From the football gridiron to the depot's grinder

Courtesy Photo | Pfc. Zachary Tanaka, Platoon 3227, Company K, watches as Pfc. Cody Walker, Platoon 3227, Company K shows him how to properly iron his trousers. Recruits are taught basic maintinace of their uniforms during recruit training.  

SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES

05.15.2010

Courtesy Story

Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego       

By Cpl. Jose Nava

MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO - He spoke of wanting to be a Marine since he was a child, but there was a reason his enlistment was delayed for four years; he was an exceptionally-good football player. Although Pfc. Cody Walker, Platoon 3227, Company K, did not join the Marine Corps immediately after high school, he still gained valuable lessons from playing football at Mesa State College of Colorado, Grand Junction, Colo.

Some of the training for football necessitated him waking up at 4:30 a.m, and practicing in six inches of snow, said Walker. His training varied from practice to practice which helped keep the team on their toes, he added.

"He was a good leader who gave everything he had when he stepped onto the field to play," said Joe Ramunno, head football coach, Mesa State College of Colorado. "He was a great guy to be around because he got the team going and demanded excellence from them."

Walker said that he was too anxious and excited to begin recruit training, therefore, he left college early with just 15 credits left to complete his degree.

"I could not think about working at a nine-to-five job every day out in the civilian world," said Walker. "I wanted to do something different."

Arriving at MCRD San Diego, Walker said that he wanted to feel more confident then he when he met the drill instructors on the yellow footprints.

"With the chaos and yelling, the drill instructors stripped all the "coolness" from the new recruits our first night on the yellow footprints," said Walker.

Having been put through his coach's tough and demanding physical training, Walker said he found most of the physical activities that took place during recruit training came easily to him.

"Walker was a squared-away individual that was highly motivated, took charge, had initiative, and was more mature then the other recruits," said Staff Sgt. Gary Weidner, senior drill instructor, Platoon 3227, Company K. For these reasons he was meritoriously promoted to the rank of private first class, said Weidner.

But recruit training was not always an easy task for Walker. One of the things he found difficult was close-order drill. Close-order drill is marching while in formation to instill instance and willingness obedience to orders.

"The hardest part for me was to keep focus through all the hours of drill," said Walker. Drill for recruits took place on Shepherd Memorial Drill Field, also known as the Grinder.

Another rough patch for Walker was homesickness. Walker said that he got through it with the help of the friends he met during training.

"What I missed was the proximity of family and friends when I played football because they lived in the same town as the college," said Walker. "Besides, meeting the buddies I did in boot camp, remembering that I came to become a Marine, helped me push through."

Through all of his training, the field portion of it stood out most to Walker. Getting dirty in the mud and sand, firing weapons and eating meals-ready-to-eat were the things he found most exciting while on the Crucible. The Crucible is a 54-hour training exercise in which recruits march 40 miles and navigate obstacles with little food and sleep, to build teamwork.

"A lot of the teamwork I learned while in football transferred over when I joined the Corps," said Walker. "I used that training to help guide me through the Crucible."

Walker said he has thought a lot about his future in the Corps. Not yet done with his bachelor's degree, Walker wants to earn his degree and plans to make the Marine Corps a career.

Following graduation, Walker will report to Infantry Training Battalion, School of Infantry West, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., where he will train as an infantry man, the job he had his heart set on since he was a child.

Although recruit training is over, Walker is looking forward to continuing his training.

"I do not know what is going happen to but I am excited to see where the Marine Corps will take me and what I will see," said Walker.

• Date Taken: 05.15.2010
• Date Posted: 05.15.2010 19:58
• Story ID: 49745
• Location: SAN DIEGO, CA, US