MCRD San Diego -- Many Marines will say they have the best looking uniform of all the services and while that is a matter of opinion, no other service has a uniform similar to Marine dress blues.
Recruits of Company L, 3rd recruit Training Battalion, were fitted and received their dress uniforms aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Oct. 31.
While collecting their uniforms many recruits agreed that the dress blues were their favorite. After graduating from recruit training Recruit Anthony J. Kuchynka, squad leader, Co. L, says he plans to wear them to his sister’s wedding.
“It’s a privilege because you have to pass boot camp to wear them and it’s an honor because of all the great Marines that have worn them before,” said Kuchynka, a Billings, Mont. native.
Many recruits wore smiles and a look of accomplishment and pride as they wore their uniforms through the tailoring process.
“The uniforms fill us with more pride and make you look forward to becoming Marines and wearing the uniform proudly,” said Recruit Jose L. Ramirezmena, Plt. 3251, Co. L.
Kuchynka’s father is retired from the National Guard and his grandfather is former Air Force, but Kuchynka explained he believes the Marine uniform beats all the others he’s seen.
“I think the Marines have the best uniforms. The dress blue inform is (awesome),” said Kuchynka.
Ramirezmena agreed and said they look sharper, more aggressive and have a tight fit.
As recruits received marking on their uniforms for adjustment, their drill instructors looked on from the side knowing very much what affect receiving the uniforms have on their recruits.
“You can see their morale rise a little bit, especially when they get their (camouflage utilities) with their name tapes,” said Staff Sgt. Patrick S. Baughman, drill instructor, Plt. 3251, Co. L. “We teach them the importance of making sure their uniforms are pristine and how much of an honor it is to wear them. During the uniform issue they take it very seriously.”
After boot camp Kuchynka says he is going to wear the uniform with discipline and not do anything “crazy” to disgrace the Marine Corps or the great Marines who made the Corps what it is today.
When it’s time for these recruits to don their uniforms and leave MCRD San Diego, they take with them the building blocks of the next chapter and essentially the future of the Corps. It appears recruits like Kuchynka and Ramirezmena are aware of the responsibility that comes with the Marine uniform.