8 Months ago I found the US Marine Corps Jungle Survival school in Okinawa Japan on Google Maps. So I reached out to the USMC and asked if I could attend the school and film the experience and they said "Yes". Prior to arriving to Okinawa I knew Very Very little about what actually happens at the USMC Jungle Survival school and boy was I in for a surprise.
I was attached with their leadership course, a more rigorous course for team and squad level leaders. Its a 5 week course that teaches repelling and crossing extreme terrain, how to treat and evacuate casualties in the jungle and spends a lot of time on jungle tactics. The fourth week of the training is all about survival in jungle environment. So I joined about 30 marines for survival school portion of their training.
For survival week, we were not allowed to bring food, caffeine, nicotine tabaco, spare cloths, tents, sleeping bag and most every creature comfort you would want in the jungle. There were 6 items we were allowed and a few items like tarps were we allowed only 1 per team.
I was deeply impressed by the all the students and instructors I met during my week with the USMC and am really grateful that I got to spend a week with them.