MCRD Timeline 1914 - 2003

7 & 10 July1914:  

Marines of the 4thRegiment, under the command of Col Joseph Pendleton, and aboard the U.S.S.SOUTH DAKOTA, JUPITER, AND WEST VIRGINIA landed on North Island. They constructed Camp Howard, the germ from which San Diego's Marine Recruit Depot grew. The 4th Regiment consisted of two battalions. First Battalion included the 5th, 26th, 27th and 28th companies. Second Battalion was composed of the 31st, 32d, and 34th companies.

1 December 1914: 

The 2d Battalion and25th Company of the 4th Regiment moved to a section of Balboa Park known as the Palisades and established and maintained a model camp and a Marine Corps display for the Panama-California Exposition.

19 December 1914:

Marine Barracks, San Diego was activated when Marines were ordered to exposition duty at the Panama-California exposition in Balboa Park.

5 January 1916:  

H.R. Bill 7629 authorized the purchase of 232acres of tideland, known as "Dutch Flats" as a site for a permanent Marine Corps Base.

29 November 1916:

The San Diego City Council passed a resolution to transfer 500 acres of submerged tidelands to the Navy Department for the remainder of the base.

1917:

The Marine Advanced Base, San Diego, was included in the Naval Appropriations Act. The Department of the Navy also leased 544acres to be used as a Maine Corps Rifle and Pistol Range. The land was located at the north end of Rose Canyon, in the La Jolla area.

15 March 1919:

Groundbreaking for the first phase of construction began. The initial phase included the six arcade barracks, an administration building and officers' quarters.

November 1920:

Marine Rifle Range Detachment at Marine Rifle Range, La Jolla, California, was activated.

1 December 1921:

The 1st Separate Battalion, 5th Marine Brigade was assigned to open and operate the "Marine Advanced Expeditionary Base, San Diego."

1922:

Medical dispensary and post exchange were added and dredging to construct the estuary channel began.

2 August 1923:

The Recruit Training Station for the West Coast, under the command of Major E. P. Moses, relocated from Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, and Mare Island to San Diego. Arriving with the Training Station were Sea School and Field Music’s School.

1 March 1924:

The base was re-designated "Marine Corps Base, Naval Operating Base, San Diego."

1926:

The base became home to the Western Mail Guards, a special group of Marines assigned to provide security for the U.S. mail.

1927:

The base became a staging ground for expeditionary service in China and Nicaragua. Between February and April, 261officers and 4,074 enlisted men assembled at the base for transport to duty in Tientsin and Shanghai China.

1927:

Recruit Training Station San Diego was redesigned Recruit Depot San Diego.

1932:

The following organizations were maintained at the base: Base Headquarters Company, Base Service Company, Fifth Company Engineers, Sixth Battery of Artillery, Recruit Depot, Sea School, and the First and Second Casual Companies.

21 December1934:

The Marine Corps leased 19,298 acres of a 32,000-acre section of land in the Kearney Mesa area from the City of San Diego to use primarily for artillery, anti-aircraft and machine gun practice for various units assigned to the base. The area was collectively referred to as Camp Holcomb. On 14 June 1940, Camp Holcomb was formally redesigned Camp Elliot.

1935:

The Fleet Marine Forces were relocated to Marine Corps Base, San Diego.

1939-1945:

New barracks, 27 warehouses, mess facilities, anew exchange, a new psychiatric facility, new dental and medical facilities, anew administration building, an auditorium, a swimming pool, an amphibian shed and ramps for beach landing training were constructed during this period. Hundreds of 16-man Quonset huts were erected to accommodate the thousands of new recruits. Communications, motor transport, clerical, military police, first sergeants' and drill instructor schools were added.

April 1942:

Marine Rifle Range, La Jolla, was re-designated Rifle Range Detachment, Camp Calvin B. Matthews.

September 1942:

The Fleet Marine Force moved to Camp Elliot.

1943:

Women Reserves were assigned to the base.

1944:

Marine rehabilitation set up in the administration to help disabled veterans return to civilian life.

1945:

A Reclassification and Distribution Center was established near the Quonset huts to process Marines returning from the war.

1946:

Camp Elliot closed.

1946-1950:

The 11th Tank Battalion was organized and trained at the Depot.

Jan 1948:

The Recruit Training Detachment became the principal tenant and the base was re-designated Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego. The Rifle Range Detachment was re-designated as Weapons Training Battalion. This step had been taken 13 months earlier on the east coast recruit depot when Marine Barracks Parris Island had been redesigned the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island.

