They are the best of the best The proud possessors of the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor topped with the motto “Semper Fidelis”, emblem of the US. Marine Corps.

Pfc. Larry Matthew Elliott, Pfc. Chris Baker and Pvt. Logan Money, all 2009 graduates of Bell County High School, joined the ranks of “the few, the proud” to become U.S. Marines, graduating from boot camp on September 25.

To achieve this high honor they completed 12 weeks of basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island, South Carolina. Without doubt the most challenging — both physically and mentally — than the basic training programs of any of the other military services.

The three Bell County natives, along with their fellow recruits, began their training each day around 3:30 a.m. with physical training, which consists of obstacle courses, circuit courses, or 3, 5 or 10-mile conditioning marches.

In addition to the physical conditioning program, recruits spent numerous hours in classroom and at field assignments. There they learned first aid, uniform regulations, combat water survival, fundamentals of marksmanship with their M16A2 service rifle, hand-to-hand combat, and assorted weapons training. They also performed close order drill and operate and live in a simulated combat environment learning the fundamentals of patrolling, firing and setting up camp.

Like all Marine Corps recruits, Elliott, Baker, and Money ended the training phase with the Crucible — the final test every recruit must go through to become a Marine. The Crucible is no walk in the park, unless your idea of one takes place over 54 hours, and includes food and sleep deprivation (only four hours of sleep per night) and approximately 40 miles of marching.

The entire Crucible event pits teams of recruits against a barrage of day and night events requiring every recruit to work together solving problems, overcoming obstacles, and helping each other along. It has been said time and time again by former Marines that the crucible was the most difficult thing they ever had to do in their entire lives.

After graduation from Parris Island, they will now be stationed at Camp Lejune, North Carolina, for nine weeks of combat training.