Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island

Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island is an 8,095-acre military installation located within Port Royal, South Carolina, approximately 5 miles south of Beaufort, the community that is typically associated with the installation. MCRD Parris Island is used for United States Marine Corps Recruit Training of enlisted Marines. Male and female recruits living east of the Mississippi River report here to receive their initial training. Male and female recruits living west of the Mississippi River receive their training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California, but may train at MCRD Parris Island by special request.

A French Huguenot expedition, led by Jean Ribault in 1562, was the first European group to attempt to colonize Parris Island. Earlier Spanish expeditions had sighted the area, and named it "Punta de Santa Elena", which now remains one of the oldest continuously used European place names in the United States. The French expedition built an outpost named Charlesfort, and Ribault left a small garrison as he returned to France for colonists and supplies.

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