Today's graduation ceremony was a landmark for the 524 new Marines of Kilo Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion. Of those, 12 new Marines also became naturalized U.S. citizens.

Among the new Marines are these distinguished graduates:
• Pfc. Brian S. McAndrews – Port Orange, Fla. – Honor Graduate, Platoon 3064
• Pfc. Nicholas A. Lord– Cleveland, Ohio. – Honor Graduate, Platoon 3065
• Pfc. Carleevens D. Carlo – West Park, Fla. – Honor Graduate, Platoon 3066
• Pfc. Taylor J. Hernandez – New Iberia, La. – Honor Graduate, Platoon 3068
• Pfc. Tyler M. McSherry – Shippensburg, Pa. – Honor Graduate, Platoon 3069
• Pfc. Hunter L. Moore – New Castle, Pa.– High Shooter, Platoon 3069
• Pfc. Benjamin V. Archangli – Westminster, Mass. – Honor Graduate, Platoon 2070
• Pfc. Matthew D. Dillon – Watertown, Conn. – High PFT/CFT, Platoon 3070

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:
• Pfc. Pabel Reyes Polanco – Redding, Pa.
Originally from – Dominican Republic
• Pfc. Sayfullakhuja Nurullakhonov –Brooklyn, N.Y.
Originally from – Uzbekistan
• Pfc. Paul Lacarta – Concord, N.C.
Originally from – Philippines
• Pvt. Zhiyuan Quan – Queens, N.Y.
Originally from – China
• Pvt. David-Mathieu Lewis – Spring Valley, N.Y.
Originally from – Jamaica  
• Pvt. Muataz Al Dujaili – Baltimore, Md.
Originally from – Iraq
• Pvt. Louis Estverne – Baldwin, N.Y.
Originally from – Haiti
• Pfc. Deshaun Cookson – Virginia Beach, Va.
Originally from – Jamaica
• Pfc. Kevin Gonzalez Murica – Tampa, Fla.
Originally from – El Salvador
• Pvt. Fernando Bermudez Canizares – Miami, Fla.
Originally from – Cuba
• Pvt. Pablo Vergara – Miami, Fla.
Originally from – Chile
• Pvt. Louis Urmeneta – Kearny, N.J.
Originally from – Peru

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.