PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. - Mike Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, battled fatigue, stress and the physical difficulties of the Fallujah Resupply Course as part of the Crucible April 7.
In order to complete the course, recruits must balance across a tight rope, clear tunnels, jump over walls and low crawl through sand and concertina wire, all while carrying an ammunition can.
“When recruits go through this event, they have to have a lot of determination to not give up and work as a team,” said Sgt. Justin Savage, a drill instructor with Platoon 3028, Mike Company, 3rd RTBn. “It’s hard for them to keep their motivation up because they’re tired. If one of them gives up, it’s hard for them to keep going. This event relies heavily on teamwork.”
The event is designed to test the recruits’ abilities to resupply Marines in need with water, food or ammunition while fighting through uncomfortable conditions, such as battle sounds that bellow throughout the course.
“The sounds of people screaming for help, explosions and gunfire helps them realize they have to keep a low profile,” Savage said.
Savage said when the recruits forget to keep their heads down, they become “casualties.”
“Keeping my head low to the ground was probably the hardest part for me,” said Rct. Danny Huynh, with Platoon 3028, Mike Company, 3rd RTBn. “I became a casualty by sniper fire.”
With the combination of loud battle sounds and the commotion of low crawling through the dirt with ammunition cans and casualties, Huynh said the event was a stressful ordeal.
“It was hard to work as a team when we were going through the course,” Huynh said. “All four recruits on my team had ammo cans, so when I became a casualty, they had to worry about moving me and my ammo can.
“I think it was our determination to become Marines that kept us going,” he said.