MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT, San Diego -- The sounds of gun fire and screaming filled the air as fully geared-up recruits from Company G, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Calif., attacked the bayonet assault course July 12 with M-16A2 service rifles in hand. But it wasn’t real gun fire.
Speakers placed throughout the course blared the sounds of the Normandy invasion from the Hollywood blockbuster Saving Private Ryan.
“The sounds help get the recruits in a combat mindset, which is one of our main goals,” said Staff Sgt. Ganna E. Patten, martial arts instructor staff non-commissioned officer in charge.
Patten explains it’s important to develop a combat mindset so when recruits become Marines and are faced with a combat situation, the environment won’t be completely foreign to them.
Another way drill instructors achieve a combat state of mind in recruits is by using what martial arts instructors call the inoculation effect, or repetitive training. The bayonet assault course instills basic knowledge of the M-16A2 service rifle with a bayonet through repetitive training.
“We make the recruits do things over and over again so they get used to the feeling,” said Patten. “Running through this course inoculates the recruits with live bayonets,” he added.
Patten says while Marines don’t normally find themselves in a situation requiring a bayonet, several instances have occurred in recent operations. He explained just like in dry fire, shooting a weapon doesn’t become real until you put in the bullets and fire the weapon.
“At first we just did drill to transform us from civilians to recruits. This course is the closest thing we’ve seen to combat and one of the only times we’ll get to use a bayonet,” said Recruit Devon M. Wilson, Platoon 2145 guide. “The music helps get you in the combat mindset.”
Sweat ran from under the recruits Kevlar helmets and down their necks as they back-crawled under barbed wire. Adding to the pressure of moving fast, staying low enough, and the sound of gunshots was the roar of drill instructors screaming at recruits.
“The second portion is where you notice the recruits slow down and become more cautious of their actions,” said Patten. Once the recruits get out of the trench, they have finished the first portion of the bayonet assault course.
The next portion of the course requires recruits to take a knee and attach a bayonet to their M-16A2 service rifle. Once the course is completed, recruits apply their new bayonet techniques by taking on a fellow recruit in pugil sticks. Recruits put on a padded helmet and body gear, and arm themselves with a padded stick. This simulates a rifle with a fixed bayonet.
“More than anything, pugil sticks takes away the recruit’s fears of contact,” said Staff Sgt. Luis F. Medina, lead series chief drill instructor, Co. G. “They know nothing bad will happen here, but they understand the consequences of combat.” Recruits battle in a small pit filled with mud until the MAI determines a winner.
“Pugil sticks give us the chance to let out all that repressed energy,” said Recruit Michael C. Rumsey, Platoon 2147 guide. “[It shows that] there’s a warrior in everybody.”
The depot transforms thousands of civilians into Marines who come to the depot with little knowledge about combat. Martial Arts Instructors make sure they help build each recruit’s combat mindset and ensure their proficiency in close combat.
This training, along with the rest of recruit training, helps make sure every Marine is basically trained and prepared for the Fleet Marine Force.