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.
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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 54hour 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
commanders graduation invitation letter sometime around week 9 of their 12week 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 (shortsleeved 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
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