Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego -- Recruits of Bravo Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, stood tall with confidence in a formation during a company commanders inspection aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, June 9.
The purpose of the inspection is to give the company commander an opportunity to test his recruits on their knowledge, while also reviewing their uniforms, bearing, confidence and weapons maintenance. The commander also uses this time to ensure each recruit has met all the basic requirements to graduate recruit training.
The commander approached each recruit, signaling the potential new Marine to conduct rifle manual before passing his weapon to the company commander for a weapon maintenance inspection. While the weapon was being checked for cleanliness, the recruit reported to the commander by stating his rank, name, hometown and military occupation specialty. After reporting in, the company commander asked the recruit various questions regarding Marine Corps knowledge, history, uniform regulations and the chain of command.
“The inspection consists of the company commander reviewing his recruits and seeing their progress after completing finals week, which includes final drill and the final physical fitness test,” said Sgt. Richard Perryman, drill instructor, Platoon 1027. “There’s a huge difference from the initial senior drill instructors Inspection to the company commanders inspection. The Marines are a lot more confident in themselves.”
Inspections are common throughout recruit training. First the recruits completed a senior drill instructor inspection during the third week of training, which better prepared them for the company commanders inspection during the tenth week. After the Crucible, the culminating event of recruit training, is completed they prepare for the battalion commanders inspection during the twelfth week of their training.
“I felt confident, but you can’t help but feel nervous when you’re going through the inspection,” said Recruit Taylor B. Morgan, Platoon 1026. “Some of us had a difficult time having the company commander standing in front of us asking several questions, but overall I think we did a good job with the inspection.”
During the inspection, Morgan, a Lodi, Calif. native, explained he focused on staying calm, holding his bearing and sounding off when he answered the commanding officer.