San Diego, Calif. -- Most everyone sets goals. It’s a part of life that many can relate to, give guidance and help one another with. Marine recruit training is no different and many enter the process with goals such as earning a leadership position. However goals sometimes take more time than wanted. For one recruit it took most of boot camp to get within reach of a leadership billet.
Throughout recruit training Pvt. Zachery T. Douthitt, Platoon 3242, Company L, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, strived to be a squad leader or guide. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until the later stages of training that his drill instructors noticed his upstanding character.
“He’s been a good recruit this whole cycle,” said Sgt. Alanser Uruo, senior drill instructor, Plt. 3242, Co. L, 3rd RTBn. “He always puts out in all the events whether it’s physically training, drill or guided discussions.”
Out of an average platoon of 60 recruits only four are selected as squad leaders and one as guide.
At five-foot-four-inches tall, Douthitt is one of the smaller recruits in his platoon. He also has a calm demeanor and is soft spoken. While that didn’t make him a bad recruit, it did make it harder for him to get noticed for a leadership position.
“I always tried to show leadership characteristics,” said Douthitt. “I don’t know why I wasn’t picked. I hope to get recognized after boot camp to show I did give everything I have.”
Uruo stated that it’s possible for Douthitt to pick up a leadership role in the Corps if he does a couple things a little more.
“All he has to do is stand out; be more vocal, take more initiative,” said Uruo.
His senior drill instructor explained although he was a good recruit it took until second and third phase of recruit training to notice his outstanding positive and humble character.
“If I wanted to know how the platoon was doing I would ask him, that’s how much confidence I have in him,” said Uruo. “The way he presents himself, his mannerisms, motivates other recruits. He has really good character and is a humble recruit.”
Uruo said as the weeks passed in recruit training his positivity and motivation became known when he would consistently give input during recruit classes and direct fellow recruits to improve.
However, by that time it was too late in the game to switch up the leadership roster said Uruo.
Fellow recruits called Douthitt a positive light and one that always helped others during stressful times.
“He would help me when I was struggling,” said Pvt. Justin E. Duncan, Plt. 3242, Co. L, 3rd RTBn. “I remember telling him that I didn’t know what I was doing here and he told me basically to keep my eyes on the prize of becoming a Marine.”
Although Douthitt did not reach his goal of holding a leadership billet in recruit training, he said it hasn’t discouraged him from continuing to excel. Douthitt believes he can earn it during his time in the Marine Corps.
“He’s been that positive person that people have looked up to,” said Duncan. “Yeah he’s not a squad leader now but if he continues the way he is there is no doubt in my mind he’s going to accomplish big things.”
Douthitt said that not being picked as squad leader didn’t affect him negatively, it instead drove him to try harder to help others and be someone to look up to.
“I’m not going to let my efforts stop here in boot camp,” said Douthitt. “I’m going to keep trying to do my best.”
Douthitt is the son and brother to former Marines. He said after his Marine Corps future he plans on passing on to his kids the values of honor and courage recruit training has taught him.