Female United States Marine Corps recruits from Lima Company, the first gender integrated training class in San Diego, completed their grueling 9.7-mile hike up a mountain known as The Reaper during The Crucible, which tests the recruits before they officially become Marines.
Lima Company stands out as the inaugural gender-integrated company with female platoons training alongside male platoons at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego.
The Crucible represents a significant milestone for recruits, as they endure a final rigorous 54-hour test, culminating in the awarding of the eagle, globe, and anchor pin, symbolizing their transition into full-fledged US Marines.
Congressionally mandated integration of women into Marine Corps training battalions by 2028 reflects a broader commitment to diversity within the armed forces, even as women currently comprise about 9 percent of the USMC.
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