Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
More to come
I'm back home now, but there is still more to post.
Stay tuned in the coming week for posts and videos on recruit training, Marines history, and conversations with recruits and enlisted Marines. There will also likely be a follow up story in The Journal-Standard this week. I will let you know when it hits the stands. You can also check the Website at www.journalstandard.com.
Thanks for reading!
Sincerely, Cara L. Spoto
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Graduation
On Friday, just hours before boarding buses to the San Diego airport, the educators were lucky enough to witness the graduation of 512 new Marines in Charlie Company (The Marines are different than the ones that received their Eagle, Globe and Anchor Thursday morning. Those Marines are slated to graduate Jan. 23, 2009)
Once the ceremony is over the Marines are dismissed. As they break out of formation they stop to shake each others hands before heading to see their families who sit waiting in the stands.
Now on leave for 10 days of rest and relaxation, the new Marines will spend time with family and friends before heading back to the depot for 24 days of infantry combat training. After that they will head to their respective "schools" to where they will be instructed in their military occupation specialty or (M.O.S.). Schooling can take anywhere from three months to a year. Once schooling is done they will be receive their orders.
A typical Marine enlistment is between four to six years. Given the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, there is fair chance many of the young men and women who graduate this year at MCRD San Diego and MCRD Parris Island will be deployed sometime during that initial enlistment, public affairs officials said. Those Marines who chose infantry as their M.O.S. will skip the basic infantry training required of all new Marines, and instead train for two months at Camp Pendleton's military combat training school. Once done with their course those Marines will be sent abroad to whatever post the branch finds their services will be most needed.
It's a story and a process that will be repeated throughout the year as the depot and its drill instructors continue to "make Marines."
According to Marine Brigadier General Angela Salinas, who overseas MCRD San Diego, the depot graduates a new company 42 weeks out of the year.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Eagle, Globe and Anchor
No sooner have a company of recruits completed The Crucible Thursday morning (not the ones I witnessed being "welcomed" to the depot Monday night, Jan, 14, but another company) then they are on the parade deck at Camp Pendleton ready to become Marines.
The air is thick with emotion, as the exhausted young Marines, break down as they receive the rewards they worked so hard for: the right to call themselves Marines.
Marines receive their Eagle, Globe
and Anchor emblems
Marines sing Marines Hymn
After the ceremony the newly minted Marines take much needed showers and make their way to the mess hall for the traditional "Warrior' Breakfast," get ready for Marine Week, an eight day period of respite where Marines will purchase dress uniforms and prepare for their public graduation ceremony the following Friday.
The air is thick with emotion, as the exhausted young Marines, break down as they receive the rewards they worked so hard for: the right to call themselves Marines.
Marines receive their Eagle, Globe
and Anchor emblems
Marines sing Marines Hymn
After the ceremony the newly minted Marines take much needed showers and make their way to the mess hall for the traditional "Warrior' Breakfast," get ready for Marine Week, an eight day period of respite where Marines will purchase dress uniforms and prepare for their public graduation ceremony the following Friday.
Behold the Crucible
The final test in the third and final phase of a recruit's training, the Crucible is a grueling obstacle course and field training exercise designed to test the mental, physical, and emotional limits of a recruit. During the 54 hours test Marines are only allowed three MREs (meals ready to eat) and a mere four hours per sleep each night.
The 12-Stall
In addition to utilizing their infantry skills to the test, recruits must also use team work and problem solving to successfully make it through series of both physically and mentally challenging obstacles, called the 12-Stall.
On Thursday afternoon the educators take a stab at a few of the obstacles. They're not easy.
Not Your Average Hike
At the very end of the Crucible, when they are at their most exhausted, recruits must complete a 10 mile hike through Camp Pendleton, where the Crucible is based. During the last two miles of the hike, recruits must trek up steep grade in the foothills of the Sierra Madres Mountain Range. Marines refer to the hill as The Reaper.
Those who make it to the end, like Priv. Diego Garibay, 19, of River Bank, CA, will receive the Eagle, Globe and Anchor emblem and become Marines.
Those that don't must start over from the beginning. Sometimes they must give up their aspirations of a career in the Corps all together.
The 12-Stall
In addition to utilizing their infantry skills to the test, recruits must also use team work and problem solving to successfully make it through series of both physically and mentally challenging obstacles, called the 12-Stall.
On Thursday afternoon the educators take a stab at a few of the obstacles. They're not easy.
Not Your Average Hike
At the very end of the Crucible, when they are at their most exhausted, recruits must complete a 10 mile hike through Camp Pendleton, where the Crucible is based. During the last two miles of the hike, recruits must trek up steep grade in the foothills of the Sierra Madres Mountain Range. Marines refer to the hill as The Reaper.
Those who make it to the end, like Priv. Diego Garibay, 19, of River Bank, CA, will receive the Eagle, Globe and Anchor emblem and become Marines.
Those that don't must start over from the beginning. Sometimes they must give up their aspirations of a career in the Corps all together.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Could you hack it?
Educators get a taste of recruit life
Tuesday morning starts off early. (at least for a reporter)
Educators from across Wisconin, Illinois and Missouri board two Marine Corps buses at 7:15 am and head to the MCRD where they get see a glimpse of what life is like for a recruit.
First, drill instructor, Staff Sgt. Zunino explains the importance of following commands.
The teachers meet their actual drill instructor at Yellow Footprints.
