A recruit gets his hair cut during receiving aboard the Depot.,

It is often asked, “what sets a Marine apart from the rest of society.” Though it is known they undertake the hardest recruit training in the United States, not many know what makes up that training criteria.

“In other branches of service, they receive the title when they sign up. In the Marines, it doesn’t come easily. We dangle the title in front of their face and make them chase it,” said 1st Sgt. Julia L. Vetos, the company first sergeant for Papa Company, 4th Recruit Training Battalion. “Marines do stand apart,”

To earn the title “Marine,” one must first become a recruit and face the rigors of the 13-week recruit training process.

While in training, recruits are cut off from everything they know. No phone calls, no laughing and no jokes. In their strenuous training, recruits are rapidly instructed on how to adapt to the Marine Corps lifestyle and are taught a new way to live.

Lance Cpl. Trevor Remington, a machine gunner with Weapons platoon Company F, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, performs a hip throw at a station during the landing zone drills here March 6. The drills tested the Marines on their Marine Corps Martial Arts Program skills while conducting combat conditioning.

Two Marines stood facing each other. The first Marine reached in and grabbed the other’s wrist, putting his back into his opponent’s stomach and quickly throwing him over his hip and onto the ground. The downed Marine looked up at his adversary, who had already returned to his basic warrior stance, a protective stance that allows them to be ready for the next foe.

Marines with Weapons Platoon, Company F, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines Regiment, 2nd Marine Division worked vigorously for 12 hours each day for seven days to complete their grey belt training in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program here March 6.

MCMAP is a program that teaches close-quarters combat techniques coupled with lessons on Marine Corps values. Marines are awarded different color belts as they reach new levels of proficiency.

“MCMAP teaches us what we can do,” said Lance Cpl. Stephen Cote, a machine gunner with the company. “Our staff sergeant pushes us so hard that, at the end of the day, we know how far we can push ourselves.”

The platoon worked through every move in the grey and tan belt syllabi. Every person took a turn performing the moves and practicing. They critiqued each other on every move to improve their skills. Some of the moves performed were the arm-bar takedown, the hip throw and handcuffing techniques.

“The program involves combat skills and soft skills,” said Staff Sgt. Vedel Poindexter, a black-belt instructor trainer teaching the course. “There are some very distinct soft skills that are incredibly important to Marines as people and war fighters.”