54 hours, then the EGA

The weeks of training, physical and mental stress, discipline, yelling, camaraderie and sacrifice all come down to this: The Crucible. For Josh and his fellow recruits, now back at Camp Pendleton, it’s the only thing standing between them and the title of Marine.

Of course, the word “only” shouldn’t diminish what the 80 or so recruits in Josh’s platoon are about face. The Crucible will test each and every one of them physically, mentally and morally.

They will be split into teams, and for 54 hours will be confronted with a barrage of challenges – day and night. Deprived of sleep and food, the recruits will need to work together to overcome obstacles, solve problems and help each other every step of the way.

And with 40 miles of marching, there will be a lot of steps. But that’s not all. The recruits will tackle combat assault courses, a problem-solving reaction course and team-building warrior stations. Each of those stations is named for a Marine hero.

One of the obstacles on the Confidence Course is the Sky Scraper, seen here in a photo from the Aug. 6 edition of the Chevron. Each recruit is required to climb the three-tiered tower while holding their rifles. They go down the other side carrying a 160-pound dummy, which simulates the evacuation of a casualty.

At the end of the Crucible, the recruits will march to a ceremony where drill instructors will present them with the Eagle, Globe and Anchor. Officially the emblem of the Marine Corps since 1955, the EGA as been a part of the uniform since 1868. The eagle represents a proud nation, the globe points to worldwide presence, and the anchor stands for the naval tradition of the Corps.

“Receiving the emblem signifies that the recruits have earned a place in the Marine Corps legacy,” says a Marine Corps website. “They will now stand side by side with their instructors as Marines.”

An update: In his last letter, which was written Sept. 26, Josh described his final days as a recruit. “We have final drill on Monday, final written exams/first-aid exams on Tuesday, a visit to the museum on Wednesday (plus final PFT), rappel tower on Thursday, pictures on Friday, Commanding Officer’s Inspection on Saturday and in one week (Oct. 3) we leave for Pendleton.”

At the conclusion of the letter, his excitement was obvious: “I’ll be a Marine in less than two weeks! Woooo!”

That “less than two weeks” is now down to a handful of days. On Tuesday, Training Day 61, the clock will start on the Crucible and will continue running for 54 hours.