Later, another drill instructor explains the script recruits must read when they call home. This is the first and only time a recruit's parents will hear the voice of their sons until they graduate from boot camp and become an actual Marine. In the 13 weeks that follow the recruits will be able to write letters but will not be able to make phone calls. (The rules are the same for female recruits who are processed at Parris Island.)
Tuesday morning starts off early. (at least for a reporter)
Educators from across Wisconin, Illinois and Missouri board two Marine Corps buses at 7:15 am and head to the MCRD where they get see a glimpse of what life is like for a recruit.
First, drill instructor, Staff Sgt. Zunino explains the importance of following commands.
The teachers meet their actual drill instructor at Yellow Footprints.
Later, another drill instructor explains the script recruits must read when they call home. This is the first and only time a recruit's parents will hear the voice of their sons until they graduate from boot camp and become an actual Marine. In the 13 weeks that follow the recruits will be able to write letters but will not be able to make phone calls. (The rules are the same for female recruits who are processed at Parris Island.)
Exhaustion, honor, and a lot of yelling
Monday, Jan. 12
Yellow Footprints
MCRD
After a two and a half hour flight to Houston and a three hour flight to San Diego, we arrive at the hotel at 4 p.m.
After a 5 p.m. dinner peopled with more than a dozen marines, most of them drill instructors, recruiters and public affairs officers, I and the only other media person in the group are escorted to the USO at the San Diego Airport and then to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego where we witness more than 50 new recruits as they receive their first taste of military life.
The boys have just started to relax, reclining in large couches and watching a football game in the USO lounge, when two small, but very loud drill instructors start barking orders at them.
They race nervously, tripping over long pant cuffs, and accidentally knocking into the guy ahead of them.
What follows is a series of blasts -- instructions from the drill instructors telling them to get in line and drop what they are carrying and anything in their pockets. It isn't much. Recruits are instructed to bring only the clothes on their back, and an ID, everything else will be taken from them once at the depot, and given back after their 13 weeks of grueling training.
At Yellow Footprints at the MCRD the boys get their first real taste of boot camp...
"Get off the bus now!!! Lets go, let's go, let's go, let's go!!!!"
It is dark, and all that could be seen were rows of young men standing at attention, afraid to even scratch an itch lest instructed.
The recruits are then instructed to line up in front of a large red and yellow illuminated sign bearing the Marine Corps code of conduct.
"Drugs will not be tolerated," barks a drill instructor, his voice already horse.
From there the recruits are ordered into the receiving depot.
The sign above the doorway reads: "Through this porthole goes the future of the United States Marine Corps."
Yellow Footprints
Once inside the receiving depot, the recruits are instructed to toss out any contraband they may have. This includes: cell phones, non-prescription medicine, and condoms.
Once all their items have been stowed, the recruits are given their standard issue of clothing: which includes a pair of boots, once set of camouflage, sox and four pairs of briefs. Marine recruits are not permitted to wear boxers.
Next come the hair cuts.
It is now nearly 9 p.m. The recruits spend the next few minutes getting their paperwork checked in.
They spend the rest of the night, not sleeping, but changing into their new clothes, and helping to check in the remaining 350 or so recruits that will arrive at the MCRD that night. They will not go to bed until the following night.
Yellow Footprints
MCRD
After a two and a half hour flight to Houston and a three hour flight to San Diego, we arrive at the hotel at 4 p.m.
After a 5 p.m. dinner peopled with more than a dozen marines, most of them drill instructors, recruiters and public affairs officers, I and the only other media person in the group are escorted to the USO at the San Diego Airport and then to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego where we witness more than 50 new recruits as they receive their first taste of military life.
The boys have just started to relax, reclining in large couches and watching a football game in the USO lounge, when two small, but very loud drill instructors start barking orders at them.
They race nervously, tripping over long pant cuffs, and accidentally knocking into the guy ahead of them.
What follows is a series of blasts -- instructions from the drill instructors telling them to get in line and drop what they are carrying and anything in their pockets. It isn't much. Recruits are instructed to bring only the clothes on their back, and an ID, everything else will be taken from them once at the depot, and given back after their 13 weeks of grueling training.
At Yellow Footprints at the MCRD the boys get their first real taste of boot camp...
"Get off the bus now!!! Lets go, let's go, let's go, let's go!!!!"
It is dark, and all that could be seen were rows of young men standing at attention, afraid to even scratch an itch lest instructed.
The recruits are then instructed to line up in front of a large red and yellow illuminated sign bearing the Marine Corps code of conduct.
"Drugs will not be tolerated," barks a drill instructor, his voice already horse.
From there the recruits are ordered into the receiving depot.
The sign above the doorway reads: "Through this porthole goes the future of the United States Marine Corps."
Yellow Footprints
Once inside the receiving depot, the recruits are instructed to toss out any contraband they may have. This includes: cell phones, non-prescription medicine, and condoms.
Once all their items have been stowed, the recruits are given their standard issue of clothing: which includes a pair of boots, once set of camouflage, sox and four pairs of briefs. Marine recruits are not permitted to wear boxers.
Next come the hair cuts.
It is now nearly 9 p.m. The recruits spend the next few minutes getting their paperwork checked in.
They spend the rest of the night, not sleeping, but changing into their new clothes, and helping to check in the remaining 350 or so recruits that will arrive at the MCRD that night. They will not go to bed until the following night.
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