What It's Like To Graduate From Marine Boot Camp ...A Photo Tour

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parris-island-marine-graduation.jpg As I mentioned earlier, my nephew's graduation from Marine Boot Camp had a big effect on me.

He became a basically-trained Marine on Friday, August 18, 2006, part of "M" Company, Third Battalion, Platoon 3068.

Here's how things looked, from a proud Aunt's perspective...


A First-Hand Account of Graduation from Boot Camp

I was so overwhelmingly impressed by what I saw that day:

The "formal" procedures involving the top-notch musically-inclined Marine band along with a good deal of ceremonial sword spinning, cannon-blasting, and flag waving...

The Parris Island Marine band was AWESOME! Marines firing the cannons at the graduation ceremony. Changing of the guard among Marine officers.
History & Lyrics for the Marine Hymn


Marine recruits standing at attention -- for hours, in the blazing sun, in a series of lines & groupings -- all part of the process to graduate 566 young men & women on this day...

Marine recruits marching to their graduation ceremony. Marine boot camp parade of graduates at Parris Island. Marines marching in the boot camp parade march on graduation day.


Hummer, the Marine Corps newest Depot mascot graduated on this day, as well. Hummer is s 7-month old English bulldog who is taking the place of Lance Corporal Mac, a 7-year-old English bulldog who served active duty from 2002 to 2006. Mac is enjoying retirement now while being treated for a spinal condition. He lives with Staff Sgt. Benjamin Becker & his family, and he accompanies Sgt. Becker to work every day.

It is said a cainine mascot helps by "boosting the morale of his fellow troops and recruits, and showing visiting families what a "real" devil dog looks like.
The Marines canine mascot, Hummer, at the graduation ceremonies. Hummer the mascot standing at attention while looking at his superior officer at the graduation ceremony The Old English Bulldog is the official mascot of the U.S. Marines. Marine mascott, Hummer, at the Boot Camp graduation ceremonies at Parris Island.
The English bulldog was unofficially adopted as the Marine Corps mascot during World War I, when the German Army had reportedly nicknamed the attacking Marines "Teufelhunden," meaning "Devil Dogs." Source


The precise movements of Marine officers and the recruits. From solid, meaningful salutes of respect to clenched fists of the recruits as they walk... Perfection is what everyone strives for here. And it's evident that it's the ultimate sign of respect...

Something about 'rank' -- Private vs Private First Class -- determined who looked at superior officers as they marched by, and who was required to continue looking forward. Marine recruits in an award ceremony who obviously were to have no eye contact with their superior officers. An example of all the tightly closed fists we witnessed on this day... there's definitely an art to the marching stance.
A new graduate watches as a new class of recruits begins training. In his own words: 'Pitiful.' It was obvious how much is learned by the time a Marine recruit graduates.


Awe-inspiring female recruits & officers who stood strong, and touch, and proved that women are just as capable as men at defending this great country of ours...

Marching female marines. Women marching in the Marine graduation ceremony.
On February 15, 1949, a separate "command" was activated for the sole purpose of training female Marine recruits. This command has since been designated the 4th Recruit Training Battalion and is the only battalion in the Corps to train female recruits.
Source: globalsecurity.org


Girls with guns...

Female Marine recruits getting their orders. Armed Marines on a mission...


The crowd, filled with oh-so-proud mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, girlfriends, boyfriends, children and more! The pride was SO evident on this day... a relative's pride for their remarkable Marine, and the Marine recruits' pride for their own mastery of the impossible...

A toddler in the audience waving and American flag. Proud family members of a graduating Marine. A little girl waving a U.S. Marine flag.
A U.S. Army soldier in the audience at Marine Boot Camp graduation.A U.S. Navy officer at the Marine Boot Camp graduation. A Marine officer talking to an Air Force officer who was in the audience.


