San Diego -- The Crucible, the culminating event of recruit training, is a 54-hour test of endurance in which recruits must conquer more than 30 different obstacles while they experience food and sleep deprivation.
Recruits of Company L, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, completed the Crucible at Edson Range aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Calif. July 11.
This final test ends with an approximate nine mile hike to a 700 foot hill know as the “Reaper.” The hike itself is a tough task--but adding physical fatigue, sleep deprivation, lack of food and stress—transforms it into an almost seemingly impossible mission.
“What makes the ‘Reaper’ so hard is that they are exhausted, they have had very little sleep and they are hungry,” said Sgt. Sean A. Legaard, drill instructor, Platoon 3249. “Some kids aren’t used to that kind of physical trauma to their body.”
Once at the top of the Reaper, the drill instructors read a final Medal of Honor citation to their platoons. Just like in any other Crucible event, recruits learn the heroic actions of Marines in the past and the lesson behind the individual events.
Afterward, drill instructors call the recruits to platoon formation and the Eagle, Globe and Anchor ceremony begins.
During the ceremony, the company commanding officer says, “award these recruits their eagle, globe and anchor and make them Marines.”
Drill instructors go through and give the emblem, symbolizing a Marine, to every recruit one at a time. They stand in front of each recruit and place an EGA in their left hand, shake their right hand and give them a “Congratulations Marine” finalizing the transformation.
“Getting my EGA with all the work we’ve been putting in the last three months, it finally paid off,” said Pvt. Mathew C. Evans, Plt. 3251. “I will never forget when I got my EGA.”
To some recruits, hearing the words of their drill instructors, now fellow Marines, is such an emotional moment that they began to tear up.
“They will never forget this moment and you can tell to some it means a lot (getting their EGA) because they start crying, they know that they’ve earned it,” said Legaard.
Just like some recruits will never forget this moment, neither will a proud parent. Master Sgt. Nelson J. Prince, Assistant Maintenance Chief, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, was able to see his son follow in his footsteps.
“He went through the same recruiting station as I did and wants to perform the same Military Occupational Specialty as me,” said Prince. “I’m overwhelmed with pride and knowing what he went through, I wouldn’t have missed it.”
Once the ceremony concludes, the new Marines hike back to Edson Range and eat the Warrior's Breakfast. During this breakfast, they are allowed to eat whatever they would like and as much as they would like, including desserts, for the first time in months. Their time as recruits has come to an end. They now will continue on their journeys as United Sates Marines.