PUGIL STICKS 🤺 U.S. Marine Corps Recruit John Rodriguez, a recruit with Bravo Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, prepares to spar during a pugil sticks event @mcrdsd, Aug. 27, 2024. Recruits are taught Marine Corps Martial Arts Program techniques, which instill basic self-defense that they will execute throughout recruit training to help build a warrior ethos and esprit de corps. Rodriguez was recruited out of Recruiting Station Los Angeles (@laxmarines). 📸: Cpl. Elliott A. Flood-Johnson