MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- A Parris Island drill instructor brought the Marine Corps Drill Instructor of the Year award back to Parris Island, marking the third year in a row the depot secured the honor.
Long before he ever wore the campaign cover, Gunnery Sgt. Jensen Runion joined the Marine Corps in 2016 with a simple motivation — to prove he could do it. What began as a challenge quickly became a lifelong purpose shaped by discipline, mentorship, and the Marines he would one day train.
“It was something my friends were doing, and I thought it would be cool,” said Runion. “A lot of people said I couldn’t do it, so I did it. I did it to prove a point — but then I realized I did it for me.”
Supported by his parents and motivated by those who doubted him, Runion shipped to recruit training alongside friends. Like many recruits, his first encounter with drill instructors was overwhelming.
“When I first met my drill instructors, it was surreal — a lot of chaos and disorientation,” said Runion. “It didn’t click that they were going to make me into a Marine until the second phase. They broke us down and started to build us up.”
Earning the title of Marine solidified a sense of purpose that would guide his career. As he progressed through the ranks,
Runion often reflected on the lessons instilled in him during recruit training.
“If I’m making a big decision in the Marine Corps, I think about what my drill instructors would think and what they would do,” said Runion.
Initially reserved and quiet growing up, the Marine Corps forced Runion to make drastic changes in his life.
“Joining the Marine Corps got me out of my shell,” said Runion. “I realized I wanted to take on bigger tasks and have junior Marines under me.”
As he approached his second reenlistment, Runion faced a pivotal decision. Rather than pursuing recruiting duty, he volunteered for one of the Marine Corps’ most demanding billets: drill instructor duty.
“I knew it was going to be hard,” said Runion. “I thought back to boot camp and knew it wasn’t easy for them, and I knew it wasn’t going to be easy on me either.”
Despite encouragement from drill instructors and mentors such as Staff Sgt. Gallagher, his drill instructor.
“I got the email saying I was in class 2-23, and I could see everyone in it,” said Runion. “I was stressed. But if you’re not nervous, you’re not ready for it. Nerves keep you alive.”
His first step to becoming a drill instructor involved 13 weeks at Drill Instructor School.
“Going back to the depot as a DI student was weird,” said Runion. “You’re treated like a recruit again, but we’re all training for something.”
Earning the campaign cover marked a major milestone, but the true weight of his situation had yet to come.
“It didn’t hit me until I stood in front of my first cycle,” said Runion. “Looking at those recruits during the drill instructor creed, I realized I was here for them. It’s not about me anymore — it’s about changing their lives.”
The demands of drill instructor duty tested Runion’s endurance and resolve. From maintaining relentless energy in front of recruits to managing the responsibilities of smaller drill instructor teams, each cycle presented new challenges.
“There’s nothing easy about being a drill instructor,” said Runion. “You’ve got to push yourself to the limit and demand more from yourself every day.”
With each cycle, his confidence and competence grew. By his third cycle, Runion found himself mentoring newer drill instructors, ensuring they were prepared to train the next generation of Marines.
“Giving a recruit an [Eagle, Globe and Anchor] is wild,” said Runion. “You think back to how you felt as a recruit. It’s a feeling you won’t get again. That recruit chose me — knowing I had that impact means a lot.”
Runion’s leadership and performance eventually led to an unexpected opportunity when he received news just weeks before a company pickup.
“They told me they needed me to be the senior drill instructor,” said Runion. “It meant a lot knowing they had that faith and confidence in me.”
As Runion gained experience and confidence in the depot, he began setting his sights on a challenge that few drill instructors ever pursue — competing for Drill Instructor of the Year.
By then, he had already served as a drill instructor, mentor, and senior drill instructor, but stepping onto a competitive board at the depot level felt like an entirely different challenge.
“I put myself into that spot,” said Runion. “I went to the first sergeant and asked who was on the list for Drill Instructor of the Year. He said ‘No one yet,’ and I told him, ‘Put me on it.”
It was a bold decision. Runion had never won a board beyond the company level and knew he would be competing against some of the most respected and experienced drill instructors across the depot — Marines whose reputations preceded them.
“The nerves hit immediately,” said Runion. “I’d seen some of the drill instructors across the depot and knew how good they were. I kept thinking, ‘There’s no way I’m going to beat them out.”
Despite the self-doubt, Runion committed himself fully to preparation. Every uniform item was inspected to perfection. He repeatedly studied every order and directive he could find. He arrived early, rehearsed constantly, and refused to be outworked.
“I always made sure my stuff was good to go,” said Runion. “I was the first one there. I told myself that even if I didn’t win, I was going to give it everything I had.”
Walking into the boardroom, the pressure intensified. Each competitor entered one by one, and as each passing minute went by, Runion felt the weight of the competition grow heavier.
“I watched everyone go in and out,” said Runion. “These were drill instructors I’d heard about because of how good they were. I kept telling myself, ‘There’s no way I’ve got this.”
When his turn came, Runion stepped forward and answered every question to the best of his ability. The exchange felt brief — almost too brief.
“It felt like I was only in there for five minutes,” said Runion. “Everyone else seemed like they were in there longer. I walked out thinking, ‘I didn’t get it.”
Moments later, the results were announced.
“They looked at us and said, ‘Staff Sgt. Runion, you’re going to Quantico to compete for Drill Instructor of the Year,’” said Runion. “I couldn’t believe it. There was no way it was me.”
Continuing to the Marine Corps level competition brought a new wave of pressure and uncertainty. A government shutdown delayed travel and scheduling, leaving Runion in limbo as he waited for confirmation.
“When the government came back online, I got a hotel confirmation before I even got a time for the board,” said Runion. “That made me even more nervous. I was freaking out.”
With only days to prepare, Runion immersed himself in study and repetition.
“I read every order I could get my hands on,” said Runion. “I studied things I never even thought I’d need to know. In the end, they asked about exactly what I had prepared for.”
The pressure extended beyond personal performance. For two consecutive years, the Marine Corps Drill Instructor of the Year title had been awarded to Parris Island. Runion knew he carried the depot's expectations with him.
“You’ve got all this weight on your shoulders,” said Runion. “The last two years, the title went to Parris Island, and I told myself I wasn’t going to be the one to break that streak.”
When the announcement finally came, the moment felt surreal.
“They said, ‘Staff Sgt. Runion, you’re going to be Drill Instructor of the Year,’” said Runion. “At first, it didn’t even register. It wasn’t until about an hour later that it hit me — I was the Marine Corps Drill Instructor of the Year.”
Along with the title came a meritorious promotion to gunnery sergeant, just nine years into his Marine Corps career — a milestone that marked not only professional achievement but personal transformation.
“All the nerves, the doubt, the preparation — it all paid off,” said Runion. “Every moment from when I first stepped on the yellow footprints led to that point. It made everything worth it.”
For Runion, the most rewarding part of the duty is the lasting impact he has on the Marines he trained.
“When my old recruits reach out and keep me updated on their lives, that’s the best part,” said Runion. “Knowing I’m part of their story and their memory forever means everything.”
Now a gunnery sergeant, Runion continues to mentor and lead Marines with the same philosophy that guided him from the beginning: treat every recruit like someone’s son or daughter and give them the guidance he once wished he had.
“I have kids of my own,” said Runion. “These recruits are someone’s children. If I sent my kids here, I’d want them trained to be
Marines and treated the right way. My job is to do for them what wasn’t done for me.” -30-