San Diego Drill Instructors Conduct Mini Boot Camp For Midwest Marine Applicants
Recruiting Station Twin Cities SgtMaj James C. Kirkland welcomes members of the Delayed Entry Program and their guests to the RS Twin Cities mini boot camp May 6, 2011.
SSgt Clinton Firstbrook
Members of the DEP out of Recruiting Substations Duluth and Eau Claire knock out crunches during an initial strength test at the RS Twin Cities mini boot camp May 6, 2011.
SSgt Clinton Firstbrook
Vanessa R. Defender, 17, from Bismarck, N.D., tries to maintain her composure after drill instructor Sgt Michael S. Bachicha and senior drill instructor SSgt Salvador Moralessolis catch her smiling at the RS Twin Cities mini boot camp May 6, 2011.
SSgt Clinton Firstbrook
Senior drill instructor SSgt Brody V. Goldthwaite, 27, from St. Charles, Ill., demonstrates a marching movement while senior drill instructor SSgt Salvador Moralessolis and drill instructor Sgt Michael S. Bachicha correct members of the DEP out of RSS Burnsville at the RS Twin Cities mini boot camp May 6, 2011.
SSgt Clinton Firstbrook
Matthew J. Soderstrom, a 19-year-old senior at Rosemount High School, responds to a question from drill instructor Sgt Bryce E. Torrence during the RS Twin Cities mini boot camp May 6, 2011.
SSgt Clinton Firstbrook
Members of the DEP out of RSS Burnsville run toward mock yellow foot prints after meeting their drill instructors for the first time at the RS Twin Cities mini boot camp May 6, 2011.
SSgt Clinton Firstbrook
Senior drill instructor SSgt Salvador Moralessolis, 26, from Lompoc, Calif., politely asks a RS Twin Cities mini boot camp participant to open their mouth and speak louder May 6, 2011. More than 620 men and women from Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Dakotas attended the three-day boot camp.
SSgt Clinton Firstbrook
Drill instructor Sgt Bryce E. Torrence 26, from Caldwell, Idaho, explains the importance of moving quickly while members of the DEP from RSS Fargo exit the bus at the RS Twin Cities mini boot camp May 6, 2011.
SSgt Clinton Firstbrook
Drill instructors Sgt Michael S. Bachicha and Sgt Bryce E. Torrence motivate RS Twin Cities mini boot camp participants from the Fargo, N.D., area to move faster as they exit the bus May 6, 2011.
SSgt Clinton Firstbrook
Drill instructor Sgt Michael S. Bachicha, 33, from Roswell, N.M., delivers a warm welcome to members of the DEP and guests from RSS Fargo after they arrive for the RS Twin Cities mini boot camp May 6, 2011.
SSgt Clinton Firstbrook
Drill instructor Sgt Bryce E. Torrence 26, from Caldwell, Idaho, politely instructs Dacota J. Gaffke, an 18-year-old senior at Battle Lake High School, on the proper way to respond to a question at the RS Twin Cities mini boot camp May 6, 2011.
SSgt Clinton Firstbrook
Donald E. Pittman, 20, from Marshal, Minn., low crawls under wires while running through an obstacle course during the RS Twin Cities mini boot camp May 7, 2011.
SSgt Clinton Firstbrook
Dylan Lovelace, a 17-year-old senior at Coon Rapids High School, carefully makes his way through the log pyramid portion of an obstacle course during the RS Twin Cities mini boot camp May 7, 2011.
SSgt Clinton Firstbrook
Sgt Alan J. Koehler, a 29-year-old Elk River, Minn., native and recruiter out of the Coon Rapids office, watches members of the DEP and guests climb through the log pyramid portion of an obstacle course during the RS Twin Cities mini boot camp May 7, 2011.
SSgt Clinton Firstbrook
Members of the DEP out of the Mankato recruiting office wait for senior drill instructor SSgt Brody V. Goldthwaite, 27, from St. Charles, Ill., to deliver the next command while learning drill movements during the RS Twin Cities mini boot camp May 7, 2011.
