thedrifter
10-26-06, 04:17 PM
Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego (Oct. 27, 2006) -- Strength and endurance are important to Marines as Company E recruits found out Oct. 16 when they ran the Strength and Endurance Course here.
The course, which consists of physically demanding exercises such as squats, lunges, crunches, pull ups, dips and a 2.5-mile run is meant to help recruits develop some of the skills needed by all Marines in combat environments.
During the course, recruits were separated into small groups based on their athletic ability.
While running the two-and-a-half-mile course, recruits negotiated seven physical conditioning stations, according to Sgt. Michael C. Swenson, Co. E drill instructor.
Exercises are varied to ensure the entire body is being challenged.
The exercises that are performed during the course are done to target different muscle groups. The majority of the conditioning focuses on upper body strength, while the endurance-building comes from running the course, said Sgt. David Garza, Co. E drill instructor.
Building strength and endurance helps a Marine to maintain awareness of surroundings and the power to be able to react if something intense happens.
"It is very crucial to be able to stay alert and maintain strength in combat," said Swenson, a native of Houston, Minn. "If you get tired in battle, you won’t be very effective in accomplishing the mission at hand."
A higher level of confidence is another benefit obtained from running the course.
"When the recruits executed the course for the first time earlier in training, they were unsure of themselves," said Garza, who hails from Dallas. "But as they continued through boot camp and completed the course another time, they gained more intensity and stamina. This helped build their confidence and morale because they realized they could perform better and carry out their mission."
Confidence is an important characteristic for Marines to have in combat situations. Marines need to be confident in themselves to perform efficiently when pressure is high, said Garza.
With more confidence through physical fitness obtained from the S and E Course, recruits from Co. E are tougher and more ready for future challenges awaiting them in the Marine Corps.
Ellie
The course, which consists of physically demanding exercises such as squats, lunges, crunches, pull ups, dips and a 2.5-mile run is meant to help recruits develop some of the skills needed by all Marines in combat environments.
During the course, recruits were separated into small groups based on their athletic ability.
While running the two-and-a-half-mile course, recruits negotiated seven physical conditioning stations, according to Sgt. Michael C. Swenson, Co. E drill instructor.
Exercises are varied to ensure the entire body is being challenged.
The exercises that are performed during the course are done to target different muscle groups. The majority of the conditioning focuses on upper body strength, while the endurance-building comes from running the course, said Sgt. David Garza, Co. E drill instructor.
Building strength and endurance helps a Marine to maintain awareness of surroundings and the power to be able to react if something intense happens.
"It is very crucial to be able to stay alert and maintain strength in combat," said Swenson, a native of Houston, Minn. "If you get tired in battle, you won’t be very effective in accomplishing the mission at hand."
A higher level of confidence is another benefit obtained from running the course.
"When the recruits executed the course for the first time earlier in training, they were unsure of themselves," said Garza, who hails from Dallas. "But as they continued through boot camp and completed the course another time, they gained more intensity and stamina. This helped build their confidence and morale because they realized they could perform better and carry out their mission."
Confidence is an important characteristic for Marines to have in combat situations. Marines need to be confident in themselves to perform efficiently when pressure is high, said Garza.
With more confidence through physical fitness obtained from the S and E Course, recruits from Co. E are tougher and more ready for future challenges awaiting them in the Marine Corps.
Ellie