Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego

            The Marine Corps is known as a brotherhood, one  to which no other can compare. Entrance into many of these brotherhoods may involve some kind of rite of passage but recruits learn entrance to the Corps’ brotherhood is all about pride, professionalism and traditions.

            Recruits of Echo Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, learned what the Marine Corps considers hazing and what the consequences are during a class at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Oct. 7.

            “We give the recruits a class so they can get that solid foundation to what the Marine Corps policy is,” said 1st Sgt. Bryan E. Campbell, company first sergeant. “I teach them ways to identify it along with ways to prevent it.”

            Throughout the class, Campbell explained every situation thoroughly as well as gave examples, and even personal experiences, from when he was a young Marine.

            “I was a private first class and a lance corporal just like all of you,” Campbell said to the recruits. “The only difference is that I have learned from my mistakes and want to use my experiences to make the future of the Marine Corps aware.”

            Throughout the class, Campbell gave recruits facts and statistics about the Corps’ past cases of hazing and tied it to traditions that have been around since the beginning of the Corps.

            “Someone starts a tradition and at first it is harmless,” said Campbell, a native of Melbourne, Ark. “As years pass, Marines take those traditions and add things and ultimately make them worse.”

            Campbell explained hazing can result in serious injury, and preventing it is something the Corps takes very seriously.

            “Learning this in recruit training is probably the best thing,” said Recruit Daniel A. Goress, Platoon 2110. “If we know what could possibly happen to us if we commit hazing or if it is committed to us.”

            Teaching the future Marines about the policy and consequences or what to do if they witness hazing will help them once they are Marines. With  the Corps’ zero tolerance policy, one offense with hazing could ultimately ruin a Marine’s career

            “Hazing in general is unacceptable,” said Campbell. “It can generate an atmosphere that can break unit’s cohesion and espirit de corps.”