Story by Lance Cpl. Javarre Glanton
A recruit from Alpha Company picks up a pair of service and blue-dress trousers during Phase 2 clothing. Recruits receive a full set of service and dress uniforms, which are marked for alterations. (Photo by Lance Cpl. Javarre Glanton)
On Training Day 26, recruits finally get a taste of what it feels like to put on the dress uniform they signed up to wear. They are fitted for their dress and service uniforms by the Marines who work at Phase 2 clothing issue.
Beginning at 6:15 a.m., recruits arrive and line up alphabetically in front of a long table. The recruits get into physical training attire and start forming a line at their assigned fitter to receive their measurements for the right uniform sizes. After being fitted, the recruits go to the back warehouse where the clothes are issued.
They receive all their uniform items: an all-weather coat, a service coat, a dress coat, two green trousers, blue trousers, a service sweater, dress shoes, a running suit, two long-sleeved khaki shirts, three short-sleeved khaki shirts, their covers and all the small accessories. Male recruits are also issued two khaki ties.
Female recruits are also issued one dress shirt and one service skirt during Phase 2 clothing at a different building attached to 4th Battalion. “They receive everything the Marine Corps needs each Marine to have in their possession,” said Lance Cpl. Danielle Lopez, operations chief for Depot Clothing. Once recruits have all their uniforms, they put them on for the first time and go to their fitter for alterations.
Recruits from Alpha Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, have their Service Alpha uniforms tailored at Clothing Issue. (photo by Lance Cpl. Javarre Glanton)
Being fitted for clothes may seem like an ordinary errand, but to the recruits, the issuing of these uniforms often feels like a significant event marking progression in their training. “It motivates them a lot more when they put on the uniform because they’re closer to becoming a Marine,” said Cpl. Daniel Duran, a Marine at Phase 2 clothing issue. “Once you let them know, ‘Hey, you’re going to put this uniform on,’ they scream louder and move faster.”
Some of the recruits who wanted to give up had their spirits lifted as soon as they put the uniforms on, said Rct. Allan Lopatinsky, from Platoon 1092, Alpha Comapny, 1st Recruit Training Battalion. “It makes you feel real good,” said Lopatinsky, from Fairfax, Va. “You get to wear what Marines wear, and it’s really motivating because that’s where we want to be.”