MCRD San Diego -- Physical and mental endurance is a trait that is instilled in recruits throughout training that allows them to sustain prolonged, stressful environments in order to successfully complete any mission.
The recruits of Company G, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, ran the strength and endurance course their second time June 20 aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.
The strength and endurance course is an event that requires recruits to run to different exercise stations placed through the 2.5 mile route.
“We basically have the recruits run this to increase their strength and cardio,” said Sgt. Joshua LeBlanc, drill instructor, Platoon 2154, Co. G, 2nd RTBn. “It will prepare them for their final physical fitness test and strengthen them all around.”
The different stations throughout the course include crunches, planks, push-ups, pull-ups, squats and dips. Each of these exercises, along with the running, will help build a recruit’s core, cardio and endurance, explained LeBlanc.
“The first time we ran the course, a lot of the recruits struggled with it,” said LeBlanc, referring back to second week of training. “There has been a lot of improvement since then.”
By this time in their training cycle, the recruits should be able to keep up physically because of all the exercising and conditioning they’ve gone through. The biggest challenge for the recruits is keeping up mentally and pushing through, said LeBlanc.
“I definitely had a difficult time with the course mentally the first time,” said Recruit Drew Marshall, Plt. 2154, Co. G, 2nd RTBn. “You have drill instructors yelling at you and you’re out of breath trying to do each exercise; all that running around gets to you after a while.”
This time through the course, Marshall, a 19-year-old Kokomo, Ind. native, pushed himself more mentally than physically. Keeping up with his drill instructors was what motivated him not to quit.
“This time around the drill instructors are trying to motivate you to keep up,” said Marshall. “It gives you enough to push through mentally knowing that they’re there to encourage you.”
The mental aspect of running the course helps build your confidence and allows you to keep pushing yourself, explained Marshall.
“You never know what kind situation you’ll be in that you’ll be in that will have you rely on your strength,” said Marshall. “Endurance allows you to perform better.”
With the reassuring confidence that they are able to push through physical and mental obstacles, the recruits of Company G move on with their training in order to earn the title of United States Marine.