PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- “The Silver Star is presented to Gunnery Sgt. Phillip A. Jordan for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy…,” read Staff Sgt. Christine Pedigo, drill instructor.

“…He courageously made three trips, dashed through a steel curtain of machine gun and rocket propelled grenade fire with 80 pounds to two separate mortar positions 80 meters apart.”

The Oscar Company drill instructor read the citation to her recruits so they understood why they were about to undergo Jordan’s Crossing, one of the obstacles at the Crucible, Nov. 21.

Spanning 54 hours, the Crucible is the recruits’ last test before earning the title Marine.

In this event, the women would traverse a two-line bridge under simulated enemy fire in order to resupply units at the front.

As soon as they were given the order, the group from platoon 4038 gathered around Recruit Danielle Riolo, leader for the event, and made a plan to get all three 48-pound ammunition cans across the “river” without losing any recruits or gear in the process.

They had 30 minutes to execute and had to move quickly.

Three recruits took the first can. Once those recruits got across, they stabilized the rope to keep it from moving as much.

When the next group crossed, they had assistance from those already there.

The second group was comprised of twice as many recruits. The added weight caused the rope to sink lower to the ground. With their rifles slung behind their backs and Kevlar helmets off-balancing the women’s heads, the rope lost stability and the recruits barely made it across.

“The cans were heavy and we’re really light, and there were not enough people to carry the cans,” said Pfc. Leyshla Solerrodriguez, a recruit from Plt. 4038. “Coming up with strategies to get the cans across without the hitting the floor was difficult.”

The last couple of recruits took their turn at the bridge. No one had realized two of the most petite females were left to carry gear with the least amount of help. They shimmied across, inching their way with death grips on the ammunition can and one of the ropes.

The load was too great for them and one fell.

“It was hard, but I had to continue holding onto the ammo can,” said Riolo, who was left on the rope.

Pedigo told both the girls they were dead and had to start over.

The fallen recruits re-planned their approach and were back on the bridge in no time.

“When we fell down, we got right back up and did it again,” said Solerrodriguez. “The second time we did it, we came up with a better strategy and we were able to get it across.”

Being extra careful, they succeeded in “resupplying the forward units.” With a minute left on the clock, they quickly dismounted the obstacle before time ran out.

“We had to use a lot of teamwork in this course,” Solerrodriguez said. “There was no way you could have done it by yourself. You needed more than three people to get those ammo cans across and be able to get each recruit across to the other side.”

The recruits had learned the secret to almost every event at the Crucible – teamwork.

Riolo said Jordan’s Crossing was a good introductory obstacle for the Crucible because it gave them a taste of what the recruits would need to make it to the end and earn their Eagle, Globe and Anchors.

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