MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- For the first time in more than 30 years, Parris Island will be home to a brand new recruit training company.
The 3rd Recruit Training Battalion is scheduled to form a fifth company of recruits April 2 at an official ceremony. Quebec Company will join India, Kilo, Lima, and Mike Companies.
This change is reflecting the increase in total Marines, as directed by the Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James T. Conway last year. The Corps is set to increase in size from 175,000 to 202,000 by the year 2010.
The first shipment of 360 to 450 recruits is scheduled to form the company on April 12, when they arrive for training.
1st Sgt William E. Sweeney, who will be the company first sergeant for Quebec, said the recruits will be in good hands.
"We'll have around 28 drill instructors - they'll keep busy," the 36 year old from Loveland, Colo., said.
The company will be housed at barracks at the Weapons and Field Training Bn., which will become the center for all company activity.
The greater distance from the other company squadbays will necessitate the need for a slight increase in motor transport, Sweeney said.
Despite small changes, the new company commander of Quebec Company, Capt. Donald L. Hotchkiss, expects business to continue as normal.
"We will train as normal by following the same schedule as the other four companies," he said.
"It's our primary concern to meet the goal of 202,000," Hotchkiss, the 30-year-old from Huntsville, Ala., said. "We will work through the logistics."
Sweeney echoed those sentiments.
"The training will not change a bit," he said.
One thing that will change, however, is the total number of platoons Quebec Co. will be handling at the end of July.
Traditionally, each company consists of six separate platoons. Initially, that will remain the case for Quebec Co.. However, after the initial company graduates, Quebec is scheduled to pick up two extra platoons, for a total of eight.
Though change might worry some people, none of these adjustments seem to bother the Marines responsible for training these new recruits. If anything, they appear to welcome the challenges it's going to bring.
"It's going to be an interesting summer," Sweeney said.