Recruits with Mike Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, and Papa Company, 4th Recruit Training Battalion, take the Water Survival Basic Qualification Course at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. Dec. 3, 2019. The recruits must be able to shed combat load underwater, swim and float in full utilities, and jump from the tower to pass qualification. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Michelle Brudnicki)
Sgt. Kemuel Sanchez grew up boxing in Puerto Rico as a young boy, and later fought on the Marine Corps’ Boxing Team. Now, as a drill instructor for Lima Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, Sanchez trains future Marines with the same fighting spirit he was taught by past generations of fighters.(U.S. video by Lance Cpl. Godfrey Ampong)
Pfc. Paul Hasenfus was six days into recruit training when his life changed forever: his mother Patricia had passed away. Hasenfus returned home to face her death and had to decide if he was going to return to Parris Island to achieve his dream of becoming a Marine. Hasenfus is from Plymouth, Massachusetts.
This week we caught up with Delta Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, and asked recruits for their impressions of the first week of boot camp.
Receiving week is a crucial part of Marine Corps recruit training. During receiving week recruits are stripped of their individuality and thrust into a new way of life.
“During the crucible, I always had a picture of my great-grandfather holding the flags him and the soldiers in his unit signed during World War II” Tristan Altenbach said, “It was my main motivation to make it through training.”
