Initial Drill Evaluation

Platoon 2060, Hotel Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, march during an initial drill evaluation June 15, 2015, on Parris Island, S.C. The strict, particular nature of close-order drill teaches habits of discipline and reinforces teamwork in recruits.
—USMC photo by Private First Class Vanessa Austin.

The Initial Drill Evaluation tests each platoon's ability to listen to the orders of its Drill Instructor at this point in training, and is a demonstration of the unit's degree of discipline and esprit de corps. Drill is used as one of the first methods of transforming these recruits from civilians into Marines, and plays a large part on their development of teamwork and unit cohesion.

The object of close order drill is to teach Marines, through exercise, to obey orders immediately and in the correct manner. Close order drill is one foundation of discipline and esprit de corps. Additionally, it has long been, and remains, one of the finest methods for developing confidence and troop-leadership abilities in lower-ranking Marines.

Above information found on the Parris Island web site, September, 2009.

Sergeant Antwan Jones, a drill instructor at MCRD Parris Island, marches with his platoon during Bravo Company's initial drill evaluation on October 8, 2012.
—USMC photo/released.

On Family Day and Graduation you will be amazed when you see the new Marines marching out onto the Parade Deck. They will be marching in perfect row... perfectly in step... pivot perfectly in time with each other... and will be a sight to behold!

Learning to march like that didn't happen overnight. It took weeks and weeks of hard work and dedication on the part of the recruits and their Drill Instructors to accomplish what you witness on Family Day and Graduation.