Rct. Ian Burke, a 24-year-old San Antonio native, is

Rct. Ian Burke, a 24-year-old San Antonio native, is currently training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., in hopes of earning the title of United States Marine. Burke is training with Platoon 1033, Alpha Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, and is scheduled to graduate May 30, 2014. “I joined the Marine Corps to better myself,” said Burke. “I was told growing up that I would be nothing, and I came here to prove everyone wrong and to build myself from the ground up.” Approximately 20,000 recruits come to Parris Island annually for the chance to become United States Marines by enduring 13 weeks of rigorous, transformative training. Parris Island is home to entry-level enlisted training for 50 percent of males and 100 percent of females in the Marine Corps. (Photo by Cpl. Octavia Davis)