Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego -- Moments prior to one of Charlie Company’s final tests, recruits looked nervous. Hours of drill practice had finally led up to one final evaluation and many recruits were worried about the possibility of creating an error for their team.
Company C, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, conducted Final Drill at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Calif., Sept. 15. The exercise requires each platoon in the company to separately conduct various movements such as stack arms, port arms, left face, right face and about face.
“I have butterflies, it’s a little nerve-racking because I’ve messed up before, and I don’t want to mess up now,” said Recruit Luis I. Rodriguez, Platoon 1041.
Fortunately, Company C drill instructors used the moments prior to the exercise to review their drill movements and give words of encouragement to their recruits.
“You know the movements,” was repeated many drill instructors as they assisted the recruits with their uniforms and positioning.
Although recruits didn’t want to let down there fellow recruits, letting down their drill instructors was a worse thought.
Rodriguez explained the event is a team effort, and he was nervous because he knew the endless hours his fellow recruits and drill instructors put into drill. He didn’t want to let either of them down.
“Final drill is a chance for us to show how far we’ve worked and progressed,” said Rodriguez.
The Grapevine, Texas, native said although he wanted to have a great performance individually and as a team, that final drill was about more than being the best.
“Win or lose, (final drill) gives us something to be proud of,” said the 19 year old. “All the movements we do show the discipline we’ve learned.”
As the company performed their drill movements, drill instructors watched for excessive movement, bearing and uniform appearance. An infraction in these areas meant a lower grade for the platoon.
“At the beginning of training, I had an idea that drill was about discipline,” said Recruit Julio C. Duran-Vargas. “But it didn’t hit me until our drill instructors began drilling in our heads how important it was to stop any excessive movement.”
Although not every platoon can win at final drill, they can all benefit from the lessons it teaches.
“At the end of the day, it is the teamwork and discipline we learned that we are going to take away,” said Duran-Vargas, a Coachella, Calif., native.
Company C is scheduled to graduate recruit training on Oct. 3.