Stories

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)

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)

Private Daylien Diaz conducts the Obstacle Course during the Crucible on Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C., Nov. 7th, 2023. Pvt. Diaz graduated from recruit training Nov. 21 and will return to her profession as a police officer with the Miami-Dade Schools Police Department while serving in the Marine Corps Reserves. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Ava Alegria) - Private Daylien Diaz conducts the Obstacle Course during the Crucible on Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C., Nov. 7th, 2023. Pvt. Diaz graduated from recruit training Nov. 21 and will return to her profession as a police officer with the Miami-Dade Schools Police Department while serving in the Marine Corps Reserves. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Ava Alegria)

PFC Francis J. Flannery reunites with his family during Family Day at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C., on Nov. 8th, 2023. PFC Flannery graduates recruit training with record for the highest marksmanship score in depot history. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ezekieljay Correa) - PFC Francis J. Flannery reunites with his family during Family Day at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C., on Nov. 8th, 2023. PFC Flannery graduates recruit training with record for the highest marksmanship score in depot history. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ezekieljay Correa)

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)