SSgt Clinton Firstbrook
Fritz S. Cheung, 25, from Chaska, Minn., strives to complete another ammo can lift while taking a modified combat fitness test during the RS Twin Cities mini boot camp May 7, 2011.
SSgt Clinton Firstbrook
Pvt Emily Taitt, 19, from Coon Rapids, Minn., motivates Ariel Arvidson, a 17-year-old junior at Coon Rapids High School, toward the finish line during a modified combat fitness test at the RS Twin Cities mini boot camp May 7, 2011.
SSgt Clinton Firstbrook
Martin Bottila, a 17-year-old junior at Forrest Lake High School, clears a reverse-slanting wall while running through an obstacle course during the RS Twin Cities mini boot camp May 7, 2011.
SSgt Clinton Firstbrook
Azbayar Dashzeveg, 21, from Cottage Grove, Minn., listens for the next command while participating in martial arts training during the RS Twin Cities mini boot camp May 7, 2011. Participants were taught basic movements and strikes from certified Marine Corps martial arts instructors.
SSgt Clinton Firstbrook
By SSgt Clinton Firstbrook , Recruiting Station Twin Cities
CAMP RIPLEY, Minn.
Day One
Hundreds of high school and college students received a small taste of recruit training while attending the Recruiting Station Twin Cities mini boot camp May 6-8, 2011, courtesy of a few instructors straight from the drill field.
Just like the individuals who arrive at Parris Island, S.C., or San Diego, more than 620 men and women from the Midwest found themselves near a set of yellow foot prints with a handful of Marines waiting to greet them.
"The initial shock always has them asking 'what the hell did I get myself into,'" explained senior drill instructor SSgt Salvador Moralessolis, 26, from Lompoc, Calif. "After more than two years on the drill field, we've definitely picked up a few techniques to stress them out and build them up from the basics."
Moralessolis also said everyone finds out very quickly that speed and intensity are a must. According to one participant, yelling at the top of your lungs doesn't hurt either.
"I lost my voice within the first 20 minutes," said Benjamin Burns, an 18-year-old senior at Delano High School and Recruiting Substation Buffalo's guide. "I learned from last year's mini boot camp that anyone who doesn’t sound off receives special attention."
Burns, who ships off to Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego on June 27, also said the three-day training evolution eased some of the concerns involving his upcoming adventure.
"Everything we learned will help me when I leave for boot camp this summer," Burns said. "I'm looking forward to it more every day."
Day Two
Day two of the Recruiting Station Twin Cities mini boot camp kicked off drill-instructor style with four of San Diego's finest politely delivering a 5 a.m., wake-up call May 7.
Following a short physical training session and morning feast of Meals, Ready-to-Eat, 618 high school and college students from the Midwest set out to continue their three-day training evolution with a combat fitness test, martial arts and numerous other Corps-related activities. However, for many participants, the highlight of the day involved completing an obstacle course.
"It was a great team building exercise," said Tyler Mees, an 18-year-old senior at Century High School in Bismarck, N.D. "It wasn't the toughest event, but we all had to motivate each other to get through it and cross the finish line together."
Mees, who ships off to San Diego, June 13, 2011, also said going through mini boot camp last year helped him decide that earning the title Marine is what he wanted to do.
"The purpose of mini boot camp is two-fold," explained GySgt Matt Taylor, RS Twin Cities' program specialist. "One, give poolees and guests an idea of what they'll experience at recruit training. The second, evaluate our pool to determine if they're the best qualified applicants. We don’t want to send someone to San Diego or Parris Island who isn't ready or won't make it."
By day two, only three out of 621 people opted to stop training and called their parents to come pick them up.
"Some people just don't have what it takes," said Taylor, a 36-year-old Springfield, Mo., native. "We're the elite fighting force of the Unites States military and not everybody fits that mold."
For additional imagery from the event, visit www.facebook.com/rstwincities.
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