Chapter 3. Architectural growth pains
Chris Shaw
When I was 19 years old, I took a big step onto what United States Marines know as the yellow footprints. The yellow footprints are symbolic of the steps a recruit needs to take to become a Marine. The first and longest-lasting impression is how this marks the starting point of your Marine Corps career. To the drill instructors looking at recruits standing on the yellow footprints, it symbolizes the beginning of molding young men and women into Marines. During this molding process, recruits are exposed to a number of experiences that are designed to teach them all the skills needed to reach the end goal. Some of these experiences are going to hurt; some of these experiences may appear redundant, such as learning to brush your teeth. But all of these experiences are specifically put in place because someone understands that each of these young people will need to know these skills in order to become a successful Marine.
As part of the process, a recruit must pass specific tests, including a three-mile run as well as a certain number of sit-ups and pull-ups. In addition to my sports participation the year before, I made sure I could run the required distance before leaving for boot camp. Without being proactive in my conditioning beforehand, my Marine training would have been that much more difficult and painful. As time passed and my body grew stronger, the pain of working out hard started to subside.
