Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island
Parris Island, South Carolina
The famous yellow footprints outside of the Receiving Building, where thousands of prospective Marines have gotten their first taste of military life.
Type	Military base
Built	1861
In use	1915 - present
Controlled by	United States of America
Garrison	Recruit Training Regiment 1st Recruit Training Battalion 2nd Recruit Training Battalion 3rd Recruit Training Battalion 4th Recruit Training Battalion Support Battalion
Commanders	Brigadier General Paul E. Lefebvre

Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island is an 8,095 acre (32.9 km²) military installation near Beaufort, South Carolina (32°19'44"N, 80°41'41"W) tasked with the training of enlisted Marines. Male recruits living east of the Mississippi River and female recruits from all over the USA report here to receive their initial training. (Male recruits living west of the Mississippi River receive their training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California). Parris Island is a census-designated place located in Beaufort County, South Carolina. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... An acre is the name of a unit of area in a number of different systems, including Imperial units and United States customary units. ... Beaufort is a city located in Beaufort County, South Carolina, USA and situated on the Beaufort River. ... The United States Football team sometimes know as Corps (USMC) is a branch of the U.S. military, within the United States Department of the Navy responsible for providing power projection from the sea,[1] utilizing the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. ... Recruit (from the French recrue, from the verb recroître to grow again, i. ... The Mississippi River, derived from the old Ojibwe word misi-ziibi meaning great river (gichi-ziibi big river at its headwaters), is the second-longest named river in North America, with a length of 2320 miles (3733 km) from Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico. ... Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego is a United States military installation in San Diego, California. ... Official language(s) English Capital  Sacramento Largest city  Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ...

Early History

A French Huguenot expedition, led by Jean Ribault in 1562, was the first European group to discover Parris Island. They built an outpost named Charlesfort but abandoned it less than a year later after the crew mutinied and sailed back to France. In 1567 the Spanish, led by Pedro Menéndez de Avilés founded a settlement named Santa Elena. The island was eventually controlled by the English as their influence in North America grew. In 1715, the island was purchased by Colonel Charles Parris, given its current name, and used as a plantation until the Civil War. The Marines first landed on the island in 1861 as part of the Union occupation of Port Royal, South Carolina.^{[1] [2]} In the 16th and 17th centuries, the name of Huguenots came to apply to members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France, or historically as the French Calvinists. ... Jean Ribault (1520 – October 12, 1565) was a French naval officer, navigator, and a colonizer of what would become the southeastern United States. ... Year 1562 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. ... This article is about the continent. ... Mutiny is the act of conspiring to disobey an order that a group of similarly-situated individuals (typically members of the military; or the crew of any ship, even if they are civilians) is legally obliged to obey. ... Events The Duke of Alva arrives in the Netherlands with Spanish forces to suppress unrest there. ... Don Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, the founder of Saint Augustine, Florida Pedro Menéndez de Avilés (February 15, 1519 - September 17, 1574), was a sixteenth century Spanish admiral and pirate hunter, known most notably for his founding of St. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2006 est. ... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ... // Events July 24 - Spanish treasure fleet of ten ships under admiral Ubilla leave Havana, Cuba for Spain. ... // This article is about crop plantations. ... This article is becoming very long. ... 1861 (MDCCCLXI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link with display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar) // January 1 - Benito Juárez captures Mexico City January 2 - Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia dies and is succeeded by... In this map:  Union states prohibiting slavery  Union territories  Border states on the Union side which allowed slavery  Kansas, which entered and fought with the Union as a free state after the Bleeding Kansas crisis  The Confederacy  Confederate claimed and sometimes held territories During the American Civil War, the Union... Port Royal is a town located in Beaufort County, South Carolina. ...

History of the Depot

Marines were first stationed on Parris Island in 1891, in the form of a small security detachment headed by First Sergeant Richard Donovan. His unit was attached to the Naval Station, Port Royal, the forerunner of Parris Island. Donovan's unit was highly commended for preserving life and property during hurricanes and tidal waves that swept over the island in 1891 and 1893.

Military buildings and homes that were constructed between 1891 and World War I form the nucleus of the Parris Island Historic District. At the district center are the commanding general's home, a 19th century wooden dry dock and a turn of the century gazebo—all of which are on the National Register of Historic Places. This article is becoming very long. ... A typical plaque showing entry on the National Register of Historic Places. ...

