Stories

U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Bienvenue Niyonkuru, a guide with Hotel Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, poses for a photo on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. Jan 21, 2026. Niyonkuru completes training after coming back to Parris Island a second time after dealing with medical issues during his first time on the Depot. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Ayden Cassano) - U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Bienvenue Niyonkuru, a guide with Hotel Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, poses for a photo on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. Jan 21, 2026. Niyonkuru completes training after coming back to Parris Island a second time after dealing with medical issues during his first time on the Depot. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Ayden Cassano)

Down But Not Out

The road to becoming a Marine has been long for U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Bienvenue Niyonkuru, as he steps on the Peatross Parade Deck to graduate from training at MCRD Parris Island, Jan. 23, 2026. Niyonkuru is a Marine in the Hotel Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion; however, it is not his first time in training.On January 28th, 2025, Niyonkuru

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N/A - Lance Cpl. Brandon Avila, a Marine with Hotel Company. 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, says the oath of enlistment during the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor ceremony on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., May 8, 2025. Following a culminating 15k hike to Peatross Parade Deck, recruits are given their EGA and officially become United States Marines. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. William Horsley)

A Promise Kept

Over a year ago, Lance Cpl. Brandon Avila promised his mother that he would become a Marine and give her and their family a better life. Avila never let go of that promise, even when he was injured last June and spent the next eight months in recovery. “I had a goal when I came on the island, I made a promise to my mom,” said Avila. “I wanted to be different from my brothers, prove my family wrong, and give my mother a better life.”

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Lt. Col. Adam Yang, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion Commanding Officer, speaks to Pfc. Alexis Banks, a Marine with Golf Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., Aug. 30, 2024. Banks formerly served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army and chose to conduct an interservice transfer and join the U.S. Marine Corps. - Lt. Col. Adam Yang, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion Commanding Officer, speaks to Pfc. Alexis Banks, a Marine with Golf Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., Aug. 30, 2024. Banks formerly served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army and chose to conduct an interservice transfer and join the U.S. Marine Corps. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. William Horsley)

From Greens to Dress Blues

With one year left in her enlistment contract in the U.S. Army, Sgt. Alexis Banks had to decide what to do with the rest of her career. She could change jobs or move to a new duty station. But in the back of her mind was a third option— joining the U.S. Marine Corps.Growing up, Alexis always admired service members and the stories they told, the

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U.S. Marine Pvt. Nathan Lamb poses for a photo at Marine Corps Recruiting Depot Parris Island S.C., on Oct. 28, 2024. Lamb is a native from Jamaica. - U.S. Marine Pvt. Nathan Lamb poses for a photo at Marine Corps Recruiting Depot Parris Island S.C., on Oct. 28, 2024. Lamb is a native from Jamaica. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jordy Morales)

Inspired by Loss

When one recruit took his place on the parade deck to receive his Eagle Globe and Anchor, it was a moment filled with pride and loss—a hard-won tribute to the mother who inspired him to join the Corps and stood by him in spirit as he became a Marine October 19, 2024.

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U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) William Thurber presents his son Pvt. Zachery Thurber, a Marine with India Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, his Eagle, Globe, and Anchor on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, Oct. 12, 2024. The presentation of the EGA signifies the transformation from a civilian into a U.S. Marine. - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) William Thurber presents his son Pvt. Zachery Thurber, a Marine with India Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, his Eagle, Globe, and Anchor on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, Oct. 12, 2024. The presentation of the EGA signifies the transformation from a civilian into a U.S. Marine. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. William Horsley)

A Legacy to Be Proud Of

Pvt. Zachery Thurber, a Marine with India Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, stood before the Iwo Jima monument on the Peatross Parade Deck, ready to receive his Eagle, Globe, and Anchor from his senior drill instructor. The last person Zachery expected to see was his father, Sgt. Maj. William Thurber (USMC, Ret.), and was shocked beyond belief when he stepped in front of him.

