Photo By Staff Sgt. Brendan Custer | Tim Bockleman, the Recruit Training Regiment's supervisory physical fitness training...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. – In the fall of 1989, Hurricane Hugo loomed off the coast of South Carolina, preparing to batter the shoreline. The hurricane did not deter Tim Bockleman, who visited Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island for the first-time days before Hugo made landfall. Bockleman was here for a job interview.
"I came down for an interview during a hurricane. I figured that might at least qualify me to work around Marines,” said Bockleman.
After a few more interviews and meetings, the Corps hired him. 35 years later, he is still here and preparing to retire as the Recruit Training Regiment's supervisory physical fitness training advisor, a position that ensures recruits receive the best physical training while at the depot.
“I advise regimental commanders and subordinate commands on issues relating to recruit physical conditioning and injury prevention,” said Bockleman.
With a background in allied health, Bockleman has advocated physical training for entry-level Marines for decades. From his position, Bockleman supervises six physical trainers who manage the training of the individual recruit training battalions.
"They are part of that key role of educating the cadre as well as recruits on how to improve their physical performance during training sessions," said Bockleman.
Bockleman advises on scheduling recruit training to maximize the time for training, recovery, and progression.
“These young men and women came down here for a goal, to become a Marine, and we owe it to them to do the best we can to help them achieve that goal,” said Bockleman.
When Bockleman was hired, he was embedded with Echo Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, to learn the ins and outs of recruit training.
“It exposed me to what the recruit training cycle looked like, and for me to learn how injuries occur, how physical training occurs, what the expectations were to get the recruits in shape, and how the Marines approached it at the time,” said Bockleman.
Initially, Bockleman's focused on recruits pulled from training due to injuries. Over time, his focus shifted from care to injury prevention. As the Corps hired more physical trainers, he took on a more supervisory role and began advising on the schedule.
While Bockleman's responsibilities evolved, so did the understanding of the human body and physical training. Bockleman was part of that change on Parris Island.
"There are things we do now that, decades ago, we were counter to because we thought that was the best answer," said Bockleman.
Bockleman and his team maintain a united front with all the physical trainers in the training pipeline, coordinating with the trainers at MCRD San Diego, Officer Candidate School, and both Schools of Infantry. These trainers are in near-constant communication about research from the depots, the larger Marine Corps, the other services, and even foreign services to ensure we always strive for the best possible training environment.
“It's very easy for any of us to get locked in on a certain way of doing things,” said Bockleman. “But then we see research that says that's the way we used to do it, but that's not the best way. There is an even better way of doing it.”
Bockleman and many others have worked tirelessly over the years to improve the transformative process that recruits undergo at the depot.
"There are so many things that have occurred here," said Bockleman. "Not only from my input but from the Marines and drill instructors interacting with recruits, developing them into Marines, that's a pretty awesome process."
Over the years, Bockleman has seen many Marines come and go and then return.
“I had a recruit come here, then came back as a drill instructor, and then later on as a captain through the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program.”
On May 1, Parris Island saw the relief and appointment of Sgt. Maj. David Watts, the sergeant major of the Recruit Training Regiment.
“It is absolutely cool to see Marines come here again and again throughout their career,” said Bockleman. “I remember Staff Sgt. Watts, then later 1st Sgt. Watts, and now Sgt. Maj. Watts, and it’s a cool experience seeing these Marines come back.”
Bockleman never served in the Marines, but he has worked alongside them for decades, learning about everything that makes Marines.
“If you dig a little deeper, you find that Marines are really just like the rest of us; they have just had some different things built into them that help them stand out as Marines,” said Bockleman. “Later on, I learned that it was things like core values and esprit de corps.”
Very soon, Bockleman will leave Parris Island for what will likely be the last time. He looks back over the last 35 years as a changed man.
“To be a civilian and to have been deeply embedded for so many years, I consider myself incredibly lucky to have been a part of that,” said Bockleman.
(U.S. Marine Corps story by Lance Cpl. William Horsley)
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| Date Taken: | 05.08.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 05.09.2025 09:12 |
| Story ID: | 497320 |
| Location: | PARRIS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 11 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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