MCRD Parris Island Logo

On November 1, 1915, Parris Island was officially designated a Marine Corps Recruit Depot and training was continued from then on. Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... November 1 is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 60 days remaining. ... 1915 (MCMXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar). ...

Prior to 1929, all transportation to and from the island was by ferry from Port Royal docks to the Recruit Depot docks. In that year the causeway and a bridge over Archer's Creek were completed, thus ending the water transportation era. The causeway was dedicated as the General E. A. Pollock Memorial Causeway in April 1984. During the fateful December of 1941, 5,272 recruits arrived there with 9,206 arriving the following month, making it necessary to add the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Recruit Training Battalions. As the war influx continued, five battalions were sent to New River, North Carolina to train, and the Depot expanded to 13 battalions. Port Royal is a town located in Beaufort County, South Carolina. ... Marine Corps Air Station New River is a helicopter base near Jacksonville, North Carolina, in the eastern part of the state. ... Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Area  Ranked 28th  - Total 53,865 sq mi (139,509 km²)  - Width 150 miles (240 km)  - Length 560[1] miles (901 km)  - % water 9. ...

From 1941 through 1945, 204,509 recruits were trained here. At the time of the Japanese surrender, more than 20,000 recruits were aboard the Depot.

On February 15, 1949, a separate "command" was activated for the sole purpose of training female Marine recruits. This command has since been designated the 4th Recruit Training Battalion and is the only battalion in the Corps to train female recruits. February 15 is the 46th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ...

The Korean conflict began in 1950 when 2,350 recruits were in training. From then until the 1st Marine Division was withdrawn from Korea, Parris Island drill instructors trained more than 138,000 recruits. During March 1952, the peak training load of 24,424 recruits was reached. Combatants United Nations:  Republic of Korea,  Australia,  Belgium,  Luxembourg,  Canada,  Colombia,  Ethiopia,  France,  Greece,  Luxembourg,  Netherlands,  New Zealand,  Philippines,  South Africa,  Thailand,  Turkey,  United Kingdom,  United States Medical staff:  Denmark,  Australia,  Italy,  Norway,  Sweden Communist states:  Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,  Peoples Republic of China,  Soviet Union Commanders... The 1st Marine Division is the oldest, largest (active duty), and most decorated division in the United States Marine Corps representing a combat-ready force of more than 19,000 men and women. ... Korea (Korean: 한국 or ì¡°ì„ , see below) is a geographic area, civilization, and former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. ...

The recruit tide again flooded during the years of the Vietnam War. A peak training load of 10,979 was reached during March 1966. Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000...

Today, about 18,000 recruits are trained at Parris Island each year

Recruit training

A Senior Drill Instructor inspects his platoon shortly before Lights Out.

Initial training for those enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, also referred to as boot camp, is a thirteen week process during which the recruit is cut off from the civilian world and has to adapt to a Marine Corps lifestyle. During training, recruits learn everything from personal hygiene and cleanliness, Marine Corps Martial Arts Training, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, to Marine Corps history. Physical fitness is emphasized during training, and recruits must meet a minimum standard of fitness to graduate. A three-mile run, pull-ups, and crunches are tested. Recruits must also learn to meet minimum swimming qualifications, qualify with the M16A2 service rifle, and pass a 54-hour simulated combat exercise known as "The Crucible." Image File history File links Download high resolution version (900x643, 81 KB)Original Caption: Photo ID: 200582584648 Submitting Unit: MCRD Parris Island Photo Date:08/22/2005 Source: http://www. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (900x643, 81 KB)Original Caption: Photo ID: 200582584648 Submitting Unit: MCRD Parris Island Photo Date:08/22/2005 Source: http://www. ... Platoon is a term from military science. ... Taps (Butterfields Lullaby), sometimes known by the lyrics of its second verse, Day is Done, is a famous musical piece, played in the U.S. military during flag ceremonies and funerals, generally on bugle or trumpet. ... The United States Football team sometimes know as Corps (USMC) is a branch of the U.S. military, within the United States Department of the Navy responsible for providing power projection from the sea,[1] utilizing the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... In times of armed conflict a civilian is any person who is not a combatant. ... Hygiene is commonly understood as preventing infections in personal places through cleanliness. ... M16 (more formally United States Rifle, Caliber 5. ... The service rifle (also known as standard-issue rifle) of a given army or force is that which it issues as standard to its soldiers. ... The United States Marine Corps Crucible is the final test in phase two of Marine Corps recruit training. ...

