MCRD San Diego -- Tired and covered in dust and dirt, recruits of Company H, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, attempt their fourth challenge of day one on the Crucible Sept. 25 at Edson Range, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif.
The Crucible is a 54-hour training exercise that simulates a deployed environment with food and sleep deprivation. This is the culminating event that recruits must pass to earn the title U.S. Marine.
“I never thought at 18-years-old I would be here doing the Crucible,” said Recruit Travis Kornegay, Platoon 2161, Co. H. “I’m anxious to say that I’ve done it and get it over with as well.”
Within only about an hour, recruits were grouped into teams of four before being hurried through 11 different challenges including low crawl, high crawl, ammunition can lifts and runs.
“It gives them a taste of reality of real combat situations,” said Sgt. Luckner Desma, Platoon 2161. “Each piece has a connection to a real combat scenario. It gets them tired quick and is a real wakeup call for them.”
Between the exercises, recruits were also required to navigate through the obstacles Holder’s Stance and Dunham’s Ascent. These obstacles required recruits to provided a simulated resupply over a rope bridge and climb to the third floor of a tower with no stairs and climb back down using a rope net.
“It was very physically demanding,” said Recruit Heraclio Jaurez, Platoon 2161. “You had to work with your team to get through the major obstacles. You have to work together and stay in line.”
Each obstacle on the Crucible is named for an award-winning Marine who acted valiantly in combat which serves as an example of what that Marine did in combat. Their award citation is read to the recruits before they attempt the obstacle.
“This course is humbling, knowing we can do something like this and very motivating as well,” said Kornegay, 18, an Edgewood, N.M. native.
Recruits work in teams of four to promote teamwork and develop small unit leadership skills. Despite their exhaustion, the recruits made sure every member of their team completed each obstacle.
“Not everyone is the same, so you have to ask around to see if they need help and push them through it,” said Jaurez.
Company H will finish the Crucible at the Parade Deck aboard Edson Range, where they will be presented their Eagle, Globe and Anchors from their drill instructors.
“(The Crucible) proves to your drill instructors and all Marines that you can be a part of their brotherhood and become a Marine,” said Jaurez, 18, a Snyder, Texas native. “It’s a rite of passage of becoming a Marine, to follow in the footsteps of all those who have fallen.”
After a short period of leave to recover from the rigorous training during the last three months, the new Marines will report to the School of Infantry aboard MCB Camp Pendleton to complete their basic Marine training.