Photo By Lance Cpl. Sarah Candelaria | Sgt. Chris Hoover, Platoon 1005, Company A, commands his unit through the final...... read more read more
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SAN DIEGO - Under the precise and meticulous eye of their drill instructors, dozens of recruits marched onto Shepherd Memorial Drill Field, one platoon at a time, Nov. 8. On any other day the parade deck may have multiple platoons from various companies training for drill, but on this particular rainy morning, Company A had the parade deck to themselves to compete in the test known as final drill.
The making of a Marine entails training recruits in many different areas of strength and knowledge, and drill is the art encompasses both. It is one of the primary ways recruits are taught discipline because it requires a platoon of many young men to listen and move as one. For the recruits of Company A, this understanding of discipline began 13-weeks ago when they arrived here and stood on the yellow footprints of Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego for the very first time.
For one recruit, final drill was a very exciting and anticipated opportunity for the recruits to put on a stellar performance.
“This was the most exciting day so far,” said Recruit Benjamin Kinney, guide, Platoon 1003, Company A. “We were confident and eager to prove ourselves to the company.”
Though the recruits seemed to be the only ones excited to get out and perform, the drill instructors shared in the enthusiasm.
“If you ask any drill instructor they’ll tell you it’s like the Super Bowl,” said Staff Sgt. Daniel Walters, senior drill instructor, Platoon 1003. “It shows the discipline the recruits have developed and how much time and effort the drill instructors have put in.”
Much like the Super Bowl, the platoons compete against one another looking to be called the best in their company, but the drill instructors don’t hold back any secrets from each other because it is the company that excels as a whole, not just one single platoon.
“Our company improved from last cycle,” said Walters. “The scores were pretty close across the board. It shows the unselfishness of the drill instructors in this company and how we help each other out.”
Not only have the drill instructors improved since their last training cycle, but the recruits have improved since their initial drill test only two months ago.
“We improved our ability to time most of our movements almost perfectly. The weather threw a curveball at us, but the platoon overcame it and we gave our best drill performance to date,” Kenney explained. “It really showed how much discipline we have gained.”
The drill instructors also took note of the way their platoons have stepped up their game for final drill, making all the time and effort invested, a rewarding endeavor.
“Alpha Company takes a lot of pride in drill,” Walters stated. “Since initial drill the platoon has improved their intensity, attention to detail and precision, and now they more completely understand the purpose and meaning behind drill. It takes a lot of attention to detail, patience and discipline in not only the recruits, but those who are teaching it as well.”
Now that final drill is over for the Marines of Company A, their graduation marks the last time these Marines will ever train as recruits and begin their journey as United States Marines.
| Date Taken: | 11.08.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 11.23.2010 17:16 |
| Story ID: | 60764 |
| Location: | SAN DIEGO, US |
| Web Views: | 127 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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