Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego -- On their first day of training, recruits are taught basic marching movements. From that basic platform, recruits march everywhere they go on base honing their synchronization and movement as a single unit.
Showing off their skills, the recruits conduct the initial drill test, and then for the next 37 training days, practice for a culminating final event.
On training day 54, Echo Company competed in their final drill evaluation aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California, June 30.
For recruits and drill instructors, final drill is more about showing improvement than winning a competition against their peers.
“Final drill allows the drill instructors to show off their platoons and display how much better they have become at drill,” said Sgt. Steven R. Addis, drill instructor, Platoon 2106. “I’m confident my platoon will perform to the best of their capabilities.”
Before final drill begins, senior drill instructors are instructed to pick one of four drill cards labeled with a specific set of drill movements he will order his platoon to perform.
Each card contains rifle movements such as order arms, port arms, left face, right face and about face. The platoons also execute different drill maneuvers and in-place movements.
Drill masters from each battalion grade the recruits on small details and precision of each of their movements as they progress through the event.
“We’ve been training a lot and for long periods of time for this moment. We’ll do great,” said Recruit Nathaniel W. O’Connor, guide, Platoon 2106.
Once recruits are finished with the in-place movements, they continue with the marching portion. They are judged on areas of alignment, staying in step and recruit’s personal bearing.
O’Connor explained his platoon wasn’t worried about their performance because they were confident from all the training they received from their drill instructors.
“I wasn’t nervous for any particular card because we’ve practiced all of them repetitively,” said O’Connor, a Kansas City, Missouri native.
O’Connor said his drill instructors made sure they practiced frequently by being very creative in finding times and places for the recruits to practice drill.
“We would turn the squad bay into an open area by moving our racks and footlockers against the walls so we could practice drill,” said O’Connor.
Although not every platoon can have the honor of winning the Final Drill competition, all recruits can take pride in knowing they gave their all.
“Win or lose, I’m proud our platoon was able to work hard together for one goal,” said O’Connor.