And the drill instructors who, prior to this day, I had thought worked hard to get to where they are, but I figured they were just men & women who were on one big ego trip -- with control issues. You know, the kind of people who thrive on making other people feel small and making themselves feel big. But on this day, I learned what it really means to work hard -- and that INCLUDED all of the drill sargeants and other leaders.

One, in particular impressed Jim & I to no end... He worked as hard or harder than his recruits -- in the hot blazing sun -- moving 90-miles-an-hour at all times -- determined and focused on the task at hand. For nearly an hour (after the graduation ceremony) we watched him interact with his recruits. He never asked his recruits to do something without lending a hand himself -- even menial tasks like picking up trash in the bleachers and out on the sidewalks. We also watched him "lay it on" one recruit (we're talking HARD! Tough! In-your-face! and MEAN!), so we truly saw this guy's gruff & mean side. Yet it was evident that he was so easy to respect and learn from at the same time. Kudos to all of the drill instructors who are fair & balanced like this... truly a class act.

This  is the Marine we watched for a long time as he showed his hard, and soft side... This is garbage duty. They were searching for  the TINIEST pieces of trash! Everywhere you looked... there was another group of Marine recruits going through some different form of training. New recruits training with guns. Another class of recruits marching with rifles. You can see their freshly-shaved heads... even from this distance!
Online video: Parris Island Marine recruits & drill instructors
The Core Values: Honor, Courage and Committment
Fresh new graduates shouting 'Ooh-rah' at the end of their graduation ceremony. The newest class of basically trained Marines rushing to hug and applaud one another. Friends and family members rushed down from the bleachers to hug their graduates!
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29 Comments

Jay said:


CLICK HERE
to get the inside scoop on USMC boot camp!

april said:

My 18 yr old nephew left for boot camp marines
parris island 7-08. I wish he could have read this web site its very informational. Hes in for a shock. he wasnt to prepared. but i think he will do great.

"Mc- Cloud" said:

These pics brings back memories of boot camp, especially when I can see Alpha Co (the comapany i graduated from on PI) in the background. It was a very memorable experience. 13wks was rough, hard, but well worth it. Had plenty of blood, sweat, and tears.

Sgt. Fiori said:

Thats a nice picture of Paris Island sadly I never tried to be a D.I. but my Father came to my graduation in '03 but my mother died 18 days into boot camp, but our guardian angels watch over us in war and in pride.

Sincerely Sgt. Fiori
OOH-RAH Semper Fidelis Pow-Mia

J.Cesar said:

hi ma name is Cesar and i i been in for 3 yrs and 4 months and i recently re-enlist and i love my Marine Corps UhhhhRahhh!! amd motivated dedicated to my Corp and am about to pick up SGt probably next quarter stationed in Camp Pendleton but currently deployed at Camp Al Fallujah , Iraq a as soon at get back i have orders to go 2 Miramar , San Diego

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Photos

  • These are the Shimano clipless bike shoes that I have.
  • These are the Shimano clipless pedals that I have.
  • Having the time of my life in an organized bike ride. You can see my funky aero bar pretty good here. Notice how wide it is too.
  • Here, Jim is putting my bike in the back of our Isuzu Rodeo. (Proof that you don't always need a bike rack.)  You can see my cushy seat with the middle cut out.
  • Biking with my friend, Beth. Notice my funky aero bars -- looks funny, feels great.
  • Taking off my bike helmet at a pit stop.
  • My new (and current) bike -- a Trek 730. Notice the funky handlebars.
  • My first bike was a mountain bike from Sears. Too clunky and heavy for road biking!
  • I shot this picture of a couple of cyclists, as viewed through the spokes of my bike.
  • Laura and I collapsed -- she on her bike during a pit stop, me on the bed in our air conditioned hotel room, bike helmet still in hand.
  • One of a handful of shots I got of Sebastian Back and singer-songwriter, Shannon Lawson at the Gone Country 2 Season Finale.
  • MySpace page for The Fun Times Guide.


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