Female Marine recruits report to Camp Pendleton for first time

SAN DIEGO — Another glass ceiling has been shattered. The first class of female Marine recruits has reported to Camp Pendleton for basic training.

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Sixty women have reported for training at the now formerly male-only boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

The move has been a long time coming as Congress ordered the camp to integrate women into training at all battalions in 2019 with the deadline set for 2028.

The other branches of the military had integrated women at their recruit training commands in the 1990s, the Union-Tribune reported.

Female Marine recruits were trained at Parris Island, South Carolina, in the past, KNSD reported.

Prior to arriving at Pendleton, the new recruits reported to San Diego two weeks ago for medical screenings and quarantine before the start of boot camp. When the quarantine was over, they came together this week to join Lima Company.

Nearly 60 women will make one of the six platoons that are part of the company. They will live in a squad bay in the company’s barracks, the Union-Tribune reported.

Six female Marine drill instructors were transferred to Camp Pendleton and some of the barracks windows had to be covered to adapt to the change, KNSD reported.

There are 300 men who make up Lima Company along with the 59 women, KNSD reported.

The women will go through the same training as the men, including the “Reaper” hike, the last part of training where the recruits hike over rough terrain and climb a steep ridge while carrying a 55-pound pack.

Women make up about 9% of Marines.

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Lima Company Receiving New recruits with Lima Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, participate in the receiving process at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, Feb. 9, 2021. Once recruits stepped off the bus, they immediately began the transformation from civilian to Marine. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Grace J. Kindred) (Lance Cpl. Grace Kindred/Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego)

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