After nearly a week away from their home station, recruits, drill instructors and support personnel from Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., have departed Albany’s Marine base, heading home.

More than 6,000 recruits and permanent personnel from MCRD, PISC, evacuated from the training depot on Oct. 5 via commercial buses to avoid destructive weather expected from Hurricane Matthew.

The recent decision to return to South Carolina was made in different phases, according to Headquarters and Service Battalion, MCRD, PISC’s Commanding Officer, Col. Edward Jeep.

“(Mainly) the decision was based on the availability of emergency services and (took into consideration) which parts of the area were open by civilian authorities,” Jeep pointed out.

“Parris Island received some downed trees, power outages and minor flooding,” he said, “however, the depot escaped severe damage and loss of life. But power is now restored and facilities there are almost fully operational.”

While displaced to Albany’s Marine base, Parris Island’s recruit training did not stop. Drill instructors continued to train recruits in various ways, which included close order drill, martial arts training, combat conditioning and more.

“It’s a unique opportunity to show recruits the Marine Corps process, like the ability to adapt and overcome,” Capt. Joshua W. Larson, lead series commander, Echo Company, MCRD, PISC, said.

“(We took) thousands of recruits and hundreds of Marines and brought them to an entirely different base, and (we) still continued training,” he said. “And we did that relatively seamlessly.

“These recruits will be the same quality of Marines as any other Marines (who) have come through either Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island or Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego,” the series commander continued. “It doesn’t matter where Marines are trained necessarily, (what) matters is the Marines that are training (them) and the methods that we use to train them.

“So it could be in Albany, Georgia; Parris Island; San Diego … those (evacuated) Marines will all be the same caliber of Marine as (we’ve produced) since 1775,” he said.

Jeep credited MCLB Albany and its largest tenant, Marine Corps Logistics Command, for its preparation, cooperation and support.

“Albany leaned forward into emptying out the industrial areas for the recruits to get into before we even pushed the button to evacuate,” Jeep said. “By (MCLB Albany and LOGCOM) doing that, they were already ready for us when we arrived which made this a very smooth and easy transition for the recruits.

“Six thousand recruits is a lot of people to get in place rapidly at one time,” Jeep stressed. “So with their attention to detail and oversight, they made it happen.”

Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany Commanding Officer Col. James C. Carroll III said, “I’m really proud to have had them here with us to continue their recruit training. The sound of cadence around the installation being called by drill instructors is something that will really be missed. It’s really gratifying to know that Albany had a hand in making Marines of the next generation.

“I’m also proud of the team effort that all hands have exhibited across the board,” the colonel continued. “I want to thank our local, regional and national partners (who) have stepped in and the combined effort of everyone. We could not have had the success we had this past week without everyone’s help.”

Jeep offered some final thoughts as he departed.

"(We achieved) the best possible outcome of a bad situation,” he said. “It was a class act from the start, from the Base and LOGCOM, through our final retrograde.  It's been great to be here and we achieved a lot more training than we thought we could.

“We validated all the planning and preparation we have been doing worked,” he said. “We had some lessons learned.  We learned it's good to have a place to stay and eat, but it’s even better to have friends. Anyone can give you food and shelter, but only friends can take care of you. Albany took care of us as if we were members of their own family.

“It's truly a special bond between the recruit depot and MCLB Albany,” Jeep said. “They left no stone unturned to make us feel welcome, and from all of us at Parris Island, South Carolina, they have a special place in our hearts.  We are eager to return and get these Marines and recruits back home and do what needs to be done there. 

“On behalf of Brigadier General (Austin E.) Renforth (MCRD PISC’s Commanding General), I also want to thank the numerous civilian and community organizations who wanted to help and give donations to us,” Jeep concluded. “We were unable to accept them because we were not sure how long we were going to be here or how (we) would be able to account for them, but we want to thank you for your thoughts, prayers and thinking of us."