Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego -- One of the greatest challenges of a combat situation is trying to prepare for the unknown. Recruit training begins the preparation to ensure recruits are both physically and mentally ready for almost any obstacle they may run into.
Recruits of Lima Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, took on the Obstacle Course II event aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Nov. 20.
This was the second time recruits ran through the course. The first was to familiarize themselves with the obstacles and only climb halfway up a 20-foot rope at the end of the course. This time, they were expected to successfully navigate the entire course and climb the full length of the rope.
“The obstacle course helps recruits overcome adversity and heights while using the techniques we taught,” said Sgt. David Alvarado, drill instructor, Platoon 3246. “Other physical training activities slowly develop them to overcome bigger obstacles. This course helps prepare them for the Confidence Course they’ll be doing next week. It’s all to prepare for the next level of training.”
Recruits began the event by performing warm-up exercises and a half-mile run before lining up at the start of the course. In four columns, recruits attempted the first obstacle, which required them to pull their body weight up and over a bar. The remainder of the course required them to slide across a poll, balance across wood beams, hurdle logs and walls and then climb the rope. When recruits reached the top of the rope they had to slap the wood beam the rope is attached to, scream their name, platoon number and senior drill instructor's name, which indicated the completion of the course.
Though recruits had an idea of what to expect this time around, the course was still able to test their physical and mental strength.
“I struggled with the rope climb because we didn’t do the full rope before, and I was already fatigued,” said Recruit Patrick E. Plunkett, Platoon 3246. “The technique for it is hard when you’re tired physically and mentally.”
Utilizing their mental strength was vital to successfully completing the event. Plunkett stated he had to focus and believe in his own abilities to overcome the obstacles that were ahead of him.
“Even though this is difficult, I can do it,” said Plunkett, a Woodland Hills, Calif., native who was recruited out of Recruiting Substation Granada Hills, Calif. “Even though I’m scared, I have the courage to do it. In time, I know that completing and overcoming the course will soon become second nature to me.”
Lima Company endured and overcame one of recruit trainings’ most challenging event. It is still, though, just another rung on the ladder recruits are climbing to reach their goal of becoming a United States Marine and the challenges they will face ahead of them.
“This is how Marines are made; pushing limits and boundaries,” said Plunkett. “This helps make you stronger mentally and physically, sharpening the body and mind, for any combat situation we may end up in.”