Marines Boot Camp?? Any survivors?

So here's the thing. My little brother just left for Marine Boot Camp in San Diego, CA and I want to know what it was like for other people. But where do you go about looking for that kind of thing? You can't exactly expect to find the answers on the Marine Corp. website because they'll say that it's tough but survivable. I want to know, from other recruits who have gone to Camp Pendleton what they thought about it, what their experiences were like, and what I should do from home to make it easier for my brother (i.e. what to say in letters and the like). Does anyone have any ideas?

This is Day 1 of when he's gone and only ninety more to go. My parents and I are waiting by the phone, hoping he'll call tonight or early tomorrow morning. It's a three hour difference from here in Michigan when compared to California, so we don't know when the phone will ring. *sigh.

It was harder seeing Jake off than I had thought. The Staff-Sergeant that came to get him answered some last minute questions before he took my little brother off with him to Lansing and a hotel where they would keep him at before going to Detroit to catch his flight. There were two others that were going with him from the Lansing Recruitment Office, so we were happy that he had some people that were keeping him company. I learned that we only have 10 days with him, 21 depending, before he has to go to MCT for another 3 weeks. Then he's supposed to go to his job training school--wherever that happens to be--before he's stationed. The Staff-Sergeant said that he won't even have time to come back and see us before he's stationed. Not even a day to say "Hi!" and "Bye!" before he goes.

What the fuck? Really? That's stupid! My mom was about in tears when told, but she held them off until Jake was out the door. I knew that he was excited to be going and that helped, but still I cried when I saw him off--crazy I know, but it happens. Then my dad was crying, and seeing men cry really turns on the waterworks. And my cousin, Elise, who's staying with us until October, was crying as well! Now it's just the four of us and my parents are already riding my ass about doing family stuff, taking over my brother's chores, and figuring out what to do with my life after I graduate from college. I'm all for my brother already knowing what he wants to do for the rest of his life, but that doesn't mean that I do!

Anyway, what I want to know is what other people thought of Boot Camp (any boot camp really) and what I should say in letters that would help him. Please leave a comment/feedback, it will be greatly appreciated!

*****