San Diego -- Determination is a firm and fixed intention to achieve a desired goal and is something that doesn’t go unnoticed during recruit training. That was the case for Pfc. Elias Patten, Platoon 2111, Company E, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion.
His desire to improve himself and push through recruit training was recognized by his drill instructors which resulted in him earning a meritorious promotion to private first class.
The 18-year-old Soldonta, Alaska native always wanted to join the military. He was attracted to the way Marines carried themselves and the confidence they displayed on a daily basis.
“I did research on all the branches of the service and throughout history the Marines have always been known to stand out the most,” said Patten. “I wanted to be the best.”
During his sophomore year of high school, Patten made the decision to enlist in the Marine Corps. Although he earned scholarships for volunteering, he denied them to pursue his dream.
He enlisted November 2011 when he was 17 and shipped off to recruit training aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego Sept. 17.
Although Patten wasn’t physically fit when he arrived at the depot, he didn’t let it slow him down.
“I was out of shape, I could barely pass the initial strength test,” said Patten. “I didn’t have the confidence to push myself. I always had to have someone there to push me.”
Patten felt he had to prove himself to his drill instructors and platoon, so he set goals for himself and worked even harder to achieve them.
“He learned how far he can push himself,” said Sgt. Carlos Rodriguez, drill instructor, Plt. 2111, Co. E, 2nd RTBn. “He struggled a lot physically, but I think once he came out of his shell he realized how much he could actually do.”
Before Patten shipped off to recruit training, he ran a twenty-three minute, thirty-eight second three-mile for the physical fitness test. The PFT is an annual training event for Marines and also a graduation requirement for recruit training.
It consists of a max set of pull-ups, a timed three-mile run, and a max set of crunches in a time limit of two minutes.
“I wanted to be the best, so I pushed myself. For my initial PFT I ran a twenty-one minute, forty-six seconds, did seven pull-ups and 88 crunches,” explained Patten. “For the final PFT, my run time was nineteen minutes, thirty seconds; I did 13 pull-ups and completed 200 crunches.”
Patten even tried to beat the Recruit Training Regiment record of 260 crunches in two minutes. His actions and desire to physically change was noticed by his drill instructors and fellow recruits.
“He’s been really enthusiastic about the everything he’s accomplished,” said Pvt. Michael Melendez, Plt. 2111, Co. E, 2nd RTBn.
Patten was noticed as a team player and always helped out others in the platoon, but he always made sure he kept pushing himself, said Melendez.
“He’s reached his goals and met his expectations,” said Melendez.
Patten now holds the title Marine, the goal he set more than two years ago. He has earned a meritorious promotion and is recognized as the “most improved recruit.” The confidence he gained throughout recruit training is a trait that will keep him determined to continue setting goals and pushing himself both physically and mentally to accomplish them.