Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego -- Two weeks prior to graduation recruits are given their final physical fitness test. The test includes a timed three mile run, a maximum set of pull-ups and a timed maximum set of crunches.
Recruits of Fox Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, pushed themselves to their limits for their final physical fitness test at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Calif., Sept. 25.
For a perfect score of 300, recruits must run three miles under 18 minutes, perform 20 pull-ups and conduct 100 crunches within two minutes. The score is used for promotion purpose in the Fleet Marine Force.
The test begins with pull-ups, is followed by the three-mile run and concludes with crunches. For many recruits the run is the most challenging portion of the test.
“The run is the hardest to push through. You can feel the burn in your chest after about a mile and a half,” said Recruit Austin L.D Smith, Platoon 2135. “You have to dig deep to find the strength to keep a good pace. The burn is like smoke in your lungs. It hurts to breathe because you’re pushing yourself as hard as you can for 20 minutes, or however long it takes you.”
After catching their breaths from the run, some recruits were all smiles from their accomplishment.
Recruit Jose A. Marin, Platoon 2135, explained he came into recruit training at 200 pounds and only able to perform 13 pull ups. He said since then his physical transformation has been remarkable.
“I was a fat body before,” said Marin, with an accomplished smile. “But now I weigh 180 pounds and can do 18 pull-ups. It feels amazing to be less than 200 pounds. I’m a lot more confident now, and feel like I can accomplish anything.”
Marin said he used any free time he had doing push-ups, ammunition can lifts and pull-ups, preparing for the PFT, and he wasn’t alone in being proud of his physical feats.
Smith, a Peoria, Ill., native, said he felt exceptionally proud of his scores because he surpassed the scores his uncle, a former Marine, received during his time in the Corps.
“To know he was a good Marine and be able to push a little farther than him makes me feel like I’m going to do well in the Marine Corps,” said Smith.
No matter what the recruits score was for their final PFT, it appeared all of the recruits, in some way or fashion, took pride in their performance. The PFT is an annual requirement in the Corps, and these recruit will have the opportunity to improve upon their scores earned in recruit training.