Sgt. Steven Procter, senior drill instructor for Platoon

Sgt. Steven Procter, senior drill instructor for Platoon 1034, Alpha Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, shows his recruits a photo of himself before he joined the Marine Corps during a guided discussion about commitment on March 18, 2014, on Parris Island, S.C. Procter, a 29-year-old from Lincoln, R.I., shared his story of shedding more than 100 pounds to join the Corps’ ranks in hopes that his recruits would be inspired by his dedication. Marine Corps boot camp is inherently stressful, but recruits must remain committed to their decisions to enlist if they hope to graduate and serve with honor. Alpha Company is scheduled to graduate May 30, 2014. Parris Island has been the site of Marine Corps recruit training since Nov. 1, 1915. Today, 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)