Stories

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)

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)

N/A - Pvt. William Smith, a recruit with Bravo Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, stands with Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Joint Chief of Staff Sgt. Maj. Troy Black, Marine veterans John Weant, and Dan Kovach on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., May 31, 2024. Smith’s grandfather was killed in action during the Beirut bombing in Oct. 1983 and Weant and Kovach were two Marines he served with. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Dakota Dodd)

N/A - Brother and Sister, Billy and Lily Membreno Paz, grew up in a tight-knit family dynamic in a family of seven. With strong El Salvadorian roots, they were surrounded by a depth of culture throughout their childhood that later influenced them to both choose to enlist into the Marine Corps. Shipping from RSS Decatur, both Billy and Lily arrived at Parris Island together, with the same goal in mind: Earn the Title of United States Marine. Training simultaneously in Bravo Company, the siblings used the motivation they found in each other and their family back home to not only earn the title, but excel in doing so. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jacqueline Akamelu)

Boy Scouts from Troop 241 learn land navigation techniques aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., on March 19, 2022. The scouts were taught the techniques by Field Training Company Instructors, and learned how to implement these techniques in their journeys as scouts to earn their Orienteering Merit Badge. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Dakota Dodd) - Boy Scouts from Troop 241 learn land navigation techniques aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., on March 19, 2022. The scouts were taught the techniques by Field Training Company Instructors, and learned how to implement these techniques in their journeys as scouts to earn their Orienteering Merit Badge. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Dakota Dodd)

The old Marine exchange building is scheduled for demolition in May 2014, on Parris Island, S.C. The building was built in 1969 and was shut down after the completion of the current Marine Corps Exchange in 2008. In recent years, the building was used as temporary office space. Parris Island’s intent is to eventually transform the site, through a separately funded project, into a park that can be used by visitors and families who travel to here for graduations. (Photo by Cpl. David Bessey) - The old Marine exchange building is scheduled for demolition in May 2014, on Parris Island, S.C. The building was built in 1969 and was shut down after the completion of the current Marine Corps Exchange in 2008. In recent years, the building was used as temporary office space. Parris Island’s intent is to eventually transform the site, through a separately funded project, into a park that can be used by visitors and families who travel to here for graduations. (Photo by Cpl. David Bessey)

Pvt. Christopher Stephens, with Platoon 2073, Hotel Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion weighed 359 pounds when he first decided he wanted to join the Marine Corps. The 20-year-old native of Phenix City, Ala., lost more than 175 pounds just to ship to boot camp and weighed a scant 160 pounds just before he graduated Sept. 20, 2013. (Photo Illustration by Pfc. Vaniah Temple) - Pvt. Christopher Stephens, with Platoon 2073, Hotel Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion weighed 359 pounds when he first decided he wanted to join the Marine Corps. The 20-year-old native of Phenix City, Ala., lost more than 175 pounds just to ship to boot camp and weighed a scant 160 pounds just before he graduated Sept. 20, 2013. (Photo Illustration by Pfc. Vaniah Temple)