I’m currently wrapping up a visit to Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) in San Diego where I’ve been working on a couple of stories for the Daily Herald. Upon arrival at the base early Tuesday morning one of the first things I noticed was that everything still smells the same. 

Fifteen years ago I came to MCRD fresh out of high school and spent the next three months sweating it out as recruit Johnston, earning the title of United States Marine. And while boot camp was probably the most miserable three months of my life, it also provided me with some of my best memories and a great sense of pride. 

So when I was offered the opportunity to return this week to photograph the Marine Corps Western Recruiting Region Educators Workshop, I jumped at the chance. 

For the workshop, teachers, principals and other invited guests are flown down to San Diego where they get some rather exclusive access visiting MCRD, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Over the course of five days they also get a little taste of what it’s like for some of their former, current, and future students who may one day experience basic training. 

While much time is spent in classrooms and receiving tours, there is also a good amount of immersion where they get an earful from drill instructors such as Sergeant Barnes pictured above. Thankfully most of my time was spent working, photographing, not being yelled at… again. 

While I’m glad I’ll never have to spend another day living as a Marine recruit, hearing the call of cadence and marching boots echo between the buildings, and smelling the impeccably clean squad bays and sweet blossoms of the local trees has left me feeling rather nostalgic. 

I do love working as a photographer, but maybe I would have loved screaming at recruits even more.