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U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Sean Fang, a Marine with Fox Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, and native of Columbia, Kentucky, poses for a photo at the Iwo Jima Monument on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., Aug. 2, 2024. Fang graduated as the company honor graduate following a battle with cancer in his childhood. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Ava Alegria) - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Sean Fang, a Marine with Fox Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, and native of Columbia, Kentucky, poses for a photo at the Iwo Jima Monument on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., Aug. 2, 2024. Fang graduated as the company honor graduate following a battle with cancer in his childhood. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Ava Alegria)

A Dream Come True - Lance Cpl. Sean Fang

For one Marine, boot camp graduation was more than just a ceremony, it was the realization of a lifelong dream. “Seeing my father serve and his graduation pictures from over 30 years ago, that’s what I wanted. That was my dream,” said Lance Cpl. Sean Fang.

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U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. McClain VanDuyne(right), a drill instructor with Tango Company, Support Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, poses for a photo with retired U.S. Marine Sgt. Anthony Mataro, July 18, 2024, after receiving the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal. During a bike ride Mataro suffered from a heart attack, in which VanDuyne performed CPR until Mataro received medical assistance. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Ayden Cassano) - U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. McClain VanDuyne(right), a drill instructor with Tango Company, Support Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, poses for a photo with retired U.S. Marine Sgt. Anthony Mataro, July 18, 2024, after receiving the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal. During a bike ride Mataro suffered from a heart attack, in which VanDuyne performed CPR until Mataro received medical assistance. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Ayden Cassano)

Marine Saves Marine Veteran's Life

“I was about to show him the gas chamber, I heard him say ‘I’m going to-,’ and I looked back, and he was face down in the grass on the side of the road,” said VanDuyne.

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U.S. Marine Corps Pvt. Ali Abbas, a Marine with Echo Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, completes the transformation from civilian to Marine on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., July 12, 2024. To complete recruit training Abbas had to complete numerous events such as physical fitness tests, rifle qualification, obstacle courses, CBRN and rappel training, all culminating with the Crucible. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. William Horsley) - U.S. Marine Corps Pvt. Ali Abbas, a Marine with Echo Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, completes the transformation from civilian to Marine on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., July 12, 2024. To complete recruit training Abbas had to complete numerous events such as physical fitness tests, rifle qualification, obstacle courses, CBRN and rappel training, all culminating with the Crucible. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. William Horsley)

A Sense of Belonging: An Iraqi born Marine’s journey to finding brotherhood

The chaos and tragedy of the war in Iraq left Audai Naser and his wife Kanat Saad with few options. The war had already forced them to move countless times, relocating from the capital of Baghdad, to the city of Kirkuk, and eventually settling in Karbala.

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N/A - U.S. Marine Corps Pvt. Oluwagbemiga Omotoye, a Marine with Echo Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, is given his Eagle, Globe, and Anchor from his drill instructor, Sgt. Devon Evoldi, on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., June 29, 2024. The giving of the EGA signifies the transformation from recruit to United States Marine. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. William Horsley)

Honor and Legacy: A South African Marine's pursuit to honor his family through military service

Staring out the window, Oluwagbemiga Omotoye saw the skyline of Washington, D.C. as his plane landed at Dulles International Airport. He and his family had traveled nearly 8,000 miles from South Africa and the city was a welcomed sight. The United States represented change and new opportunities for Omotoye, who was 17 years old at the time. His family’s desire for coming to America was simple—to gain prosperity and be able to share that with their family members who remained in South Africa.

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N/A - U.S. Marine veteran Joseph Bond accomplished his lifelong goal and graduated high school at 72 years old on June 13, 2024. Bond enlisted in the Marine Corps at 17 years old before graduating high school and made a promise to his mother before she passed away that he would finish school. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Christian Cortez)

A Promise to Learn

U.S. Marine veteran Joseph Bond accomplished his lifelong goal and graduated high school at 72 years old.

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