US Marines Face Court Martial Over Parris Island Hazing Allegations

A US Marine training base is at the centre of an investigation into the mistreatment of recruits.

Three US Marines are facing courts-martial over allegations of cruelty and maltreatment at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, with a fourth facing a preliminary hearing.

It is the first public legal step the Marine Corps has taken since the service disclosed in September that it was considering possible punishments for up to 20 Marine leaders at Parris Island.

The decisions come amid three investigations into allegations of widespread abuse of recruits by drill instructors.  

The investigations became public after the death of 20-year-old recruit Raheel Siddiqui in March this year.

A Marine Corps spokesman said the charges announced Tuesday were not related to the Siddiqui case, but involved two other investigations of suspected abuse at Parris Island. 
 
In a statement, Maj. Gen. James Lukeman said all the Marines are presumed innocent until proven guilty, and that the charges being referred were accusations only.

Lukeman also said he has "taken the allegations of misconduct very seriously,'' and that he will work to ensure the safety of recruits and that the integrity of the Marine Corps training programme remains "our priority.''  
 
About 500 drill instructors are assigned to the Parris Island post.

It is the only site where female Marines go through basic training, and they are trained in units separate from their male counterparts.

The base is renowned for its tough regime, which starts from the moment recruits arrive for basic training

The investigation coincides with Forces TV being given special access to female US recruits at the base to see what life is really like there (see above). 

Kathryn Gray is one such recruit; not yet at the half-way point, 20-year-old Kathryn is already having to face one of her biggest fears. 

Gray said of the training: 

"Going on the repel tower was kind of scary… but once they tell you to go you can’t really back out of it, so it’s one of those things you just have to overcome."

With no personal items like mobile phones or even books allowed at Parris Island, the recruits form a different kind of connection with their peers. They are only allowed to write home. 

When asked about making it through the end of boot camp, Kathryn admits she's had her doubts, saying: 

"Sometimes this recruit gets nervous, but it’s just one of those things that if you put your mind to it, you can  do it…you just have to keep pushing through."

MORE - The World's Toughest Women: Female Marines In Training