These Marine Corps recruits
are fighting with pugil sticks
used to simulate
hand-to-hand combat with bayonets.
Instructor: You suck!
Strip and go to the penalty box, now.
That's what I'm talking about!
Recruit: Aye, aye, sir!
Instructor: That's what I'm talking about!
Recruit: Aye, aye, sir! Instructor: Run away!
Narrator: Here at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot
in Parris Island, South Carolina,
recruits train with real bayonets
comprised of a blade
mounted on the barrel of an M16 rifle.
Instructor: Next station!
Darrin Hill: A bayonet's used
in close-combat situations with the enemy,
if they're too close for you to actually fire
or you have to engage them quick
or you actually run out of ammunition.
Recruit: Marine Corps! Marine Corps!
Marine Corps! Marine Corps!
Hill: Pugil sticks is a way for them
to implement those techniques
that they learned for bayonet
without actually causing, like,
permanent damage to the opponent.
Narrator: Before they suit up to fight,
a martial arts instructor briefs the recruits
on the objectives of the training.
Recruits: Aye, sir.
Instructor: The first thing we want to see is
that straight thrust, you understand?
Recruits: Yes, sir!
Hill: Here in the Marine Corps, we have
kind of a little ditty
that means "red is dead."
So, that red side is supposed to emulate
the actual knife portion of the actual bayonet.
If you cut somebody or stab someone
with that side on an actual bayonet,
nine times of 10 are either gonna be
incapacitated or laid to rest.
Narrator: Before the recruits match up,
two instructors provide an example.
Recruits are separated by weight class.
Instructor: I'm gonna call out weights.
When I call out your weight,
you're gonna get in one formation.
225 and above, run right now.
Instructor: Run!
Instructor: 195.
Instructor: Put it on. Recruit: Aye, sir!
Narrator: Along with mouth guards,
recruits wear helmets, protective gloves,
and padding for the upper and lower body.
Hill: The pugil stick is just comprised of
either a wood or a plastic log
that's about 5 to 6 feet long, and
it has padding on either end of the pugil stick
as well as in the center.
It's just a big Q-tip, if you will.
The objective is actually to get well-aimed,
purposeful shots in on the opponent.
We usually try to blow the whistle
after a killing blow,
which is identified by that
red side striking the opponent.
You get that killing blow, you win the bout.
Narrator: Each contest has a winner and a loser.
Instructor: That's what I'm talking about.
That's what I'm talking about.
Recruit: Aye, aye, sir!
Instructor: Run away!
Narrator: While the winner is praised,
the loser must pay an additional price...
Recruit: Aye, aye, sir.
Narrator: Which drill instructors describe
as "going to the penalty box."
Instructor: You're still not screaming!
Recruits: Aye, aye, sir.
Instructor: I said open up your mouth!
Hill: That's just basically a series of
planking positions that they will hold
for no longer than 30 seconds.
Instructor: We'll stay here all day, then!
We don't want to scream!
Recruits: Aye, aye, sir.
Hill: There's nothing wrong with a little extra
PT to strengthen your core,
whatever the case may be.
Remotivate them, get them back
to where they need to be.
Narrator: Although each fight
starts on the bridge,
it doesn't always end there.
Hill: Not every fight is gonna be
on flat or level ground.
Could be on a slope, you could be on a hill,
you could be in water.
So if they're only used to fighting
on level playing field
and not have to worry about levels,
then they're gonna be used to that.
You only build those good habits
if you actually do it.
The takeaway that I really want them to get
is just be prepared in any situation.
Just because there's an M16 or a gun
doesn't mean that the only way you can
take your enemy out
is by firing a round.
It's probably one of the highlights
of recruit training for them.
They're out there,
they're actually doing what they feel like
they signed up to do,
which is learn how to combat the enemy.