The US Marines

Day one of recruit training is a very important day for both recruits and drill instructors. The drill instructors have to establish a position of authority and command respect not only with their voices but also with how they carry themselves. The recruits must give them that respect.

The first time recruits meet their drill instructors is a formal process. Introductions are made, and speeches are given.

But once all the standard speeches have been made, the real training process must begin.

"If it ain't rainin', we ain't trainin'" - a motto many Marines live by when "toughing" out training in less than ideal weather conditions.

For poolees of Recruiting Substation Clarksville, In., working in less than ideal weather conditions meant spending two-days conducting field-training operations in the cold, rainy and muddy grounds of central Kentucky March 9-10 during a monthly pool function.

"If your poolees show up to something like this, they're less likely to back out when it comes time to go to boot camp," said Sgt. James Morgan, noncommissioned officer in charge of RSS Clarksville.

qualities during recruit training, such as self-discipline, honor, courage and commitment.

"I'll expect that I'll feel like I really belong to something, and I've never felt like that before," said Gross.

Teamwork is perhaps the most single important value recruits learn at recruit training. Without it, recruits could not complete the Crucible - the defining moment during boot camp that requires them to complete obstacles and solve problems as a team in a 54-hour period without the benefits of adequate sleep and food.

"That's what we want them to know before they get to boot camp - how to work as a team," said Araballo.

The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) returned to Expeditionary Strike Group 5 ships after conducting a month of aggressive security and stabilization operations in southern Baghdad, Iraq, to disrupt insurgent operations.

The journey to Baghdad began after the MEU completed a month of sustainment training at Kuwait’s Udairi Range.

“Udairi allowed us to bring our air, artillery, mortars, direct fire weapons all together to get that synergy of combined arms,” according to Maj. Robert Salasko, 37, assistant operations officer and native of Princeton, N.J.