Endurance is tested for the recruits of Mike Company

Photo By Sgt. Angelica Annastas | Recruits of Mike Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, stretch after maneuvering through the Circuit Course at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Sept. 29. The stretches were led by the recruits’ chief drill instructor and are an important part of the cool down phase of training. Today, all males west of the Mississippi are trained at MCRD San Diego. The depot is responsible for training more than 16,000 recruits annually. Mike Company is scheduled to graduate Dec. 11.  

MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES

09.29.2015

Story by Lance Cpl. Angelica Annastas 

Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego     

SAN DIEGO - Recruits learn many things during recruit training, but how to give up isn’t one of them. While aboard the depot, they are given opportunities to build themselves up week after week and are expected to find the strength to keep going.

The physical and mental challenge of training gives recruits a chance to begin the process of transforming into Marines. To accomplish this, recruits of Mike Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, maneuvered through different circuit courses with their drill instructors at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Sept. 29.

To prepare for the event, the recruits, who have been in training for three weeks, have spent countless hours in intense physical training sessions.

The morning event started with bases, which are stations, each with a different exercise. The recruits were divided up into groups and found their starting base. A drill instructor leading the p.t. session blew his whistle every two minutes, indicating the recruits to change bases.

“We are to building their strength and endurance because they’re constantly moving during it all,” said Sgt. Blake T. McLaughlin, drill instructor, Mike Company.

During the event, recruits conducted exercises such as sprints, bicycle crunches, jumping squats and ammunition can lifts, just to name a few. When the recruits reached a new station a drill instructor demonstrated how to do the exercises, and they waited for the whistle to begin exercising.

The drill instructors were scattered around the field to motivate the recruits when they started to slow down.

Recruits also encouraged each other when one appeared to be struggling. This event lasted for an hour, and the purpose of it was to show the recruits how far they could push their physical endurance.

“They had to find the energy to keep going, especially when they felt completely exhausted,” said 25-year-old McLaughlin.

When the recruits were finished, they immediately ran to attack the Circuit Course. This time, instead of the drill instructors staying at each station, they moved with the group of their recruits.

Like the bases, the recruits had short intervals when moving from station to station. Circuit Course exercises include jumping rope, climbing across monkey bars, lifting weights and conducting leg lifts, to name a few.

“Nobody’s perfect, but when you’re here, you have to strive for perfection in whatever you do,” said Recruit Ryan L. Wilhelm, Mike Company. “The drill instructors expect only the very best from us.”

To finish everything off, the recruits formed up to stretch out their muscles, which is an important part of the cool down phase of training.

“It’s motivating to see the changes from civilian to recruit,” said McLaughlin, native of Hillsboro, Ore.

As the recruits progress through training, they can expect other challenges such as Swim Week, Rifle Week and various inspections. Every opportunity presented to them gives them a chance to build themselves, and each other, up for what lies ahead.

• Date Taken: 09.29.2015
• Date Posted: 10.05.2015 17:29
• Story ID: 178181
• Location: MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO, CA, US