Stories

Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island

Eastern Recruiting Region

Tag: naturalization

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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