Courtesy Photo | More than 240 recruits from Company K head up into the hills at Edson Range, Marine...... read more read more
Subscribe
By Lance Cpl. Frances Candelaria
MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO, Calif.—If someone hiked to the top of the San Diego hills, they would find a gorgeous view of the Pacific Ocean below, and the cool breeze would set the tone for a beautiful day. But for the recruits of Company K, who stood atop one particular hill, this just may be the most beautiful sight they've seen since they started their journey on the depot's yellow footprints 13 weeks ago.
The recruits have just hiked up the infamous Reaper, a 700-foot hill located on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. This hike was their last obstacle of the Crucible, a cumulative training exercise where recruits receive only 12 hours of sleep in 54 of the most stressful, exhausting and painful hours of their life. Company K started their final 9.7 mile hike after making sure all recruits and rifles were present at 3 a.m.
"The Reaper's tough, but hey, no one does it better than Kilo," said Staff Sgt Gary Weidner, senior drill instructor, Platoon 3227, Company K. "When we're getting ready before the hike, I tell the recruits you only get to do this once. How do you want to remember the day you earned your [eagle, globe and anchor emblem]?"
During the Crucible, the recruits who came to boot camp as individuals learned how to come together as a team.
"This platoon really built great unit cohesion and a couple of (the recruits) surprised me on the hike," said Weidner. "I had a small group with me at the bottom of the last hill. I started running up and they stayed with me."
Once the company made it to the top of the Reaper, the drill instructor read the final Medal of Honor citation before beginning their descent.
"Once I was at the top, I was ecstatic," said Pfc. Cody Walker, Platoon 3227, Company K. "It's hard to describe how great it feels knowing it's only a few more miles until I will be a Marine. We had been working so hard for so long and now it was only a few miles away."
Company K was in the home stretch. They marched down the hill and onto the parade deck where they received their eagle globe and anchor emblems and a "Congratulations Marine," from their drill instructors.
The emblem is the symbol of the Marine Corps and is only presented to those who have earned their place among the few, the proud. It is the first time recruits are congratulated by their drill instructors and the first time they are called, Marine. For many recruits, this is an emotional event. Though drill instructors see the transformations happen every cycle, it's the new Marines that are feeling the pride for the first time. When the Emblem Ceremony takes place, both drill instructors and recruits finally see the transformations.
The drill instructors award the recruits with the emblem of the Marine Corps, shake the new Marine's hand and move on to the next one, with each handshake, the transformation is finalized.
"It's a really proud moment, when I give the new Marine his emblem," said Weidner. "I can see the change he has gone through."
Weidner said he hopes his new Marines will go out into the Fleet Marine Force knowing they can take on and accomplish any mission no matter what obstacles may lay ahead.
After the new Marines have earned their emblems, they eat a Warrior's Breakfast of steak, eggs, French toast and many other breakfast items. Though their long road as recruits will be coming to an end, the Marines will continue on their journeys in the United Sates Marine Corps.
| Date Taken: | 04.16.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 05.14.2010 13:46 |
| Story ID: | 49688 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 9,312 |
| Downloads: | 153 |
This work, The Reaper: Chews up recruits, spits out Marines, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
