In need of prayers. The families of Delta Company recruits have
signed up for hour long prayer times so that all recruits are
surrounded in prayer for the entire 54 hours of "The Crucible" - plus
a few extra before the start to get them going :)
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I reserved two hours, 1300-1400 February 7th & 8th in honor of
Recruit Kyle Knight, Platoon 1010. That's 1pm-2pm Wednesday &
Thursday, (Day One and Two as listed below).
********************************************************** This is the best breakdown we currently have:
This is from the Parris Island web site (Fact Sheet). SEE:
http://www.mcrdpi.usmc.mil/training/rt_crucible1.htm
The times are approximate.
“The Crucible”: A Rite of Passage for all Marines
The Crucible is the 54-hour culmination to the transformation of
recruit training. It is a physically and mentally challenging event
that involves food and sleep deprivation and the completion of
various obstacles for the potential Marine to negotiate.
Basic Facts
Recruits will travel 42 miles on foot during the event. There are 29
problem-solving exercises during the Crucible. It consists of 36
different stations. The recruits will have three meals, ready-to-eat
(MREs) during the 54 hours. The recruits will be required to carry
ammunition cans up to 50 pounds and dummies up to 100 pounds during
the Crucible, in addition to 782 gear, uniform and M16 A2 service
rifle weight.
Day OneReveille (0200)
Night movement (0300)-Recruits conduct a 6-mile hike to the Crucible
site.
Events 1-3 (0600-1800)
Event 1 – Day Movement resupply course- A one-hour event in which the
teams resupply water, ammunition and MREs through a course which
consists of trenches, wire fences and walls.
After the resupply course, teams negotiate the warrior stations below:
(a)Pfc Jenkins Pinnacle- Teams cross two horizontal cable-supported
logs.
(b)Pfc Garcia’s Engagement- Individuals demonstrate their knowledge
of hand-to-hand combat skills, and then participate in a warrior case
study of Pfc. Garcia.
(c)Sgt. Basilone’s Challenge- Teams of two climb over an eight-foot
high horizontal log.
Event 2 – Leadership Reaction Course- A three-hour event in which the
teams perform six reaction course problems which test their ability
to work as a team to solve problems. Some of the problems include:
(a)Using three wooden boards to cross a number of stumps without
touching the ground.
(b)Negotiating a water hole using the same wooden board concept to
get from point A to point B.
(c)Transporting a large container over a wall using the limited
resources available.
Once completing the events, the teams of two face off in a pugil
stick bout.
Event 3 – Core Event and Warrior Stations- A one-hour event which can
hold a maximum of six teams working concurrently.
(a)Noonan’s Casualty Evacuation- The team will recover a downed pilot
and another recruit “shot” by a sniper and transport them over a mile
of wooded terrain.
(b)Enhanced Obstacle Course- the recruits carry a dummy casualty on a
stretcher and ammunition cans from one end of a standard Marine Corps
obstacle course to the other, going over all obstacles.
(c)NBC Trail- The recruits move along a 500-meter trail increasing
from MOPP 0 to MOPP 4.
(d)MCMAP Strikes Station- Recruits are required to demonstrate and
conduct five-minute MCMAP strikes.
(e)Core Values Station- Recruits sit inside a hut and receive
information on a particular core value from their drill instructor.
Night Event (1800-2200) - land navigation course with added obstacle
of darkness.
Sleep (0000-0400)
Day TwoReveille (0400)
Events 4-6 (0600-1800)
Event 4 – Combat Assault Resupply- A one-hour event in which teams
resupply water, ammunition and MREs through the Combat Assault Course.
Following the completion of the Combat Assault Resupply, recruits
negotiate a bayonet assault course and the warrior stations below:
(a)Sgt. Gonzalez’s Crossing- Teams cross a “contaminated area” by
swinging on ropes from “safe spot” to “safe spot.”
(b)Pvt. Cecula’s Wall- Teams climb a 10-foot wall and climb down the
opposite side by a knotted rope.
(c)Land Navigation Station- Basic map reading and grid coordinate
plotting will be reviewed and evaluated.
(d)Core Values Station- Recruits sit inside a hut and receive
information on a particular core value from their drill instructor.
Event 5 – Enhanced Confidence Course- Teams have two hours to
complete five events of a modified Confidence Course.
(a)The Sky Scraper- The team retrieves a “wounded” dummy from the top
of an 18-foot tower.
(b)Stairway to Heaven- Team members move two ammunition cans over the
top of a 36-foot ladder obstacle.
(c) Two-Line Bridge- Team members cross two 52-foot long ropes with
their hands and feet suspended two feet and 10 feet off the ground as
they carry ammunition cans and water resupply cans.
(d)The Weaver- Team members climb over and under 24 logs, 42 feet in
length ascending to 14 feet as they carry ammunition and water
resupply cans.
In addition to the Enhanced Confidence Course, teams go through a
Combat Endurance Course.
Combat Endurance Course- Teams conduct a simulated patrol, negotiate
the obstacles and report the number and types of obstacles to
intelligence sources.
Event 6 – Cpl. Day’s Defense (Unknown Distance Firing)- Teams of four
fire two magazines of five rounds each from simulated building
structures at unknown distance targets in a time limit of 70 seconds.
The number of targets hit and number of unused ammunition is then
recorded.
Following Day’s Defense, team members participate in a 250-meter
casualty evacuation where members remove simulated casualties from a
simulated danger area consisting of artillery simulators.
Night Event (1900-0000) - Night Infiltration Course- Teams resupply
water, ammunition and MREs at night in a simulated combat
environment. The teams take their ammunition cans, water cans and
simulated MREs through the Combat Assault Course with the added
obstacle of darkness.
Sleep (2300-0300)
Day ThreeReveille (0300)
Nine-mile hike (0400-0745) - Recruits conduct a nine-mile hike from
the Crucible site back to the battalion.
Warrior’s Breakfast - The recruits are treated to a breakfast fit for
only true warriors. It consists of all-you-can-eat steak, eggs and
potatoes.
Each of the Events who are named after someone are named after Medal
of Honor winners. The recruits are read the Medal of Honor citation
and given time to reflect on the circumstances of which the Medal of
Honor was given before attacking the obstacle before them.
