MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO -- In a stressful environment caused by yelling drill instructors, Company G recruits rolled over high bar, log and wall obstacles while performing the Combat Conditioning Evaluation course here May 20.
A fairly new training evolution, the Combat Conditioning Evaluation is a modified version of the obstacle course. This course is the third version of the obstacle course that recruits complete during boot camp and is one of the many courses designed to help build combat endurance.
“Combat conditioning is important because it gives recruits the ability to push through physical and mental fatigue to accomplish a mission,” said Sgt. Sidney Pineda, martial arts instructor, Instructional Training Company. “All Marines are riflemen and need to be ready when they get to the fight.”
In addition to running the obstacle course recruits are required to perform added tasks. Recruits begin the course by sprinting 200 yards to the first high-bar obstacle of the course. Recruits arrive at the first obstacle already fatigued, making the course more challenging for some recruits.
After performing the next few obstacles, recruits must drag an 180-pound dummy 20 feet on a sled to simulate rescuing an injured platoonmate.
“The additions to the obstacle course make the course more challenging for recruits,” said Sgt. James Vandever, Platoon 2141, Company G. “The more of a challenge they receive, the better they will be able to perform when it counts.”
Recruits then finish by scaling a wall, hopping over several more high-bar and log obstacles before finally climbing the 30-foot rope, which would be the ending point of normal obstacle course.
However, the new CCE course continues with another 200-yard sprint to an area where drill instructors provide exhausting incentive training, which is a fast-paced physical training session used to instill discipline and motivation. The IT session marks the final obstacle of the CCE course.
While some recruits found the course to be easy, most recruits were pushed beyond a comfortable effort.
“The course was very tiring and was the most challenging form of the obstacle course I’ve done so far,” said Recruit Arthur Villanueva, Platoon 2146. “Instead of just upper body strength this obstacle required the whole body.”
Other forms of the obstacle course required Co. G recruits to complete the first course without modification then later with full combat gear. When they progressed in their training the versions of the obstacle courses became more challenging.
As Co. G recruits conquered each obstacle they became more prepared, even for the obstacles that lie ahead in their Marine Corps careers.