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Recruit Books and Platoon Rosters

RECRUIT BOOKS

Recruit books maintained by the MCRD Museum Reference Center are available for research only, they are not for sale.  Please note, there are no lists of names of recruits or Drill Instructors.   The only way to search for a recruit book is by year of graduation and platoon number.

If you would like to purchase a recruit book, please visit our webpage here.  Please note, the MCRD Museum Foundation only has recruit books from 1986-2016. The collection is not complete, and is missing many years and platoons.  The MCRD Museum Historical Foundation is a private entity that supports the MCRD Museum.

Can't find your recruit book?  Read our list of suggestions in How Do I Find My Recruit Platoon Book?  

PLATOON ROSTERS

Many people ask if the Marine Corps saved rosters of the recruits who went through Boot Camp at MCRD San Diego.  The answer is no, but, there are some ways you can search for the names of recruits.  The list below is organized into different time periods.  

Recruits who trained at San Diego from September 1923 - May 1953: 

There are none. Recruit books did not exist at San Diego until mid 1953.

Recruits who trained at San Diego from mid 1953 - May 1989: 

The only lists exist in the recruit platoon books. If you are local, please contact the historian to make an appointment to view your platoon book if one exists in her collection. You may bring a camera to photograph pages from the platoon book, however scans are not available.


Recruits who trained at San Diego from June 1989 - 31 May 2011:

Lists exist in recruit platoon books and in the MCRD newspaper, The CheVron. Please contact the MCRD Museum Foundation to order your recruit book. If they do not have a copy contact the MCRD Library at 619-524-1849 and ask them to check their source for the rosters, the MCRD newspaper, The CheVron.

Recruits who trained at San Diego from January 2012 - Present: Lists exist in recruit platoon books and in the MCRD newspaper, The CheVron (June 2011- 23 October 2015, digital versions only).