MCRD San Diego -- Everything done from morning to night requires a certain extent of strength and conditioning. In recruit training, that amount is multiplied tenfold in order to teach recruits how to push themselves as hard as possible.
On August 1, recruits of Company B, 1st Recruit Training Battalion ran two and a half miles with approximately eight exercises over the course of the run.
Recruits wore their green shorts, running shoes and green t-shirts but the light outfit wan’t enough to take away the blaring heat of the summer sun.
Drill instructors lined their recruits up and took off like sprinters. After about a quarter of a mile they stopped for their first exercise, crunches.
About half way through, the exercises intensified. Recruits did push-ups, followed shortly after with dips and then pull ups. By the time they reached the pull up bar the recruits looked like they just finished a water gun fight.
“When your body starts hurting and you still have like a mile and a half left, it’s that competition to my left, to my right and in front of me that keeps me going,” said Recruit Chad T. Douglas, squad leader, Platoon 1025, Co. B. “As a squad leader I can’t set low standards. If I slow down and quit the other 83 recruits might think it’s ok to do that too.”
Besides the importance of motivation, many recruits also believe being able to train hard also means being mentally strong.
“A lot of physical training is pushing yourself mentally,” said Recruit Christopher T. Johnson, squad leader, Platoon 1025. “You have to tell yourself, ‘I’m not going to stop, I’m going to make it to the end’. The faster you learn to push yourself the more you can accomplish.”
For the entirety of the exercise drill instructors lead from the front and motivated slowing recruits to keep going. Co. B drill instructors did their best to not show fatigue or distress in order to give recruits a strong leader to look up to.
“I show them that if I can do it, they should be able to do it and keep up,” said Sgt. Mathew L. Harmon, senior drill instructor, Plt. 1025, Co. B. “If I didn’t hold myself to a higher standard other drill instructors might not either and that would make the platoon look bad.”
Although the drill instructors were fatigued and possibly even more so than the recruits they made sure everyone finished strong and together.
After their daunting exercise recruits formed up and jogged back to their squad bays. The free gift of mental toughness training would have to suffice.