SAN DIEGO -- A Company of recruits ran as fast as possible for three miles and while it may have appeared like a green glob of chaos, it was merely a mass of recruits wearing green shorts and shirts running for the best time they could get.
Recruits of Company D, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, put forth their maximum effort during a Physical Fitness Test aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego April 25.
The PFT consists of a timed run, a timed maximum set of crunches and maximum set of pull-ups. The results are calculated into a score that works toward promotion. The better their score, the more it will help recruits toward promotion in the Fleet Marine Force. Hence, every recruit gave the test everything they had.
After starting the PFT with the pull-ups section, recruits lined together for their three mile run.
Although the Company started together, it was a different case coming across the finish line.
Recruit Adan E. Mendiola, squad leader, Platoon 1065, Company D, 1st RTBn. finished the run first in his company, and the rest of Co. D trickled in behind him.
“What motivates me, more than anything, when I’m tired is my dad,” said Recruit Adan E. Mendiola, who finished in 17 minutes and 29 seconds. “My dad was a Marine and he got a 15 minute, 30 second (three-mile run time). I know whenever I feel bad, I know my dad probably felt worse—so I just push it.”
Mendiola explained what keeps him from being complacent is working to beat his own score every time and his distaste of being beat.
“If someone beats me, even if I beat my own score, I want to do better,” said Mendiola.
Drill instructors work with their recruits throughout recruit training to improve their recruit’s physical fitness.
“I tell them the Marine Corps is the strongest (military branch) and tell them to know yourself and seek self improvement. It’s motivating when you see them on their (off time) and before and after chow working out,” said Staff Sgt. Timothy R. Jackson, senior drill instructor, Plt. 1065, Co. D, 1st RTBn.
After finishing the run, many recruits either hunched over gasping for air or put their hands over their hands; all recruits looked fatigued.
In order to gradually cool their recruits down, Drill instructors ordered recruits to walk in one large circle.
Before the sweat could dry on their backs, recruits were getting ready for their final part of their PFT—crunches.
Drill instructors separated recruits who had done the most pull-ups, and had the fastest run times into a small group of approximately six, to see who their strongest recruit was.
The margin of victory was minimal and afterwards the strongest recruit was still undecided.
However, finding the strongest recruit was not the goal of the exercise, it was another tool used by drill instructors to promote healthy competition. The ultimate goal for recruits was to put forth maximum effort on their PFT—which from the recruits’ facial expressions and sweat, appeared successful.
“About five months ago I thought doing two pull-ups was good. I just kept going for it and now I’m doing 16,” said Recruit Steven M. Mora, Plt. 1065, Co. D, 1st RTBn. “I give thanks to my (senior drill instructor). My recruiter told me I would be doing 15 pull-ups, but I didn’t believe it at the time. But here I am; It’s really unexpected and it’s a confidence booster.”