Faces in the Ranks

Face in the Ranks highlights Marines, and those who serve with them, around the world. Though their ages, ranks and military occupations differ, they all do their part in the Global War on Terror. These are but three of the hundreds of thousands of Marines – active and reserve – who are the foundation of our Corps.

Worthington broke the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego pull-up record of 76 by pumping out 91 on the depot’s physical training field during his final physical fitness. The previous record was set by Lance Cpl. Seth F. Redford, Platoon 2117, in 2002. Worthington’s score is displayed on the physical training field alongside the high scores for the fastest-run time and most amount of crunches.

Paredes enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2003 and completed recruit training as the company honor graduate. After being stationed at Marine Barracks Washington, she was selected to be the Marine Corps mascot handler and the first female to ever perform these duties for two parade seasons in a row. Paredes also won the Marine Barracks Non-Commissioned Officer of the Quarter Board and was the first female with the Marine Barracks to receive a meritorious promotion to sergeant. She recently received the Latina Style Magazine Meritorious Service Award at the 2006 National Symposium.

Pacheco executed 260 crunches in two minutes, breaking the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego crunch-record by two repetitions. Pacheco came to boot camp able to knock out 150 crunches in two minutes, but during field week he twisted his ankle during a night-hike and received a stress fracture in his right leg. He was recommended by medical personnel to be dropped, but his senior drill instructor let him continue his training. When his injury healed, Pacheco took the company’s final physical training test and broke the record.