San Diego -- Beads of sweat dripped down the faces of Company C, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, recruits as they worked through various obstacles on the Crucible Confidence Course aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, June 25.
The Crucible is a 54-hour test of endurance in which recruits must conquer more than 30 different obstacles while they experience food and sleep deprivation.
Many of the Crucibles exercises require teamwork, and the Confidence Course is one such exercise. For this event Recruits are broken down into groups of four and must complete 50 ammo can lifts, low crawling, high crawling, buddy dragging, fireman’s carries, and overcome the Two Line Bridge and the Skyscraper.
The Two Line Bridge requires recruits to move across a rope bridge carrying cargo, while the Skyscraper requires them to lift one another up each level of the obstacle.
Both the Two Lane Bridge and Skyscraper have parts painted in red. If at any time a recruit touches red while completing the obstacle, the entire recruit group is required to do additional exercises and start over.
Co. C drill instructors watch over the training with a keen eye. They not only supervised the entire exercise, they also evaluate and grade the recruits teamwork and performance.
“By the end of the Crucible, all recruits will have been in a leadership role,” said Sgt. Cesar D. Martinez, drill instructor, Platoon 1041. “At The Two Line Bridge they’re tired by the time they get there and because they’re tired they might not be thinking straight. But they have to work together and communicate, and overall I think they worked pretty good.”
Despite the heat and fatigue, recruits did not give up and did their best to work together. Many recruits understood the key to success was teamwork.
“It can be easier or harder depending on how well you work with your team. If your team doesn’t have good cohesion, you just keep going and going,” said Recruit Anthony W. Treichel.
Although recruits do not know what else the Crucible has in store for them many believe teamwork will continue to be vital.
“I think all the obstacles are going to be like this, said Recruit Richard E. Noone, squad leader. “I believe it’s like this because they want us to be able to work well together under harsh conditions.”
While watching his recruits finish the exercise, Martinez explained he was proud of how far they have come.
“Seeing them from the first time we got them to now and knowing I trained them to the best of my abilities makes me feel proud,” said Martinez.