Parris Island SC and Parris Island Boot Camp

Recently I traveled to Parris Island SC. I had a nephew who was graduating from Parris Island Boot Camp and the family was going there to witness the event and celebrate his achievement. This Marine Training Center has graduations for nearly 20,000 young recruits each year.

These Parris Island Boot Camp highlights occur about every 2 months and can draw thousands of spectators. Although I have been to Hilton Head Island and Beaufort South Carolina many times this was my first trip onto the Parris Island military base that sits at the edge of the Intracoastal Waterway.

The public is welcome to come for a tour of Parris Island South Carolina. Security is tight, but relaxed enough so that you don’t feel claustrophobic. Of course the hospitality of the South is still present, even in this “by the book” training facility. Parris Island Boot Camp is worth a visit.

Parris Island SC Boot Camp

We arrived Parris Island Boot Camp for Family Day which was on a Thursday. We were invited to witness a 7:00 am exercise presented for family and friends of the “about to graduate” recruits. This is a sunrise run by all of the marines. I was told that this is their 4 mile motivational run.

With only a couple of hours sleep, it was hard for me to even think of anything that would motivate me to walk a mile, let alone run for 4 miles on Parris Island South Carolina. It crossed my mind that good Southern hospitality should dictate a brisk walk in the afternoon to be viewed by guests sitting on covered verandas and sipping mint juleps.

Then I suddenly saw that great group of young men and women charging past the crowd. We heard the cadence calls of the Parris Island Boot Camp drill sergeants and the answering replies from those strong, disciplined battalions.

I will admit that I had a sudden urge to get out there and join them in that motivational run. Probably every family member in the group on Parris Island SC felt the same way.

You can’t help but feel proud of our country and each of those new Marines on Parris Island. Oh, yes, let me add you will be warned and cautioned that Thursday is not graduation day for Parris Island Boot Camp and you better not take your Marine off of the base. Be prepared to dine at Traditions or the Brig-n-Brew. And have on some comfortable shoes because those lines are loooooooong, but the buffet spread that they deliver is really good.

Parris Island South Carolina Golf Course

I even got to play a round of golf at Legends on Parris Island SC. The course is not as spectacular as some of the others in the Hilton Head Island area; but it’s a nice diversion, and the people are helpful and friendly.

The marsh like settings of Parris Island give you some good views, but the challenge of the holes is a little too easy in my book. It goes without saying that the grounds are kept in extraordinary condition on Parris Island South Carolina. After all the Marines wouldn’t have it any other way. The best way I can describe it is that the greens look “spit and polished” and “inspection ready” at all times.

The Town of Port Royal annexed Parris Island South Carolina in 2002, but I am still not sure how you can annex a military institution. In fact the ownership of this land by the military is still being legally questioned. Apparently there was a rather shady deal that occurred between the federal government and the land’s rightful owner years ago. Many people still feel that the government pulled a fast one on Zachariah McGill in 1883.