Special Training Company (Company R):
Provides individual physical training and medical rehabilitation to recruits and new Marines who
are unable to continue training due to substandard physical performance of medical deficiency.
Company R also works with medical providers to obtain recommendations as to the disposition
of recruits and new Marines with medical conditions that impact their training.
Q: What happens when a recruit becomes sick or injured in training?
A: Recruits who are physically injured or too ill to continue in training may be assigned to the
Male Rehabilitation Platoon (MRP) or the Female Readiness Platoon (FRP) for medical staff to
diagnose, treat and hopefully heal injuries and illnesses. On occasion, a recruit’s medical
condition will prevent them from moving forward in training. When this happens, our focus
becomes dutifully returning the recruit home so they can resume their civilian life.
Q: What happens when a recruit fails a physical training requirement?
A: Recruits who are unable to meet the minimum physical fitness or body composition standards
are assigned to the PCP program for three consecutive weeks. The PCP program is designed to
return recruits to training with the level of fitness necessary to begin or continue the process of becoming a United States Marine. A recruit assigned to PCP will return to training once they pass a physical fitness test and meet the Marine Corps’ body composition standards.
Q: How long will a recruit be assigned to STC?
A: There is no specific date on when a recruit returns to training. Every recruit recovers in their
own time with an action plan that is tailored to meet the medical staff’s recommendations for
treatment and rehabilitation. Recruit action plans include proper nutrition, rest, and personalized
physical conditioning.
Q: How often will I receive a call from my recruit?
A: Recruits assigned to MRP, FRP, and PCP will all notify their next of kin upon being assigned
to STC. After the initial call, you can expect a weekly call from your recruit. The recruit is
responsible for updating their next of kin on prevalent medical updates.
Q: Can I send my recruit a letter or care package? What are they authorized to have?
A: Yes, recruits may send and receive mail while at STC. You may send small packages and
letters by mail. Anything you send will be distributed to your recruit upon receipt. Commercially
packaged, shelf-stable products such as protein bars, alcohol-free hygiene products, socks and
undergarments and running shoes are allowed. Your recruit is not allowed to receive or possess
any of the following items:
1. Tobacco Products
2. Alcohol/Unlawful Drugs
3. Pornographic Material/Magazines/Newspaper
4. Personal Weapons or Ammunition
5. Gambling Devices (playing cards, dice, etc.)
6. Radios or Cameras
7. Flammable Materials (lighters, matches, fireworks, etc.)
8. Cell phones, PDAs, Video games
9. Sweets (candy, cakes, cookies, etc.)
You can address mail to:
Recruit Last Name, First Name, M.I.
STC/MRP 1/MRP2/PCP/FRP
BOX 15250
PARRIS ISLAND, SC 29905-6200
Q: What happens once a recruit recovers from a medical condition?
A: Medical providers will evaluate recruits on their ability to return to training once they have
been ill or injured. Recruits who have fully recovered from an illness or injury are assigned to the
Physical Conditioning Platoon (PCP) for approximately two to three weeks. During this time,
conducting physical training with close supervision. The recruit will then be eligible to conduct a
physical fitness evaluation to returning to train.
Q: How will I know when my recruit is returning to training or graduating?
A: Every STC recruit’s next of kin will be informed by phone of their recruit's return to training,
new training company, and graduation date. You should only plan on attending graduation once
you have received this phone call.
Q: Can I talk to my recruit while they are in STC?
A: On weekends, recruits will be able to make a phone call to the next of kin that he or she
named on arrival to Parris Island. You should share important information, such as graduation
dates and travel plans, with your recruit’s other family and friends, as a recruit’s phone calls are
limited only to next of kin. If you need to deliver a message to your recruit about a family
emergency, such as an illness or death, please contact the American Red Cross by phone at 1-
877-272-7337.
Q: Am I able to visit a recruit assigned to STC?
A: Immediate family (e.g., parents, siblings, and grandparents.) may visit a recruit who has been
aboard Parris Island for 120 days or more. The chain of command at Support Battalion assesses a
recruit’s eligibility for Special Liberty based on his or her overall conduct. Recruits must submit
the special liberty request fourteen days before the date of the requested liberty period.
Recruit Processing company (Company S):
Responsible for entry-level processing all recruits once they arrive on Parris Island as well as
those recruits recommended for separation prior to completing training.
