MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- High school administrators, teachers and counselors from Recruiting Stations Milwaukee, Wis., and St. Louis, Mo., participated in a week-long synopsis of Marine Corps recruit training during the Educators Workshop Monday through today.
The educators began their first day aboard the depot by quickly getting greeted by the notorious Marine Corps drill instructors the same way every new recruit experiences the memorable introduction.
When the bus screeched to a halt in front of the famous yellow footprints, drill instructors quickly bombarded the vehicles and made their intimidating presence known to the seated educators.
After shrieking for the educators to exit the bus and line up on the yellow footprints, the drill instructors paced up and down the rows, barking orders and ensuring the educators were snapping into the proper position of attention.
Following several minutes of organized chaos, the drill instructors stopped yelling and took a moment and congratulated the educators for surviving the first two minutes of recruit training
The educators were then taken on a tour of the rest of the receiving process by their drill instructor guides
“Having drill instructors as guides make this experience have a greater sense of reality,” said Dr. Rebecca Donna, criminal justice and forensics program director, Illinois Valley Community College, Oglesby, Ill. “They share their personal experience with excitement and give us a feel for the environment.”
But the drill instructors didn’t glorify everything. The drill instructors explained the pleasant and less-than pleasant aspects of training and made it clear how it could be a very positive experience for many individuals, said Donna.
The educators also attended classroom briefs describing the entire enlistment process, including recruiting, joining the Marine Corps, boot camp graduation, the Fleet Marine Force and Marines’ lifestyles.
In addition, the educators also visited various training sites aboard the depot. They watched demonstrations of water survival training at the depot Swim Tank; Marines tackling the confidence course; and also received a class and some brief training on the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program.
Since Eric Rankin, assistant principal, Dakota Junior Senior High School, Dakota, Ill., didn’t have any expectations before being introduced to MCMAP, he learned how important it was for Marines to know how to defend themselves in various types of situations they may find themselves in.
Educators were also invited at the end of the first day to take part in the Bayonet Assault Course on the depot
During this course, educators maneuvered through multiple obstacles; crawled through tunnels; and navigated a rope bridge, all suited in flak jackets and Kevlar helmets, while carrying rubber M16A2 service rifles with training bayonets attached to engage the training targets, completing the course.
“It was very difficult,” said Catalina Hernandez, college advisor, Springfield Southeast High School, Springfield, Ill. “I underestimated the weight and responsibility of all the gear and the rifle.”
The educators also visited Edson Range, Weapons Field Training Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., to witness recruits firing weapons, field training and watch Company H participate in the Emblem Ceremony.
Educators leaving the depot today said that they now have a better understanding of the Marine Corps and the young men and women who embody it.