Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego

Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego is a United States military installation in San Diego, California. It is along the Pacific Ocean and Interstate 5, and adjacent to Lindbergh Field and a former Naval Training Center.

Related Topics:
United States - San Diego, California - Pacific Ocean - Interstate 5 - Lindbergh Field

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The base's main mission is to train new United States Marine Corps recruits, specifically males recruited from west of the Mississippi River. All other recruits are trained at MCRD Parris Island in South Carolina. Marines who trained at MCRD San Diego are unlovingly called "Hollywood Marines" by their East Coast counterparts.

Related Topics:
United States Marine Corps - Mississippi River - MCRD Parris Island

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During basic training, commonly referred to as boot camp, recruits complete drill, physical training, swim qualification and other training possible in a garrison environment aboard MCRD. Recruits are separated into three battallions which each consist of four respective companies. First Battallion, Second Battallion, and Third Battallion. Belonging to First Battallion are companies Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Echo. Belonging to Second Battallion are companies Echo, Fox, Golf, Hotel. Belonging to Third Battallion are companies are India, Kilo, Lima, Mike. The hierarchy of MCRD goes even deeper. Each company is broken down into platoons. Each platoon is given a number. A rivalry exists between each platoon as well as each company to excel in every aspect of training. At some point near the end of the training cycle, recruit companies move to Edson Range aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton where they spend four weeks training on the rifle range, qualifying with the rifle and engaging in field training, including a 54-hour evolution known as 'The Crucible'.

Related Topics:
Basic training - Boot camp - Edson Range - Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

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MCRD San Diego includes schools which train Drill Instructors and recruiters for the Marines. Other facilities aboard MCRD contribute housing, medical, and morale welfare and recreation facilities for the large San Diego military community. The Coast Guard also has a presence onboard MCRD, with the Pacific Area Tactical Law Enforcement Team and the Maritime Safety and Security Team, a new anti-terrorism team homeported to protect local maritime assets.

Related Topics:
Drill Instructors - Coast Guard - Pacific Area Tactical Law Enforcement Team - Maritime Safety and Security Team

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Marine Corps presence in San Diego dates back to July 1914, but ground was not broken for a permanent base until 2 March 1919, after Joseph Henry Pendleton (for whom Camp Pendleton was later named) successfully fought for a base in the area. By 1921, the base was formally commissioned and in 1923, it became the primary recruiting center for the west coast. During World War II, the base almost exclusively dealt with recruiting. In 1948, the base was formally named MCRD San Diego.

Related Topics:
1914 - 2 March - 1919 - Joseph Henry Pendleton - Camp Pendleton - 1921 - 1923 - World War II - 1948

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