Staff Sgt. Russell Stevenson Jr., a drill instructor

Staff Sgt. Russell Stevenson Jr., a drill instructor for Platoon 1032, Alpha Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, observes his recruits as they attempt to march in unison during their introduction to close-order drill March 11, 2014, on Parris Island, S.C. The recruits had been on the island just longer than a week, so they were still learning to work together as a unit. Close-order drill is a cornerstone of teaching teamwork and discipline during recruit training, and it will play an integral role in merging the recruits into a cohesive unit. Stevenson, 33, is from Chester, Pa. 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)