This was the first opportunity for men and women to train together at MCRD San Diego.
Together, five platoons of male recruits and one platoon of female recruits, totaling 53 women and 344 men, completed the same grueling 13-week course and met the high standards of one of the most difficult entry-level training courses in the U.S. military.
KUSI’s Jason Austell has all the details.
On Good Morning San Diego, Austell spoke with family and friends of the graduate who were anxiously waiting for the ceremony. Marine veteran Robert Sanchez said he was honored to serve, and would do it again if he could.
Graduation Day for first female Marines ever trained on West Coast
Marking a major Marine milestone, a platoon of women become first to graduate from MCRD San Diego. The 53 female Marines completed the region s first co-ed boot camp Author: Heather Hope (Reporter) Updated: 11:30 PM PDT May 6, 2021
SAN DIEGO Marching into Marine history, nearly 400 former recruits graduated the Marine Corps’ first integrated boot camp in the western United States on Thursday. The solemn day brought mixed emotions for the Marines.
“I am feeling overjoyed quite a bit. It’s unbelievable. It feels like a dream I am floating on here,” said Marine Private First Class Raymie Auldridge.
Graduation day for first women to attend Marine boot camp in San Diego stripes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stripes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
First gender-integrated Marine company at MCRD graduates
It was a historic moment at Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego as a company of female Marines graduated.
and last updated 2021-05-06 15:40:18-04
SAN DIEGO (CNS) - The first gender-integrated company at the Marine Corps West Coast training depot in San Diego graduated Thursday.
The Marines of Lima Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, are the first group of male and female platoons to train concurrently in MCRD San Diego s nearly 100-year history. The company, made up of 53 women and 344 men, began training Feb. 12. This graduation of the first integrated company of Marines trained here at MCRD San Diego marks the completion of the first step toward a future in which each Marine who graduates MCRD San Diego has the same experience as their peers at Parris Island. said Brig. Gen. Ryan P. Heritage, commanding general of MCRD San Diego.
SAN DIEGO
There was excitement in the air as family and friends of new Marines made their way to the grandstands on the parade deck of Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego Thursday morning. At the end of the parade grounds, 397 freshly-minted Marines stood at parade rest in formation. Passing family members stole glances trying to find their Marines among the uniformed mass.
While the San Diego depot graduates about 40 companies of new Marines each year, Thursday’s ceremony was special. It was only the third graduation open to family and friends since they were suspended in March 2020 due to the coronavirus. And in one of the six graduating platoons were 53 women the first women to graduate from Marine Corps’ San Diego boot camp in its 100-year history.