Before a recruit receives the eagle, globe and anchor and earns the title of United States Marine, he must first endure The Crucible. This two-day event is the final boot camp obstacle and tests recruits’ teamwork, endurance and commitment to each other and the Corps. U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Chris Griffin gives us an inside look at the defining test that makes Marines.
Sound Off, Recruits
Recruits from Charlie Company respond to a question at The Crucible, Dec. 14, 2012, at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. During the two-day event the Marines will traverse 50 or more miles while using teamwork to complete tasks set in front of them. The Crucible is one of the last obstacles recruits face before receiving the eagle, globe, and anchor along with being called a Marine for the first time. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Chris Griffin)
Climb Time
Recruits from Charlie Company try to motivate one another to complete the final obstacles in a training event Dec. 13, 2012 at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. The Crucible is one of the final events recruits participate in before earning their eagle, globe, and anchor and are called a Marine for the first time following completion of the training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt.Chris Griffin)
Just Getting Started
{Left} A recruit takes a brief pause during an obstacle as part of The Crucible, Dec. 13, 2012, at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C.
{Right} Recruits from Charlie Company use teamwork to get through an over and under drill, Dec. 13, 2012, at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. The event forced the recruits to think and work as a team. (U.S. Air Force photos by Staff Sgt. Chris Griffin)
No Crawl Like the Low Crawl
Recruits from Charlie Company low-crawl through a portion of an obstacle as part of The Crucible, Dec. 13, 2012, at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt.Chris Griffin)
Working Together
Recruits from Charlie Company use teamwork to climb a 15-foot wall, Dec. 13, 2012, at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Chris Griffin)
Up High/Down Low
{Left} Recruit Guerin holds on for dear life as he waits for team members to assist him over an obstacle Dec. 13, 2012 at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. This was one of the first events the recruits had to participate in during the two-day event.
{Right} Recruits from Charlie Company crawl through the event “Battle of Fallujah,” Dec. 13, 2012, at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. (U.S. Air Force photos by Staff Sgt. Chris Griffin)
Form it Up
A Marine first sergeant tells his recruits how the next day’s Crucible ceremony will be performed, Dec. 14, 2012 at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Chris Griffin)
We’ll be Marines in the Morning
Recruits from Charlie Company take a moment to rest after completing their last event at The Crucible, Dec. 14, 2012, at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. During the two-day event the Marines will traverse 50 or more miles while using teamwork to complete tasks set in front of them. The Crucible is one of the last obstacles recruits face before receiving the eagle, globe, and anchor along with being called a Marine for the first time. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt.Chris Griffin)