You go to the head and take care of business.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Dec 19 at 2017 11:47 AM

SGT Dave Tracy — Tue, 19 Dec 2017 11:47:52 -0500

Make like a ninja: No one saw you. No one heard you. You were there, then gone and no one is the wiser.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Sep 21 at 2018 12:41 PM

Cpl Jeff N. — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 12:41:03 -0400

When I went through Parris Island, we were able to hit the head at night, you just needed to let the firewatch know. If you were caught by the Drill Instructor you might get thrashed but they might do that anyway.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2018 10:44 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 22:44:34 -0400

Is this real life?

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 22 at 2018 11:29 AM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 22 Sep 2018 11:29:52 -0400

They allow Mom to come hold your hand on the way to/from the little boy's room.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2018 10:15 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Sep 2018 10:15:17 -0400

I would think you just get up and go like normal. Don’t forget the 3 sea shells.