Photo By Sgt. Russell Midori | Staff Sgt. Kellie Green encourages Recruit Ashley Green to move with speed and...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- The women of Oscar Company, 4th Recruit Training Battalion, walk across the Peatross Parade Deck, July 1, with a swagger and confidence unique to newly appointed Marines.
But before they earned the right to bear that title, the women of Oscar were put through one of the most difficult challenges recruits face during their stay at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.
The Crucible, a 54-hour final test that allows recruits limited sleep and food, pits them against the effects of mental and physical fatigue to bring them out the other side as basic-trained Marines.
“During the Crucible we test to see if they’ve learned their core values and how they implement the leadership traits that we’ve been instilling in them,” said Staff Sgt. Krysten Pedigo, drill instructor at Platoon 4020, Oscar Company.
A series of six events tests the recruits abilities throughout the Crucible. Every event requires emphasis from different skills to complete, but almost all of them require extensive amounts of teamwork.
“Our platoon is very close,” said Recruit Yiasiah Goodman, Platoon 4020. “When we see a recruit next to us who is feeling down, we do everything we can to motivate them to push forward.”
Throughout recruit training the recruits learn that they will soon be a part of something bigger than themselves. The Crucible helps cement that feeling of selflessness and brotherhood.
“You learn here that the person to the right or left of you is more important than yourself,” said Recruit Sara Kindy, Platoon 4020.
Apart from the six events, recruits take part in various skill-building exercises with their drill instructors in order to develop them as leaders and Marines.
“Starting at day one, some of (the recruits) are insecure with themselves. Now I see them turn into mature women that could someday become great leaders within the Marine Corps,” Pedigo said.
The Crucible culminates with a 9 mile hike to the Iwo Jima Monument replica located at the Peatross Parade Deck where the Eagle, Globe and Anchor ceremony is held, marking their transformation from recruit to Marine.
“I’m looking forward to wearing my uniform for the first time with the Eagle, Globe and Anchor, knowing that I put everything that I had into earning it,” Goodman said. “People who aren’t Marines see it and just think it’s pretty. But when you come here for 13 weeks you realize that every piece of the emblem is instilled in you.”
| Date Taken: | 07.01.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 07.07.2011 10:07 |
| Story ID: | 73353 |
| Location: | PARRIS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 196 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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