Road Trip: Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina

[thedrifter]

Road Trip: Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina



Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island is an 8,095 acre military installation near Beaufort, South Carolina tasked with the training of enlisted Marines. Male recruits living east of the Mississippi River and female recruits from all over the United States report here to receive their initial training. Male recruits living west of the Mississippi River receive their training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California, but may train at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island by special request.

Parris Island is located in the southeastern corner of South Carolina’s Low Country within Beaufort County, 70 miles south of Charleston and 45 miles north of Savannah, Georgia. Its 8,095 acres (of which 3,263 are habitable) are picturesque.

The island is named after Alexander Parris, a descendant of English colonists who purchased the island and eight small surrounding islands in 1715. Marines were first stationed here in 1891 in the form of a small security detachment that guarded a U.S. Navy coaling station. Parris Island was established as a Recruit Depot on 1 November 1915 and has continued to train recruits ever since.

Initial training for those enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, also referred to as boot camp, includes a thirteen week process during which the recruit becomes cut off from the civilian world and must adapt to a Marine Corps lifestyle. During training, the drill instructors train recruits in a wide variety of subjects including weapons training, Marine Corps Martial Arts, formation drilling, and Marine Corps history.

The training emphasizes physical fitness and recruits must attain a minimum standard of fitness to graduate. This standard includes a PFT (Physical Fitness Test) that consists of a three-mile (5 km) run, pull-ups and crunches. Recruits must also meet minimum combat-oriented swimming qualifications, qualify in rifle marksmanship with the M16A2 service rifle, and pass a 54-hour simulated combat exercise known as "The Crucible".



In addition to the enlisted recruiting mission, the Eastern Recruiting Region is responsible for the accession of over 1,200 new officers through the Platoon Leadership Course, Officer Candidate Class and the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship program. Furthermore, the ERR is responsible to MCRC for maintaining all Marine Corps quality standards as they pertain to new accessions. In October 2003, the ERR received the additional mission of conducting Prior Service Recruiting in the eastern United States. The Prior Service Recruiters are responsible for joining over 1,900 former Marines to selected Marine Corps Reserve Units each year.



The recruiting mission mirrors the mission of Marines everywhere - to locate, close with and enlist young men and women of character to fill the ranks of the 21st Century Marine Corps. Recruiting qualified young men and women of character is the lifeblood of the Corps. It is the foundation for all the Marine Corps does to “Make Marines, Win Battles, and Return Quality Citizens to Society.”

In 2007, ERR enlisted and shipped 19,500 new recruits to Parris Island. This was over 1,300 more recruits than were shipped the previous year. This trend of increasing the annual ship mission will continue for the next few years as the Marine Corps
continues to grow the force to 202,000 in order to support the Commandant’s guidance. In addition to the increasing missions, ERR is also growing the size of its recruiting force.

Forming the bedrock of any Marine’s character are the Core Values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment. These values are incorporated into every aspect of Recruit Training and result in basically-trained Marines who will be better citizens when they return to their local communities upon the completion of their service to this country.

Learn More About MCRD Parris Island Here!

http://www.mcrdpi.usmc.mil/

The Depot is home to the Marine Corps' first Command Museum, the Parris Island Museum. Thanks to the efforts of then Commanding General Robert H. Barrow, under the authority of the Marine Corps History and Museum Division, the museum was dedicated on 8 January 1975 by Commandant of the Marine Corps, Robert E. Cushman, Jr.

Today, the museum's over 8,000 square feet of exhibit galleries serves as a focal point for assisting in the training of recruits about the long and honored history and traditions of the Marine Corps. Marine families, veterans, and the general public will also find inspiration from the stories told through artifacts and images of Marines who served our nation during some of our most challenging times.

Learn More About The Parris Island Museum Here!

http://www.pimuseum.us/

Ellie