Stress is constantly applied by drill instructors to teach recruits how to work under pressure. This may be pivotal later on in surviving combat situations. Recruits are yelled at constantly, and forced to do simple tasks over and over again, which is supposed to instill teamwork and leadership traits. Only by passing the rigors of boot camp can one earn the title "United States Marine."
In medical terms, stress is a physical or psychological stimulus that can produce mental or physiological reactions that may lead to illness. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... “Fights” redirects here. ...

The Ribbon Creek Incident

Main article: Ribbon Creek Incident

On April 8, 1956, at 20:00 hours, a drunk Staff Sergeant Matthew McKeon, a decorated veteran of World War II and the Korean War, led Platoon 71, his assigned platoon of 74 recruits, on an extra exercise to Ribbon Creek as a disciplinary measure. McKeon led the platoon toward a swampy tidal creek on Parris Island, South Carolina, near the eponymous Marine Corps recruit depot, and, upon arrival 45 minutes later, McKeon entered the creek and ordered the platoon to follow. From that point forward, the platoon marched along the creek bed, moving into deeper water when ordered. Hearing sounds of panic from the recruits upon encountering the viscous creek mud in water at shoulder level, he ordered the platoon to exit the creek. On exiting, McKeon noticed that six of his men were missing and began searching for them. Although McKeon was the last man from the march to leave the creek alive, his attempt to find and rescue the recruits was for naught: all 6 had drowned, trapped in the suction-like grip of the mud. The entire march, from beginning to end, took about fifteen minutes. The Ribbon Creek Incident is the most common term for events which occurred on the night of April 8, 1956, when Staff Sergeant Matthew McKeon, a junior Drill instructor at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, marched his assigned platoon into Ribbon Creek, a swampy tidal creek. ... April 8 is the 98th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (99th in leap years). ... 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... United States Military Staff Sergeant insignia (U.S. Air Force) Staff Sergeant is the fifth enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force, just above Senior Airman and below Technical Sergeant. ... SSgt Matthew McKeon Matthew McKeon (born 1924 and died November 15, 2003) was a Staff Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps who gained notoriety during the Ribbon Creek Incident which occurred at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina on April 8, 1956. ... Former crewmembers of the battleship Missouri pose for photos shortly after the Anniversary of the End of World War II ceremony, held aboard the famous ship. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Combatants United Nations:  Republic of Korea,  Australia,  Belgium,  Luxembourg,  Canada,  Colombia,  Ethiopia,  France,  Greece,  Luxembourg,  Netherlands,  New Zealand,  Philippines,  South Africa,  Thailand,  Turkey,  United Kingdom,  United States Medical staff:  Denmark,  Australia,  Italy,  Norway,  Sweden Communist states:  Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,  Peoples Republic of China,  Soviet Union Commanders... Platoon is a term from military science. ... It has been suggested that Theory of tides be merged into this article or section. ... In United Kingdom usage, the term creek refers exclusively to a tidal water channel. ... Parris Island is a census-designated place located in Beaufort County, South Carolina. ... Official language(s) English Capital Charleston(1670-1789) Columbia(1790-present) Largest city Columbia Largest metro area Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson Area  Ranked 40th  - Total 34,726 sq mi (82,965 km²)  - Width 200 miles (320 km)  - Length 260 miles (420 km)  - % water 6  - Latitude 32°430N to 35...

Statistics

A map of Parris Island, used in a report for the Center for Disease Control. Although not particularly detailed, it does show the Rifle Range and Page Field.

Enlisted male training began here in November 1915. Female enlisted training began here in February 1949. The following statistics show the number of Marines trained on the Depot during each major conflict of the 20th century: Image File history File links Size of this preview: 437 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (455 × 624 pixel, file size: 134 KB, MIME type: image/gif) A map of Parris Island, South Carolina used in a report for the Center for Disease Control on the public health of the... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 437 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (455 × 624 pixel, file size: 134 KB, MIME type: image/gif) A map of Parris Island, South Carolina used in a report for the Center for Disease Control on the public health of the...

• WWI – 42,000 recruits
• WWII – 205,000 recruits
• Korean War – 138,000 recruits
• Vietnam War – 250,000 recruits

The following are training statistics from fiscal year 2006 Recruit Training This article is becoming very long. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Combatants United Nations:  Republic of Korea,  Australia,  Belgium,  Luxembourg,  Canada,  Colombia,  Ethiopia,  France,  Greece,  Luxembourg,  Netherlands,  New Zealand,  Philippines,  South Africa,  Thailand,  Turkey,  United Kingdom,  United States Medical staff:  Denmark,  Australia,  Italy,  Norway,  Sweden Communist states:  Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,  Peoples Republic of China,  Soviet Union Commanders... Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000...

