thedrifter
03-06-05, 10:01 AM
Young Marines begin second cycle
Submitted by: MCRD Parris Island
Story Identification #: 200533144822
Story by Lance Cpl. Darhonda V. Hall
MCRD/ ERR PARRIS ISLAND, SC (March 4, 2005) -- As the children were dropped off at the All-Weather Training Facility to begin their training endeavors as Young Marine recruits, volunteer "drill instructors" stood waiting to train them.
"That initial shock from the drill instructors is what is going to make them believe they are actually going through recruit training," said Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Curran, the Parris Island Young Marines Program volunteer coordinator.
Similar to Marine recruit training, the children will be referred to as recruits until the day they graduate and complete the training.
The young recruits met Saturday from 9 a.m. - noon and performed their initial strength test, as in recruit training, with their volunteer "drill instructors." The "recruits" completed crunches, pull-ups, flexed-arm hangs, push-ups and a standing broad jump.
The Young Marine recruits will receive recruit training every weekend for 13 weeks and graduate from the program upon completion.
Each Saturday will represent an important training aspect as in Marine recruit training, such as close order drill.
"[The Young Marine recruits] will participate in all the important training Marine recruits go through," said Curran. "They have to earn the title of Young Marine."
Future Young Marine recruit training will include rappelling down the 47-foot Rappel Tower at Page Field, completing the obstacle course, qualifying during Combat Water Survival and they will simulate firing the M-16A2 service rifle in the Depot's Indoor
Simulated Marksmanship Training building.
The Parris Island Young Marines program graduated their first cycle of Young Marine recruits at the end of August and will prospectively graduate the current class in mid-June.
"The Young Marines recruit training program is not made to be easy for them," said Curran. "The last cycle began with over 70 kids, and we only graduated 40 of them."
The Saturday program gives the children a taste of recruit training and the pride of accomplishing something.
"We don't expect to graduate everyone as a Young Marine, but we will try," said Curran.
For more information on the Depot's Young Marine Program, contact Aulton Kohn at (843) 263-7042 or Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Curran at (843) 228-3429.
The Young Marines, which serves as the focal point for the U.S. Marine Youth Drug Demand Reduction Program, now has more than 11,000 members, and units can be found worldwide.
The Drifter's Wife
Ellie
Submitted by: MCRD Parris Island
Story Identification #: 200533144822
Story by Lance Cpl. Darhonda V. Hall
MCRD/ ERR PARRIS ISLAND, SC (March 4, 2005) -- As the children were dropped off at the All-Weather Training Facility to begin their training endeavors as Young Marine recruits, volunteer "drill instructors" stood waiting to train them.
"That initial shock from the drill instructors is what is going to make them believe they are actually going through recruit training," said Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Curran, the Parris Island Young Marines Program volunteer coordinator.
Similar to Marine recruit training, the children will be referred to as recruits until the day they graduate and complete the training.
The young recruits met Saturday from 9 a.m. - noon and performed their initial strength test, as in recruit training, with their volunteer "drill instructors." The "recruits" completed crunches, pull-ups, flexed-arm hangs, push-ups and a standing broad jump.
The Young Marine recruits will receive recruit training every weekend for 13 weeks and graduate from the program upon completion.
Each Saturday will represent an important training aspect as in Marine recruit training, such as close order drill.
"[The Young Marine recruits] will participate in all the important training Marine recruits go through," said Curran. "They have to earn the title of Young Marine."
Future Young Marine recruit training will include rappelling down the 47-foot Rappel Tower at Page Field, completing the obstacle course, qualifying during Combat Water Survival and they will simulate firing the M-16A2 service rifle in the Depot's Indoor
Simulated Marksmanship Training building.
The Parris Island Young Marines program graduated their first cycle of Young Marine recruits at the end of August and will prospectively graduate the current class in mid-June.
"The Young Marines recruit training program is not made to be easy for them," said Curran. "The last cycle began with over 70 kids, and we only graduated 40 of them."
The Saturday program gives the children a taste of recruit training and the pride of accomplishing something.
"We don't expect to graduate everyone as a Young Marine, but we will try," said Curran.
For more information on the Depot's Young Marine Program, contact Aulton Kohn at (843) 263-7042 or Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Curran at (843) 228-3429.
The Young Marines, which serves as the focal point for the U.S. Marine Youth Drug Demand Reduction Program, now has more than 11,000 members, and units can be found worldwide.
The Drifter's Wife
Ellie