MCRD San Diego -- Recruits of Company B war cried as they moved from one obstacle to another during the Combat Conditioning Exercise aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego June 27.
The CCX incorporates Marine Corps Martial Arts techniques and is designed to test recruits on their ability to perform while fighting through exhaustion.
“The Combat Conditioning Exercise helps condition their body for combat,” said Staff Sgt. Bryan S. Rivas, chief drill instructor, lead series, Company B, 1st Recruit Training Battalion. “It forces them to push themselves past known limits.”
The course consists of 10 exercises, with 10 transitional exercises such as low crawling, fireman carries and buddy drags in between each one.
Recruits performed multiple standing and ground MCMAP techniques that tested their proficiency in the movements.
“It physically exhausts them and makes them tired,” said Sgt. Joseph J. Fields, drill instructor, Instructional Training Company, Support Battalion. “We give them simple instructions while they’re exhausted to see if they’re capable of doing it. We want to see if they’re going to be able to perform.”
Drill instructors motivated recruits as they completed one exercise after another, pushing them to their limits, and encouraging them to fight through fatigue, according to Rivas.
“It’s motivating when the drill instructors are yelling at us… It gives us more incentive to push even harder,” said Andrew M. Aguilar, guide, Plt. 1021. “When you hear them yell, it makes (recruits) want to be as loud as them if not louder. They make you give that 150 percent to work even harder.”
The recruits enjoyed how team-oriented the course was and felt a sense of accomplishment when they completed it, according to Eli C. Gail, guide, Plt. 1022.
“We all enjoy working together as a team and building the brotherhood we have in our platoon,” said Gail. “They get in that mindset to move and act as one. If one recruit goes down, everyone else has to pick that recruit up to keep moving forward.”
Although the CCX took place in the third week of training for recruits out of the twelve week training schedule, it proved to test them both mentally and physically, said Aguilar.
“The drill instructors have been through the same training we’re going through,” said Aguilar. “They were in our shoes once, so they know what it’s like and how to push us.”
Although Co. B is far from graduating, they completed the CCX with a sense of accomplishment. After testing their ability to fight past limitations and gaining tools they need to prepare for combat, recruits moved one step closer to earning the title United States Marine.