Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island (often abbreviated as MCRD PI) is an 8,095 acres (32.76 km2) military installation located within Port Royal,South Carolina, approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) south of Beaufort, the community that is typically associated with the installation. MCRD Parris Island is used for the training of enlisted Marines. Male recruits living east of the Missisipi River and female recruits from all over the United States report here to receive their initial training. During 1715, an Englishman named Colonel Alexander Parris purchased the large island and eight small surrounding islands. beaufortlodgings.com
Recruit training: The Marines train about 19,000 recruits at Parris Island each year. Recruit training for those enlisted in the United States Marine Corps includes a thirteen-week process during which the recruit becomes cut off from the civilian world and must adapt to a Marine Corps lifestyle. . During training, the drill instructors train recruits in a wide variety of subjects including weapons training, Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, personal hygiene and cleanliness, close order drill, and Marine Corps history. The training emphasizes physical fitness and combat effectiveness. Recruits must attain a minimum standard of fitness to graduate.This standard includes a Physical Fitness Test and a Combat Fitness Test.Recruits must also meet minimum combat-oriented swimming qualifications, qualify in rifle marksmanship with theM16A4 service rifle, pass minimum curriculum standards and complete a 54-hour simulated combat exercise known as "The
Crucible".The Recruit Training Regiment is made up of four recruit training battalions and one support battalion.
Drill Instructor instructing recruits.
Marine recruits learning basic marksmanship on the Chosin Range.
A senior drill instructor inspects his platoon shortly before lights out.
Family Day & Graduation Ceremony: Family Day and graduation take place on the last two days of recruit training. Family Day occurs Thursday and gives new Marines a chance to see family and friends for the first time during on-base liberty. Graduation is conducted Friday in a formal ceremony, attended by family and friends.All recruits are issued a graduation packet with the battalion commander’s graduation invitation letter sometime around week 9 of their 12-week training cycle. Graduation dates are announced before.Visitors to the graduation ceremonies can find lodging, dining, tours and attractions on base and in nearby Beaufort, Port Royal, and Bluffton.
Graduation couple There is no specific dress code for either ceremony. Visitors are reminded to consider the weather on Parris Island, which can be particularly hot and humid in the summer. To show support for your new Marine, it has become customary to wear the color of his or her battalion. The color for 1st Recruit Training Battalion, which is Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta companies, is red. The color for 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, which is Echo, Fox, Golf and Hotel companies, is yellow. The color for 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, which is India, Kilo, Lima and Mike companies, is blue. The color for 4th Recruit Training Battalion, which is Oscar, Papa and November companies, is maroon. Current and former service members are permitted to wear uniforms to graduation on Parris Island in accordance with the uniform regulations for their branch of service. Wear of any version of the field uniform is not encouraged, and wear of uniforms comparable or more formal than the graduates is appropriate. In the winter months, the graduation uniform for the new Marines is the service A uniform (green coat and trousers with long-sleeved khaki shirt and tie). In the summer months, the graduation uniform is the service C (short-sleeved khaki shirt and green trousers).
New Marines are issued two sea bags, one garment bag and one small duffle bag for their uniforms and gear. A sea bag measures approximately 32 inches tall and 15 inches in diameter. The garment bag measures approximately 40 inches tall, 26 inches wide and 5 inches thick, but may be folded in half. Excess baggage fees will not be reimbursed to new Marines for their commercial travel from Parris Island to home. However, some airlines may waive baggage fees for Marines who show their military orders and ID at check-in. Beaufort is a high cost military town, near Parris Island,which is home to three different military beaufortlodgings.com