Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego -- The start of the journey to becoming a Marine begins with the union of a recruit and their rifle.
Recruits of Company B, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, received a M16-A4 service rifle during their rifle issue aboard the depot, April 21.
The purpose of the rifle issue was to begin the familiarization of the weapon recruits will be utilizing throughout recruit training and most likely their Marine Corps career.
“You want to start them off with a good foundation to set them up for success in the Marine Corps,” said Gunnery Sgt. George A. Vargas, drill instructor, Platoon 1023. “It’s important that every Marine become familiar with the weapon due to the fact that all Marines are deployable.”
Before recruits were given their weapon, they were first issued their rifle cleaning kit, which is a kit that contains various parts to clean and maintain the weapon over the course of recruit training. An armory Marine went through the kit and had each recruit verify and inspect each piece to ensure all were accounted for and not broken. Recruits were also issued their parade sling, which they use during drill only.
After everything was accounted for, recruits lined up to receive their rifle. While waiting in line, recruits became one step closer to the goal they came to achieve, earning the title Marine.
“We came (to recruit training) with nothing,” said Recruit Orlando Ruiz-Augustine, Plt. 1021. “Each day we get a little bit more, slowly earning the right to hold the title Marine.”
Reality of what they held in their hands, what the weapon was capable of, dawned on recruits and made them realize the responsibility being put on them.
“This is real and a big impact,” said Ruiz-Augustine, a Salem, Ore. native. “I’ve never held a weapon in my life. It’s awesome and scary at the same time. The reality of what we may one day use this weapon for started to kick in.”
Almost instantly recruits began to accept and take on the role of a Marine.
“It matured me a lot,” said Ruiz-Augustine. “This takes lives and I’m in control of it.”
Tremendous responsibility was given to the young men of Co. B at the moment of receiving their weapon. Now it is up to their drill instructors to ensure recruits carry out that responsibility.
“We highly emphasize the weapons safety rules the instant they get their weapon and then throughout the day of each training day,” said Vargas, a New York, N.Y. native. “We take the weapons with us everywhere and use repetition to train them. When they do deploy, it’ll be second nature to them.”
Co. B sets off on their journey to earning the title Marine. The training of learning about the M16-A4 service rifle and how to properly utilize it is one of the major critical aspects of the Marine Corps fundamentals. The recruits will train and carry out that tradition and legacy set forth by each Marine before them.
“From cooks to administration, everybody is in the fight,” said Vargas. ‘“Every Marine a rilfeman.’ One day you’re behind the computer and the next you’re on post.”