Sgt. Daniel C. Downing, drill instructor, Company G., 2nd Recruit Training Battalion motivates recruit Aaron G. Real, Co. G, 2nd RTBn. during an inventory physical fitness test March 5 aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. For 12 weeks of recruit training, men who accept the challenge of becoming Marines are put through numerous physical strains to help them increase their final PFT scores.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Crystal J. Druery

Co. G runs into week nine with PFT

5 Mar 2012 | Lance Cpl. Crystal J. Druery Marine Corps Training and Education Command

MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT, San Diego -- Recruits of Company G took their inventory Physical Fitness Test aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego March 5 to help prepare them for the following week's final PFT.

"This PFT gives the whole company a gauge before our final PFT next week," said recruit Jordan A. Mansfield, Platoon 2145, Co. G, 2nd RTBn.

Recruits take their first PFT during week four and their final during week 10. The inventory PFT is done during week nine to give the recruits a chance to see where they stand physically and how much they've improved.

"This is their second PFT since they've been here," said senior Sgt. Joseph Onello, drill instructor, Co. G 2nd Recruit Training Battalion. "It allows them a chance to see their progress and set a goal for next week's final PFT."

Once the new Marines get through training annually they are required to run three miles, perform two minutes of crunches and males do pull-ups, females do a flex-arm hang. All of these tests are scored and counted as their PFT.

While at Recruit Training, their bodies are put through numerous physical strains to help build muscle for their annual physical tests: the Combat Fitness Test and PFT.

"Every day we have the recruits do pull ups, sit ups and pushups," said Staff Sgt. Andres Navarro, drill instructor, Co. G 2nd Recruit Training Battalion.

Navarro said having the recruits practice these exercises everyday helps them build strength and perform higher on their PFT. Throughout recruit training the recruits do strength and endurance runs to help with their speed, since the three miles they run for is timed.

"I'm pretty sore today from last week's strength and endurance runs," said Mansfield. "But after today's PFT I feel a little better knowing where I stand physically."

Mansfield said they do pull-ups after every meal and workout everyday which has contributed to his PFT improvement since the last one during week four.

"The recruits have shown a large improvement since their last PFT," said Onello. Co. G only has three more weeks until graduation March 30. They will be heading to Weapons Field Training Battalion where in two weeks to take on the ultimate test, the crucible. Their new physical abilities will attribute to helping the recruits overcome the many obstacles of the crucible.