1950-1953:

The Recruit Training Command grew from three to eight battalions to handle the troop requirements for the Korean War. More than700 Quonset huts were erected to handle the influx of recruits.

1960:

The Recruit Training Command was downgraded to the Recruit Training Regiment.

6 June 1963:

President John F. Kennedy inspected the Sea School honor guard.

22 August 1964

: The firing ranges were moved to Edson Range at Camp Pendleton. Camp Matthews closed in October.

1965-1979:

The Vietnam War caused the next period of major expansion. A 100-tent cantonment had to be erected to handle the overflow of recruits. Five new recruit barracks, Bldgs. 554, 555, 570, 584, & 585, anew dining hall, new bowling alley, a new Regional Dental and Medical Clinic were constructed on the depot.

6 August 1965:

Field Music School was deactivated.

September 1965:

An eight-week, vice eleven-week Recruit Training Schedule was placed into effect.

21 September1965:

The Recruit Marksmanship Training Facility at Stuart Mesa, MCB, Camp Pendleton was formally dedicated at 1400 as the Edson Range Area

22 November1965:

A series of five obstacle courses was opened to handle increased loads and improve recruit physical stamina. This more than doubled the existing obstacles.

1 February 1971:

The Communication-Electronics School Battalion left San Diego for 29 Palms.

May 1971:

Approximately 200 Marines of the 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO) arrived from Hawaii to become the first combat company to be stationed at the depot since World War II.

October 1971:

Recruiters School was activated.

1975:

"Old Smokey," the base incinerator and a landmark was torn down.

1 April 1976:

The Depot was re-designated as Marine Corps Recruit Depot/Western Recruiting Region, San Diego.

1980-1989:

Seventeen new buildings were constructed. These included Gate House 5, a provost marshal's office and fire hall, an armory, bachelor enlisted quarters, a mess hall, a recruit-processing center, and a recruit training facility.

1 Aug 1985:

Recruits were first issued M16A2 rifles

10 November1987:

The Command Museum officially opened its doors in Bldg. 26.

8 December1987:

Sea School was deactivated mainly because duties once performed aboard ships by Marines had been assumed by sailors.

1990-2002:

Several new buildings were constructed including are viewing stand, a childcare center, a water survival-training tank and a field house.

1 January 1991:

Weapons Training Battalion was re-designated Weapons and Field Training Battalion.

November 1991:

The first female Primary Marksmanship Instructor, Sgt Anne Walker, was assigned to Weapons Field Training Battalion at Edson Range. (CheVron, 3 Jan 1992, P 5)

16 July 1992:

The Depot's fifty- foot wooden rappel tower was replaced by a new one of the same size with a steel frame cement construction. The new tower has "fast-rope" capability, a new staircase style ladder well and a larger platform. (CheVron, 14 Aug, p7; 21 Aug, pp 4-5)

16 October1992:

After twenty-four years of proudly schooling men and women in the art of leadership, the last class graduated from the NCO's Basic Course. (CheVron, 23 Oct, pp 4-5)

1993:

Headquarters Twelfth Marine Corps Recruiting District relocated to Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego.

1993:

Coast Guard Pacific Area Law Enforcement Team (PACLET) moved into Building 142 at the southwest corner of the depot. PACLET was created to help the Coast Guard handle various law enforcement scenarios, particularly narcotic enforcement.

17 Dec 1993:

Co F graduated the last company to graduate wearing the full Dress Blue uniform.

4 April 1994:

GySgt Brenda Powell became the first female to enter the Depot's Drill Instructor's School.

16 Sept 1994:

2nd Lt JoAnn Buettner, Adjutant for Support Bn, became the first woman to march as part of the staff in a graduating parade.

Sept-Oct 1994:

A new depot club structure went into effect. It included a combined club at the bowling alley, the Comfort Zone, and a combined SNCO and Officers Club, the Bay View. The Devil Dog Inn closed in Nov.

Mar 1995:

MCRD was deemed safe from a BRAC closure.

Apr 1995:

The Marine Corps Absentee Collection Unit relocated to MCRD from Treasure Island. It occupies an office in Bldg. 12.

1995:

A furniture store opened in the building that was the Devil Dog Inn.

June 1995:

MCRD became the only military facility where recruits still washed their laundry by hand.

1996:

The on-base drinking age was raised from 18 to 21.