Q: What does a Recruit do during the first week at Parris Island?
A: A Recruits first week at Parris Island is known as “Receiving Week” and the Recruits
have a busy schedule consisting of appointments and classes. They will be medically evaluated,
given their initial uniform issue and taught some basics of marching and how to conduct
themselves in a military manner. During “Receiving Week” Recruits transition from civilians to
Recruits. At the end of the week these Recruits will be given to their Training Company and will
start the transition from Recruit into Marines.
Q: Will I be able to talk with a Recruit during “Receiving Week”?
A: Recruits are promptly given an opportunity to make a phone call home when they arrive
to Parris Island. The phone call is scripted and primary purpose of this phone call is to have the
next of kin know that the Recruit made it to Parris Island.
Q: What is the Recruit Separation Platoon?
A: The Recruit Separation Platoon (RSP) is the Platoon that a Recruit stays in while they are
being processed for entry level separation. RSP works in conjunction with the Training Company
and other outside agencies to make this process as fast as possible. While in RSP a Recruit is
given a weekly phone call on Saturday back home. This phone call is not scripted and is to allow the Recruit to explain to their next of kin information about why that Recruit is being processed for entry level separation and to have a conversation to catch up.
You can address mail to:
RCT Last Name, Frist Name
RSP
P.O. Box 15210-15240
Parris Island, SC 29905
Instructional Training Company (Company T):
Responsible for all the instructors who teach the academic classes, Marine Corps Martial Arts
Program classes and water survival and administer the testing or qualification in those areas.
The Academic Instruction Section (AIS) mission is to train all recruits in a professional
classroom setting at the Recruit Training Facility (RTF). At the RTF recruits receive Marine
Corps instruction on: General Military Subjects, Marine Corps History, Ethics, Core Values,
Warfighting, and Tactical Combat Casualty Care. Recruits receive over 60 classes accumulating
75 hours of classroom instruction. To ensure maximum retention of knowledge and to verify
proficiency Recruits are given three written examinations: one at the end of each phase and one
practical evaluation of Tactical Combat Casualty Care. Knowledge is power and it is vital to the
modern-day warrior and to become a United States Marine.
The intent of Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) is to develop the moral, mental,
and physical resiliency of individual recruits and ultimately the unit. The Martial Arts Section
(MAS) will accomplish this mission by exposing recruits to physical hardship and interpersonal
violence by placing emphasis on tools they would need to prepare, survive, and frequent
experience with combative techniques through any environment. The end-state of this program is
to produce Marines and units that are more lethal, exhibit greater resiliency, and are equipped to
handle the rigors of combat.
Beginning on Training Day 18 recruits will execute Swim Week at the Combat Training
Tank aboard Marine Corps Recruiting Depot Parris Island. Swim week will consist of five
consecutive days. On the first day of Swim Week the recruits will execute a 25-meter shallow
water assessment to determine their current capability in the water. Following the assessment,
the ensuing two days the recruits will be trained on different water survival techniques. On the
third day the recruits will be tested out of Water Survival Basic (WSB) in full MARPAT utilities
and boots. On the fourth day the recruits who have a Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) that
requires a higher swim qualification will be trained and tested on WSB+. Those who do not pass
their respective qualifications will be given ample time on both Thursday and Friday to receive
additional practice and attempts to pass the qualifications.
Water Survival Basic (WSB) is a graduation requirement and must be passed to become a United States Marine. WSB+ is requirement only for certain MOS’s. If a recruit was designated one of the required MOS’s and is unable to pass, the recruit will be given a different MOS that does not require WSB+.
WSB Qualification:
Event 1: 25m Shallow Water Assessment (25m swim)
Event 2: Conduct self rescue (25m swim)
Event 3: 4 Minute Stay on the Surface
Event 4: Shallow Water Gear Shed
Event 5: Employ Flotation Device (25m)
WSB+ Qualification:
Event 1: Conduct self rescue (150m swim)
Event 2: 7 Minute Stay on the Surface
Program Enlisted For (PEF) codes and Intended MOS that require WSB+ assessment:
Active component recruits:
AG (aircrew), CE (combat support), CX (combat vehicles and ground ordinance repair), HZ
(reconnaissance) and PR (parachute rigger).
Reserve component recruits:
0321, 0451, 1833, 2141, 6173, 6174, 6176 and 6276.