Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego -- When Recruit Aaron W. Phillips felt soreness in his right shin, didn’t give it much thought. But when that soreness increased into a pain that inhibited his ability to keep up with his platoon, he knew he had a problem.
“I was only able to move with about 60 percent strength. I was falling behind in runs and couldn’t keep up with the training, so I decided I needed to go to medical,” said 23-year-old Phillips.
He explained he had never had a leg injury before, but estimated a very quick recovery with a couple days rest and medication.
An Magnetic Resonance Imaging revealed Phillips had a severe tibial plateau fracture, and it would take between two to four months to recover.
“I was devastated, depressed and really sad because I’m a father,” said Phillips, a Hemet, Calif., native. “It meant more time away from my son and fiancé.”
Phillips said he had physical therapy every day, and during his off time he practiced drill and read Marine knowledge.
Just three months after his injury, Phillips recovered and was inserted back into recruit training.
“After being on the base for three months, I had goals,” said Phillips. “I wanted to be a leader. I felt like I was more comfortable with training and was more mature than the average recruit.”
On his first day back, Phillips took a leadership role as platoon guide.
“I was a shoe in for guide because I knew drill better than everyone else,” said Phillips. “But to keep the position, I just kept an open mind, listened and gave 100 percent in everything I did."
He admitted getting back into the vigorous demands of recruit training was more difficult than anticipated, however slowly but surely he got back up to speed.
“At first my legs hurt bad from fatigue, but after about a month, they felt stronger than before the injury,” said Phillips. “There was always the fear that I could reinjure myself but I was just careful with how (I conducted the events) made sure I wasn’t reckless.”
After finishing the Crucible, Phillips is now a Marine, he doesn’t feel like it will be official though until his son and fiancé see him in his uniform.
“Technically, I’m a Marine now. But to me it will be official on graduation. It will be the most rewarding thing in my life besides my son being born,” said Phillips.
India Company is scheduled to graduate July 31, and Phillips wanted to leave words of wisdom for recruits still in training and recovering form injuries, “never give up”.
“Never give up. Never lose hope. You came here to get that Eagle, Globe and Anchor, and it’s worth every sacrifice,” said Phillips.