A recruit of Alpha Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, waits for his turn to battle during Pugil Sticks III at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, March 29. Each recruit’s gear was inspected to ensure it was tight enough to endure any hits from a pugil stick. Annually, more than 17,000 males recruited from the Western Recruiting Region are trained at MCRD San Diego. Alpha Company is scheduled to graduate April 22. - A recruit of Alpha Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, waits for his turn to battle during Pugil Sticks III at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, March 29. Each recruit’s gear was inspected to ensure it was tight enough to endure any hits from a pugil stick. Annually, more than 17,000 males recruited from the Western Recruiting Region are trained at MCRD San Diego. Alpha Company is scheduled to graduate April 22.

Private Michael L. Riddle, Delta Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, jumps over a wall during a Crucible event at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, March 23. Riddle is graduating as a squad leader and plans on staying in the Marine Corps for as long as possible. Following graduation, he will continue his training at the School of Infantry at MCB CPEN, to learn his primary job as an infantryman. Riddle intends to finish his degree and eventually become a counter terrorist agent. Annually, more than 17,000 males recruited from the Western Recruiting Region are trained at MCRD San Diego. Delta Company is scheduled to graduate April 1. - Private Michael L. Riddle, Delta Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, jumps over a wall during a Crucible event at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, March 23. Riddle is graduating as a squad leader and plans on staying in the Marine Corps for as long as possible. Following graduation, he will continue his training at the School of Infantry at MCB CPEN, to learn his primary job as an infantryman. Riddle intends to finish his degree and eventually become a counter terrorist agent. Annually, more than 17,000 males recruited from the Western Recruiting Region are trained at MCRD San Diego. Delta Company is scheduled to graduate April 1.

Recruits of Delta Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, run their 880-meter sprint during the combat fitness test at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, March 10. The first event of the CFT began with recruits running the 880-yard timed run. Wearing combat boots makes the sprint around the track difficult for some recruits. The purpose of the run is to simulate moving quickly through a combat situation. In order to gain maximum points on this event, recruits must complete the run in 2 minutes and 45 seconds or less. Annually, more than 17,000 males recruited from the Western Recruiting Region are trained at MCRD San Diego. Delta Company is scheduled to graduate April 1. - Recruits of Delta Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, run their 880-meter sprint during the combat fitness test at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, March 10. The first event of the CFT began with recruits running the 880-yard timed run. Wearing combat boots makes the sprint around the track difficult for some recruits. The purpose of the run is to simulate moving quickly through a combat situation. In order to gain maximum points on this event, recruits must complete the run in 2 minutes and 45 seconds or less. Annually, more than 17,000 males recruited from the Western Recruiting Region are trained at MCRD San Diego. Delta Company is scheduled to graduate April 1.

Private First Class John P. Cash, India Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, stands next to his squad bay at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, March 7. Following recruit training, Cash will continue his schooling at Marine Combat Training in Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., and then on to his military occupational specialty school to learn his profession of communications. Today, all male recruits recruited from recruiting stations west of the Mississippi are trained at MCRD San Diego. The depot is responsible for training more than 16,000 recruits annually. India Company graduated recruit training March 11. - Private First Class John P. Cash, India Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, stands next to his squad bay at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, March 7. Following recruit training, Cash will continue his schooling at Marine Combat Training in Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., and then on to his military occupational specialty school to learn his profession of communications. Today, all male recruits recruited from recruiting stations west of the Mississippi are trained at MCRD San Diego. The depot is responsible for training more than 16,000 recruits annually. India Company graduated recruit training March 11.

Recruits of Delta Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, conduct a counter attack during a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program Test and Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, March 9. Twenty recruits at a time took the test as the instructors evaluated them. The recruits also conducted hand-to-hand combat techniques and learned various movements with knives and rifles. Annually, more than 17,000 males recruited from the Western Recruiting Region are trained at MCRD San Diego. Delta Company is scheduled to graduate April 1. - Recruits of Delta Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, conduct a counter attack during a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program Test and Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, March 9. Twenty recruits at a time took the test as the instructors evaluated them. The recruits also conducted hand-to-hand combat techniques and learned various movements with knives and rifles. Annually, more than 17,000 males recruited from the Western Recruiting Region are trained at MCRD San Diego. Delta Company is scheduled to graduate April 1.

Private First Class Armando Sajbin, Echo Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, posts as security during the Crucible at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 24. Each obstacle required recruits to provide security for the rest of their fire team to simulate protecting them from the enemy during combat situations. Annually, more than 17,000 males recruited from the Western Recruiting Region are trained at MCRD San Diego. - Private First Class Armando Sajbin, Echo Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, posts as security during the Crucible at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 24. Each obstacle required recruits to provide security for the rest of their fire team to simulate protecting them from the enemy during combat situations. Annually, more than 17,000 males recruited from the Western Recruiting Region are trained at MCRD San Diego.