Today's graduation ceremony was a landmark for the 476 new Marines of Hotel Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, and November Company, 4th Recruit Training Battalion. Of those, 19 new Marines also became naturalized U.S. citizens.
Among the new Marines are these distinguished graduates:
· Pfc. Sean Riley – Mechanicville, Va. – Honor Graduate, Platoon 2048
· Pfc. Christopher Boudreault – Columbus, Ohio – Honor Graduate, Platoon 2049
· Pfc. Michael Watkins – West Palm Beach, Fla. – Honor Graduate, Platoon 2050
· Pfc. Jared Heath – Manchester, Conn. – Honor Graduate, High PFT/CFT, Platoon 2052
· Pfc. Joshua Lacroix – Tylertown, Miss. – Honor Graduate, Platoon 2053
· Pfc. Taylor Axelson – Baltimore, Md. – Honor Graduate, Platoon 2054
· Pvt. Steven Smith – Mooresville, N.C. – High Shooter, Platoon 2048
· Pfc. Regan Ramsey – Beverly Hills, Fla. – Honor Graduate, Platoon 4024
· Pfc. Olivia Golden – Middlebury, Md. – Honor Graduate, High Shooter, Platoon 4025
· Pvt. Gorgeanna Howard – Ocala, Fla. – High PFT/CFT, Platoon 4024
Each new Marine persevered through 70 training days while passing each of the seven graduation requirements.
Additionally, before earning citizenship, applicants must demonstrate knowledge of the English language and American government, show good moral character and take the Oath of Allegiance to the U.S. Constitution.
Those new Marines who also earned U.S. citizenship are:
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Pvt. Julian Torres – Ft. Pierce, Fla.
Originally from – Peru
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Pfc. Dang Doung – Warren, Mich.
Originally from – Vietnam
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Pfc. Daniel Guzman – New York, N.Y.
Originally from – Dominican Republic
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Pvt. Kervin Stcyr – Brooklyn, N.Y.
Originally from – Haiti
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Pvt. Jhonatan Velarde – Newark, N.J.
Originally from – Ecuador
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Pvt. Jean Malhado – Secaucus, N.J.
Originally from – Brazil
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Pvt. Yongchang Gao – New York, N.Y.
Originally from – China
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Pvt. Khalid Ngwegwe – Greenbelt, Md.
Originally from – Tanzania
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Pvt. Daniel Ramirez Rodriguez – Cullman, Ala.
Originally from – Mexico
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Pvt. Juan Rosales Guerin – Miami, Fla.
Originally from – Mexico
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Pvt. Carlos Espana – Lehigh Acres, Fla.
Originally from – Guatemala
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Pvt. Waylon LaFrance – Hogansburg, N.Y.
Originally from – Canada
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Pfc. Rodrigo Malpartida – Ossining, N.Y.
Originally from – Peru
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Pvt. Xetian Ni – Pittsburg, Pa.
Originally from – China
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Pfc. Ariel Castillo – Miami, Fla.
Originally from – Cuba
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Pfc. Serdjhy Leger – Orlando, Fla.
Originally from – Haiti
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Pvt. Annalice Daley – Baltimore, Md.
Originally from – Jamaica
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Pfc. Dulce Manriquez – Tucson, Ariz.
Originally from – Mexico
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Pfc. Ambar Zaiek – Bethlehem, Pa.
Originally from – Dominican Republic
Parris Island has been the site of Marine Corps recruit training since Nov. 1, 1915. Today, approximately 19,000 recruits come to Parris Island annually for the chance to become United States Marines by enduring 12 weeks of rigorous, transformative training. Parris Island is home to entry– level enlisted training for approximately 49 percent of male recruits and 100 percent of female recruits in the Marine Corps.
High resolution photos of the distinguished graduates and new Marines who earned their U.S. citizenship can be downloaded for free at the following link: https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/MCRD–PI.