MCRD SD, Kilo Company, Honor Graduate

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Roberto Arenas will graduate from Marine recruit training as the honor graduate of Platoon 3234, Kilo Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, May 10th, 2024, at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. Roberto is from El Paso, Texas. He was recruited from RSS El Paso, Texas. The company honor graduate is the one Marine in his company who has demonstrated the highest degree of discipline, proficiency, bearing, physical fitness, and basic leadership traits that exemplify the highest standards of the United States Marine Corps. Graduation took place at the completion of the 13-week transformation, which included training for drill, marksmanship, basic combat skills, and Marine Corps customs and traditions. (Department of Defense video by Brandon Williams)

[@protatoexman8245]

Graduated boot camp back in March 8th Delta Company and I can still remember lining up for morning chow during my M-days and watching you guys wake up like 1st phase recruits. I even remember some of you calling me sir at my last Sunday at church. Now I'm at my school house and watching all the companies whose recruits I saw now graduating reminds me how short boot really is. For anyone wanting to enlist, the secret to doing well in boot is scream loud, move fast, do what you're told, and don't get noticed

[@jesusthroughmary]

LCpl out of boot and there are guys who finish their 4 years at E-3

[@Mautiks]

So?

[@MrStaybrown]

The guide from our bootcamp stayed LCPL throughout his enlistment, he was Admin.

[@jesusthroughmary]

@@Mautiks found the terminal lance

[@Mautiks]

I was contract PFC and got out at Sergeant after 5 years. It depends mostly on the size of your MOS. Getting LCpl was super easy. There is basically no requirement but time in grade. Cpl is the first rank you have to actually work for. If you can ace PFT/CFT, do MCIs, get good on range, and get high pro/cons, you will be competitive. But it still depends on your MOS and how many boat spaces open up. You could have one with a 300 PFT, expert range, all MCIs done, volunteer, highest pros/cons in the unit, etc. get passed up because the MOS is simply closed out, but yet a guy in a critical MOS gets promoted as soon as they meet the time in grade and basic requirements because there is little competition and a spot is open…

[@rsk9228]

​@jesusthroughmary I'm guessing you weren't infantry, cutting score is extremely high Most 4 year infantry get out as lcpl

[@codename8418]

He's 30?! Oh my! I guess I still do have a chance! I heard stories of recruits being 35 and becoming a Marine!

[@LadyWyntress]

I enlisted earlier this year. I'm 29 and I'll be 30 when I graduate. It's never EVER too late for anything.

[@codename8418]

@@LadyWyntress enlisting in the Marines?

[@LadyWyntress]

@@codename8418 Yes, Sir. Best decision I've ever made.

[@codename8418]

@LadyWyntress oh my!!!! Thanks! I'm 28! I wanna join! This give me strong faith! Did you have to get an age wavier?

[@LadyWyntress]

​@codename8418 Yes, I did. They're super smooth with getting them processed and approved, for any waiver actually, but the age waiver is the easiest so long as you meet the physical requirements as well.

[@dorareyes1790]

Congratulations 🎉

[@jesussouless5124]

Congratulations! Wish you the best in the next part of your Marine Corps career and the future of your Marine Corps career! And just like your SDI ordered you on Black Friday, NEVER GIVE UP! Take that with you everywhere you go and apply it to everything you want to accomplish in your entire life and pass it along to others, military and civilian, especially to the people that need guidance in their lives. One of the greatest things a person can do in their life is to help another human being in need of positivity in their life. That human being will NEVER, EVER forget the person that was there for them.

[@Wilsondan27]

Congratulation Marine you are great. I’m 31 wanting to join in scares tho I don’t know what to expect and it’s out my comfort zone

[@usmc-veteran7316]

Congratulations, great job. I was in Plt 395, India Co, 3rd Bn, October-December 1973 but at Parris Island. Semper Fi from an old Marine Sergeant

[@user-ql7eb6ln1n]

Congratulations, Marine!🇺🇸✊️

[@MrStaybrown]

Congratulations Marine.

[@mike03213]

I was a Kilo DI back in the 90’s. I’m glad we didn’t do this crap back then.

[@A-A-Ron-22]

Congratulations Marine! Earned, Never Given.

[@austinshannon4197]

The United states of America Coast Guard is the most hardcore branch. Those guys work the hardest.

[@theduck22]

YUH THATS MY GUIDE, 3234!

[@Mwin3689]

He older than most of the drill instructors in their second enlistment! lol

[@melvinw.quinene841]

PLATOON 3064 KILO COMPANY 3rd Bn,JUNE 1984 SEMPER FI BROTHERS AND SISTERS 🇺🇲🇬🇺

[@frankmartinez4856]

I was a “Hollywood” Marine 🫡E-3, if re in list would be E-4 🇺🇸😬

[@kikofromthesouth2863]

Wow 30 year old doing boot camp 😮

[@Spamfriedrice323]

Did they raise the age limit? I remember 26 used to be the limit when I was in

[@MrStaybrown]

It was up in the 30's in the late 1990's. I went to mos school with a 32 and 34 year old. The 32 year old served 14 years and even became a DI.

[@jesusthroughmary]

@Spamfriedrice323 yes, now 28 but you can request a waiver up to 35

[@TheSilverBenz]

MAKE WAY HONER PLATOON

[@ItzSeannyy]

I thought I was old going in at 23😂

[@anlerden4851]

Semper Fi usususususus...🥰🤗😍🙏❤🤍💙🇺🇲💪🏻👍🎉🎊🔥