Today's graduation ceremony was a landmark for the 506 new Marines of Fox Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, and the 120 new Marines of Papa Company, 4th Recruit Training Battalion. Of those, 18 new Marines also became naturalized U.S. citizens.

Among the new Marines are these distinguished graduates:

• Pfc. John F.  Walton II – Macon, Ga. – Honor Graduate, Platoon 2000

• Pfc. Andrew M. Parker – Chesapeake, Va. – Honor Graduate, Platoon 2001

• Pfc. Carson P. Kesner – Canfield, Ohio – Honor Graduate, Platoon 2002

• Pfc. Darien C. Wright III – Fort Myers, Fla. – Honor Graduate, Platoon 2004

• Pfc. Jack S. Lavin – Wantagh, N.Y. – Honor Graduate, Platoon 2005

• Pfc. Muhammad A. Ansari – Douglasville, Ga. – Honor Graduate, Platoon 2006

• Pfc. Nahja I. Walker – Duluth, Ga. – Honor Graduate, Platoon 4000

• Pfc. Ashley E. Chabut – Bloomingburg, N.Y. – Honor Graduate, Platoon 4001

• Pfc. Matthew T. Ware – Hillsboro, Va. – High Shooter, Platoon 2002

• Pfc. Andrea D. Dethlefs – Forest Grove, Ore. – High Shooter, Platoon 4001

• Pfc. Hunter D. Valent – Pittsburgh, Pa. – High PFT/CFT, Platoon 2002

• Pfc. Mikaela N. Schram – Chilhowie, Va. – High PFT/CFT, Platoon 4000   

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:

• Pvt.  Jack T. Jean Philippe – Jacksonville, Fla.

  Originally from – Haiti

• Pfc. Hoang Ho Chau – Statesville, N.C.

  Originally from – Vietnam

• Pfc. Oliver W. Goddard – Tampa, Fla.

  Originally from – United Kingdom

• Pvt.  Raghvinder S. Parmar – Saint Petersburg, Fla.

  Originally from – India

• Pvt.  Miguel A.  Mendoza Canarte – Hudson, N.Y.

  Originally from – Ecuador

• Pvt.  Isaac M.  Garcia – Miami, Fla.

  Originally from – Mexico

• Pfc. Alain M. Bichotte – Miami, Fla.

  Originally from – Haiti

• Pfc. Zoren A. Legaspi – Newberry, S.C.

  Originally from – Philippines

• Pfc. Jeremy D.C. Ferdinand – Brooklyn, N.Y.

  Originally from – Trinidad

• Pfc. Luis R. Barrera Orturo – Vineland, N.J.

  Originally from – Mexico

• Pvt.  Tiendat Vu – Upper Darby, Pa.

  Originally from – Philippines

• Pfc. Barbly Yuwar – Buffalo, N.Y.

  Originally from – Liberia

• Pfc. Brian F. Copa – Silver Spring, Md.

  Originally from – Argentina

• Pvt.  Kelvin Ferrer Vega – Jacksonville, Fla.

  Originally from – Cuba

• Pvt.  Renardo K. Spencer – Baltimore, Md.

  Originally from – Jamaica

• Pfc. Frank Boakye Yiadom – Harrisburg, Pa.

  Originally from – Ghana

• Pvt. Javier Estrada Torres – Lansing, Mich.

  Originally from – Cuba

• Pvt. Melani Valdes Desantiago – Ponce, Puerto Rico

  Originally from – Mexico

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.