Photo By Cpl. J Nava | Recruits from Alpha Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion help each other put on the...... read more read more
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Today’s graduates from Alpha Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion tested the limits of their stamina, skill and courage as they battled in the Octagon during the Crucible event known as The Battle of Belleau Wood, April 15.
The Octagon hosts boxing matches and the last pugil stick bouts between the recruits while in recruit training. This event is designed to enhance their warrior ethos and boost confidence.
Pugil sticks are padded poles recruits use to learn basic bayonet and rifle combat techniques. The black end represents the butt stock, while the red end represents the bayonet.
“I really enjoy fighting with the pugil sticks,” said Recruit Trevor Wedesky, Platoon 1028. “My job in the Marine Corps will be to be an infantryman, and I believe stuff like this definitely helps me build my inner warrior spirit.”
For some of the recruits, this training is the closest they have ever come to physical confrontation. They had to overcome any fears they had within themselves to come out the other end a battle-ready warrior.
“I’ve never done anything like that before,” Wedesky said. “Fighting in the Octagon helps build our confidence up so we can take the fight to anyone, anywhere.”
However, this was not the first time the recruits took to each other with the oversized sticks. During week two of training recruits have their first encounter with the sticks, and in week three, recruits battle a top a two-and-a-half-foot tall bridge.
The Battle of Belleau Wood is the fourth and final event involving pugil sticks. It’s designed to help simulate confined spaces and trench warfare.
“I love going all out and throwing caution to the wind – It’s such an adrenaline rush,” said Rct. Zachary Parillo, Plt. 1029. “I feel more ready as a warrior now.”
The training requires the recruits to outmaneuver their opponents and deliever that killing blow. Aside from the confidence building this event offers, the recruits also learn how to think and make decisions while in a state of surprise or high stress.
“This kind of training teaches us to take out the enemy as quickly as possible,” said Michael Daly, Plt. 1028. “The other guy is trying to kill you so it’s about getting him before he gets you.”
Although the Crucible marks the last of the field training events the recruits will go through alongside each other, they’re most special moment together is soon to come.
“We’ll all be graduating together. We’ll all be Marines together,” Wedesky said. “To accomplish this is beyond anything I can imagine.”
| Date Taken: | 04.15.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 04.21.2011 10:14 |
| Story ID: | 69096 |
| Location: | PARRIS ISLAND, SC, US |
| Web Views: | 236 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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