MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- In February of 2007, President Bush approved the increase of Marines from 175,000 to 202,000. This was an important occasion for the Corps, bringing Marine Forces to their highest level since Operation Desert Storm.
This has had an impact on the entire Marine Corps. Entire new battalions were formed, more promotion slots have been opened and recruiting efforts were increased nationwide.
More than 600 new recruiters were added, increasing their numbers to 2,850. An additional 400 more are expected to be added before the end of 2009, according to a Headquarters Marine Corps news release.
These recruiter increases are being added to fill the demand of bringing in 5,000 additional new Marines each year until the target number of 202,000 is reached in 2010.
This focused recruiting drive means one thing for the Marine Corps Recruiting Depot - far more recruits than usual. More recruits equal a greater opportunity to create the Marines of tomorrow.
Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Underwood, the staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge of Receiving, said the extra demands won't cause too many problems.
"Everybody here will make sure that we get those drill instructors set-up for success, not failure," he said. "All the agencies here will have to work hard to make sure that happens."
For the recruits, life will remain much the same as it has always been. Precautions were made to ensure the training standards of the Marine Corps will remain just as strict as always.
"We have not lowered our standards," said Brig. Gen. Paul E. Lefebvre, commanding general, MCRD Parris Island/Eastern Recruiting Region. "Kids are coming to the Marine Corps because they want the challenge, and they know we're in a fight,"
"We've retooled things here...brought core values to prominence," Lefebvre said.
One of those values is the commitment to provide a proper training environment for potential Marines. The housing and feeding of hundreds of new recruits is a logistical issue that took foresight and planning to overcome.
"Some platoons will be floating from one squadbay to the next," Underwood said. "We will find a place for them to live."
An entirely separate company will be temporarily formed to handle the influx.
Scheduling changes and personnel will be added to the recruit training process as well.
More than 100 additional drill instructors have been added at both Depots, according to the news release.
According to 33-year-old drill instructor Gunnery Sgt. Willie Lee Gresham, originally from Columbia, S.C., the drill instructors will find a way.
"Even if we have one platoon with two hats it won't matter," he said "They will come together to get the job done.
"Training will go on whether the recruits like it or not," Gresham added.