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About
Mission: We Make Marines
FAQ
History of Parris Island
Becoming a Marine
Privacy Policy and External Links
Site Maps
Contact Us
Leaders
Resources
Base Directory
Depot Orders, Policy Letters and Bulletins
For Depot Personnel
Housing
ID Cards/Deers
Marine Corps Community Services
Sexual Assault Prevention and Response
Regional Contracting Office
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
Legal Services Support Team
Human Resources
Regional Contracting Office
Policy Letters
Victim and Witness Assistance Program (VWAP)
Lodging
Voting Information
IPAC
Command Inspector General
Destructive Weather
Environmental Division
Emergency Management
Graduation Info
2021 Schedule
Graduation Program
Morning Colors and Graduation
Adjutant Office
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Eastern Recruiting Region
Recruit Training
Recruit Training Regiment
1st Recruit Training Battalion
2nd Recruit Training Battalion
3rd Recruit Training Battalion
4th Recruit Training Battalion
Support Battalion
Drill Instructor School
Graduation Requirements
Training Summary (By Week)
Crucible
Drill Instructors
Contacting a Recruit
Recruit Training Matrix
Weapons and Field Training Battalion
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Parris Island Marine Band
Request the Band
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Unit Home
Recruit Training
Recruit Training Regiment
3rd Recruit Training Battalion
3rd Recruit Training Battalion
"Spirit & Discipline"
Within 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, there are four companies: India, Kilo, Lima, and Mike. Each company contains an average of six, 60-to 80-recruit platoons.
3rd RTBn. was initially formed on Aug. 7, 1940, and existed throughout World War II until it was deactivated on Jun. 18, 1947. The battalion was reformed the following year and was used to train draftees from Aug. 2, 1948, to Jan. 8, 1949, when it was again disbanded.
In February 1949, the battalion was reactivated and was used exclusively to train women Marines until May 7, 1954, when a separate women's training battalion was formed (4th Recruit Training Battalion), and male recruits and instructors from 4th RTBn. were redesignated as the 3rd RTBn.
On Feb. 28, 1955, the battalion was again deactivated and then reformed on Oct. 15, 1955, only to be temporarily closed on Oct. 25, 1957. Starting in 1958 through the time of the completion of the Depot's first brick recruit barracks in 1960, the battalion was permanently re-established and served the Recruit Training Regiment from that ever-familiar location on Wake Boulevard for 51 years. From 2007 through 2009, 3rd RTBn. re-established Quebec Company in order to facilitate the mandated training of an additional 28,000 Marines. In June 2011, 3rd RTBn. relocated to a new state-of-the-art complex, complete with a new parade deck and physical training field.
Unit Leaders
Lt. Col. Michael R. Sandstrom
Commanding Officer, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion
VIEW BIO
Sgt. Maj. Michael Brown
Sergeant Major, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion
VIEW BIO
Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island
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