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.