Armed Forces News

The Marine Corps took another step toward possibly integrating the sexes during basic training, by implementing the third such boot camp. The new prospective Marines began training their training at the end of last month at Parris Island, S.C., the web site ConnectingVets.com reported. The Marine Corps graduated the first gender integrated unit – part of the 3rdRecruit Training Battalion – in March, ConnectingVets reported. A second unit began their basic training in September. Although the service remains uncommitted to moving forward with combining men and women in recruit training, Gen. David Berger, the commandant of the Marine Corps, expressed a desire to continue the process during his confirmation hearing before the Senate. He told lawmakers at the time that statistics for the first boot camps with both men and women have been comparable to those in which the sexes are separated, ConnectingVets reported.