Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego -- To some, esprit de corps is considered the lifeblood that’s helped keep the Marine Corps’ longstanding history and traditions alive. To sustain this mentality, unit physical training functions are often used to help strengthen the bond between each Marine to help keep morale, spirits and camaraderie high.
Marines of Support Battalion came together to build camaraderie as they competed against each other in a log race at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Jan. 21.
“This event was all about bringing the Marines together,” said Capt. Jonathan E. Chang, operations officer, Support Battalion, and company commander, Headquarters Company, Support Battalion. “We each have our own duty supporting recruit training, so it’s a good chance for us to do something as a unit.”
Chang explained the event consisted of a three-mile course where each team of Marines, 10 Marines per team, were tasked with carrying a log throughout the course whichever way they decided best for their team.
“From the start, we had a plan to sprint to the front of the pack, with only 6 or 7 on the log, and rotate in the fresh Marines to keep the momentum going,” said Staff Sgt. Jose A. Ortiz, drill instructor, Academic Instructional Platoon, Support Battalion. “We had a bulldog (Marine) up front pulling the log, making everyone put out, which helped keep us going strong.”
Throughout the course, one could hear each team of Marines motivating each other to keep pushing. Each team utilized their physical and mental strength to push their minds past the exhaustion and pain of carrying the 150 to 200 pound logs.
“Everybody was hurting,” said Chang. “But you’re only as strong as the weakest link.”
Marines utilized mental strength, one of the key elements taught during recruit training, to help them give their all throughout the race.
“I don’t want to lose; we’re not giving up,” said Ortiz, a member of the winning team. “We looked back and saw a team coming up on us, so we gave it our all to reach the finish line first.”
Ortiz’s team crossed the finish line first, earning them a challenge coin, Letter of Appreciation and a 72-hour liberty pass. The celebrations were shortly lived as those teams that finished early set their logs down and quickly ran back out in the course to help push the teams still running.
“One team, one fight,” said Ortiz. “Guys went back out there because we never leave a Marine behind.”
After the race concluded, Marine went back to their sections, re-invigorated with esprit de corps, ready to start another day of supporting the mission of creating a United States Marine.
“It was all about the camaraderie,” said Ortiz. “At the end, we were all happy to be here and regain that old brotherhood feeling.”