The end of basic training can feel like a huge accomplishment. And it is.
For many people, it will be one of the toughest transformations they will ever go through. For others, it will be the hardest challenge they have ever faced up until that point. For the first time in 13 weeks, freshly minted Marines are spoken to like brothers and sisters in arms, ready to continue their follow-on training and join their units in the fleet and beyond. Of course, you can’t wrap up your boot camp experience without a few wise words to carry you on as you move forward in your career and that’s just what this regimental commander provided.
“Congratulations, job well done, you’re in the gun club now,” he said. “You’re in the United States Marines. Thats a title that nobody takes away. That’s your title, you take it to the grave. You take it wherever you go. You earned it, you earned it through a lot of pain, a lot of sweat, a lot of agony, a lot of self-doubt, a lot of determination, a lot of believing in yourself and a lot of pump me up leadership from your drill instructors. And now you’re here today as United States Marines.”
Check out his full speech below:
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