The Military Recruit: From Civilian to Soldier

February 5-8, 2003, San Diego, California
Contact: Los Angeles Foreign Press Center Program Officer Angela Schnurer
Tel: (310) 235-7693, e-mail: fpcla@cruznet.net

The Los Angeles Foreign Press Center conducted a two-day media program February 6 and 7, 2002 in San Diego illustrating the process of troop recruitment and training in the all-volunteer military system of America.

The program traced the steps civilians take from the moment of meeting with a local recruiter to receiving his/her first duty assignment.  Participants visited: a Marine recruiting office where they spoke with recruiters and prospective enlistees; the San Diego Military Entrance Processing Station where they observed the screening process of enlistees; and Marine Corps Recruit Depot, one of two boot camps for enlisted Marine recruits in U.S., where they saw first hand the rigorous initial training. The program also included a visit to Camp Pendleton, one of the largest Marine bases in the U.S., to see soldiers through the advanced training stage to duty assignment.