In historic first, women begin boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/military/story/2021-02-09/in-historic-first-women-begin-boot-camp-at-marine-corps-recruit-depot-san-diego?utm_source=sfmc_100035610&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=39128+Essential+San+Diego&utm_term=https%3a%2f%2fwww.sandiegouniontribune.com%2fnews%2fmilitary%2fstory%2f2021-02-09%2fin-historic-first-women-begin-boot-camp-at-marine-corps-recruit-depot-san-diego&utm_id=23233&sfmc_id=3386716

SAN DIEGO —

Recruits piled off buses Tuesday to the urgent shouts and barks of Marine Corps drill instructors.

They took their spots on the fabled yellow footprints to begin their transformation from civilians to Marines — something that has happened countless times in the San Diego boot camp’s almost 100 year history.

Only this time, for the first time, 60 women were among those scrambling recruits. Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego was no longer a men-only institution.

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Until now, all female recruits have attended boot camp at the Marines’ East Coast training base in Parris Island, S.C. It also has been home to the occasional integrated recruit company.

Staff Sgt. Ayesha Zantt, a Marine drill instructor, recently transferred to San Diego from Parris Island, where she has led recruits since 2017. Women training in San Diego is a big step for the Marines, she said.