1996:

Gate 5 opened.

1996:

A new Slide For Life was constructed in the Depot's Physical Training Area.

1996:

Marines on the depot began wearing the Woodland Camouflaged Comb1996: RIFLEMAN DODD was issued for the first time to all graduating recruits.at uniform as their utility uniform.

1996:

GySgt Brenda L. Powell became the first depot female drill instructor authorized to wear the Campaign Cover

1996:

Several major changes in recruit training went into effect. Recruit Training was extended an extra week. "Mess and Maintenance Week" became known as "Team Week." And a 54-hour-long "crucible," consisting of 8 major events, accomplished while undergoing sleep and food deprivation was added. The first crucible was completed on 14 Dec.

1997:

Marine Doom Room was set up at the Depot Library. Marine Doom was the first game on the list of DoD approved computer games.

1 July 1997:

The Recruit Direct Deposit Quality Management Tran and the New Recruit Uniform Issue Waiver Team received the National Performance Review's Hammer Award.

1997:

Scenes from the weekly television series, “Pensacola: Wings of Gold" were filmed on the Depot.

1997:

Eighteen Quonset huts were demolished to make way for the new Swim Tank.

1998:

Instructors at the Depot Swim Tank began providing a two-week work-up course to prepare Marines for the Marine Corps Instructor of Water Survival School, held at the Naval Amphibious Base in Coronado. This school is one of the most physically demanding in the Marine Corps.

1998:

A new Consolidated Personnel Administrative Center opened in Building 622. The center handles personnel assignments; order writing functions, personnel reports and record keeping, and discharge and separations processing for both permanent personnel and recruits.

8 December1998:

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the San Diego Unified Port District and the Depot outlining an exchange of property between the airport and the Depot. MCRD would give up three parcels of land, approximately 44 acres, next to the airport to get a parcel of land located near Gate 5. The Port Authority would foot the bill for all training area reconfiguration demolition and construction of new facilities necessitated by the exchange.

1999:

The Family Service Center and Morale Welfare and Recreation united to create Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS).

Apr 1999:

The Jack in the Box restaurant was demolished and construction began on a new food court.

16 July 1999:

The new Swim Tank, Parke Hall, was dedicated. It was named after Capt. Edward Parke, USMC, Commanding Officer of the Marine Detachment aboard the USS INIDANAPOLIS.

11 Sept1999:

The Drill Instructor's Monument, honoring the "Known Marines, was dedicated.

1999:

Lanes in the Depot's Bowling Center were renovated to give them a "cosmic" look.

June 2000:

The Depot began a major recycling program.

August 2000:

The Paintball Court opened for fun as well as physical fitness training.

April 2001:

The newly implemented Martial Arts Program is introduced to Depot recruits.

2001:

MCRD implemented the used of the Smart Card System. Recruits of Mike Company were the first to use the cards.

28 August 2001:

The Command Museum officially opens the Quonset Hut Museum, located in A-5-1.

October 2001:

The Sports Medicine and Reconditioning Therapy (SMART) Clinic opened.

12 Feb 2002:

Recruiters School adds the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) to its curriculum.

16 Apr 2002:

San Diego's Old Town Trolley tours began providing tours of the Depot on Tuesdays. The tours are conducted on and amphibious tour bus known as a "duck."

24 May 2002:

The doors were opened on the Depot's newest building, a field house.

11 June 2002:

Marines from the Depot Band, CISD, CVIC, comptrollers' office, G-3 section, and the ceremonial platoon fell under Service Company. The personnel shift was made to cover Service Company's anticipated loss in numbers when the 1 Oct privatization of the mess halls occurs.

25 June 2002:

The Recruit Depot's Clothing Branch began issuing both the woodlands and desert patterns of the new combat utility uniforms to recruits. The Commandant, General James L. Jones, approved the uniform on 6June 2001.

11 Oct 2002:

The first female to train aboard the Depot graduated from Company G, Plt 2103. The recruit was Recruit Molly, the new Depot Mascot. She received her Eagle, Globe, and Anchor emblem on 10 Oct.

08 Jan 2003:

Team Week of recruit training ends and was replaced with an additional week of training, renamed Training Week Six.

08 May 2003:

PFC Molly, the Depot's mascot, opened the “Miss Dog Beauty Pageant on Fox Television.

17 June 2003:

The Depot's first female drill instructor, SSgt Denise M. Ruiz, a swim instructor with STC, was honored with a Military Achievement Award.