• Annual graduates: 16,831
• Average daily male population: 3,883
• Average daily female population: 537
• Average age of male recruits: 19.6
• Average age of female recruits: 19.7
• High school graduates: 99.9%
• Attrition rate: 6.82% males, 16.83% females
• Average cost to train a recruit: $14,320

Drill Instructor School

• Drill Instructor School length: 11.2 weeks, 4 classes/year
• Average size of DI School classes: 65
• DI School attrition rate: 18.05% males, 37.73% females
• Average age of students: 26.5 years
• Average years of service: 7
• Percent of married students: 81.63%
• Average number of DIs on Parris Island: 575–600

Trivia

• Parris Island is mentioned in Billy Joel's song "Goodnight Saigon" from The Nylon Curtain.
• Parris Island is mentioned in Street Dogs song "Final Transmission" from the album Fading American Dream
• Parris Island is depicted most famously in Stanley Kubrick's movie Full Metal Jacket; Stateside starring Jonathan Tucker and Rachael Leigh Cook;

The D.I. directed by and starring Jack Webb; and many others. William Martin Billy Joel (born May 9, 1949, in Bronx, New York, USA) an American singer, pianist, and songwriter . ... The Nylon Curtain is an album by Billy Joel. ... Street Dogs is a punk rock band from Boston, Massachusetts. ... Fading American Dream is the third album by the Street Dogs. ... Stanley Kubrick (July 26, 1928 – March 7, 1999) was an influential and acclaimed American film director and producer. ... Full Metal Jacket (1987) is a film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick, based on the novel The Short-Timers by Gustav Hasford. ... Jonathan Tucker (born May 31, 1982 in Boston, Massachusetts), is a popular up-and-coming actor who started his film career in the mid 1990s. ... Rachael Leigh Cook (born October 4, 1979) is an American actress. ...

• The Marine Corps and Navy are the only branches of the military whose basic training is officially called "boot camp"
• The Marine Corps basic training (boot camp) is the longest of all military branches at 12 weeks of actual training, and 1 week of "Receiving" for a total of 13 weeks spent on the island.
• Only in the Marine Corps is each recruit required to qualify at 500 yards on the rifle range.

See also

United States Marine Corps Portal

Marine recruits learning basic marksmanship on the Chosin Range.

• USS Parris Island (AG-72)
• Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego
• Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort

Image File history File links USMC_logo. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 462 pixel Image in higher resolution (2477 × 1431 pixel, file size: 388 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)Caption: Every Marines a rifleman, Chief Warrant Officer Timothy Soignet remarked Nov. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 462 pixel Image in higher resolution (2477 × 1431 pixel, file size: 388 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)Caption: Every Marines a rifleman, Chief Warrant Officer Timothy Soignet remarked Nov. ... Shooting is the act of causing a gun to fire at a target. ... Combatants Peoples Republic of China United Nations forces; including United States Commanders Song Shi-Lun Oliver Smith Strength 120,000 40,000 Casualties 25,000 killed, 12,500 wounded, 30,000 frost-bite casualties 2,500 dead, 192 missing, 5,000 wounded, 7,500 cold related injuries The Battle... The USS Parris Island (AG-72) was a patrol craft escort named for Parris Island, South Carolina (part of the the Sea Islands chain, and home to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island since 1915). ... Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) San Diego is a United States military installation in San Diego, California. ... Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort is a United States military installation near Beaufort, South Carolina. ...

Footnotes

For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... July 29 is the 210th day (211th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 155 days remaining. ...

References

• Da Cruz, Daniel (1987). Boot. St. Martin's Paperbacks. ISBN 0-312-90060-0. 

• Ricks, Thomas E. (1998). Making the Corps. Scribner. ISBN 0-684-84817-1. 

• Woulfe, James (1999). Into the Crucible. Presidio Press. ISBN 0-89141-707-9. 

External links

• MCRD Parris Island website
• Official Marines Recruiting Website
• Parris Island slideshow
• Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island at GlobalSecurity.Org
• A Brief History of Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina
• What It's Like To Arrive At Parris Island For Boot Camp

Coordinates: 32°21′N, 80°41′W Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...