Eric Saenz

Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) Parris Island, South Carolina, was officially established as a Marine training facility in 1915 and has since become one of the most iconic sites for Marine Corps recruit training. During World War I and World War II, the depot played a pivotal role in training hundreds of thousands of Marines for combat. Over the decades, Parris Island has been the primary training location for all enlisted male Marines east of the Mississippi River and for all female Marine recruits nationwide. The depot’s storied legacy is marked by its rigorous training regimen and its lasting contribution to shaping generations of United States Marines.

The Marine Corps Reserve, officially established in 1916 by the Naval Appropriations Act, serves as the reserve component of the United States Marine Corps. Throughout its history, the Reserve has played a crucial role in augmenting active-duty forces during major conflicts, including World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Global War on Terror. Reserve Marines have provided combat power, specialized skills, and community support in both wartime and peacetime operations. Today, the Marine Corps Reserve remains a vital force, capable of rapidly mobilizing to support national defense and humanitarian missions worldwide.