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PARRIS ISLAND, SC (WACH/WFXL) -- Marines are expected to be in top physical shape, and in order to get to that level drill instructors take them through physical training drills.

No one expects boot camp to be a walk in the park, however when it comes to getting into shape some recruits are shocked at the intensity level that comes with the training.

Three times a week marine recruits wake up early to run and that begins the hour long physical training session nicknamed 'PT'.

One instructor explains the need for all the training: “We have to build them up cardiovascularly and we need to strengthen them so they can deal with the vigorous training of recruit training as well as their carry on as basically trained Marines.”

Recruits aren't allowed to walk from station to station, they run. Drill instructors say it’s not to punish them.

“In combat it might require you to move around the combat zone very quickly so a lot of the basically trained Marines or young Marines have to build up their cardiovascular to build up for vigors of combat.“

Cobra's for the lower back and sit ups are also a part of PT, as well as some yelling to keep recruits on the move.

After that Marines perform dozens of lunges before being allowed to walk in formation, catch their breath, and drink water. For upper body strength marine recruits do push ups and pull ups before starting the next round drills until their PT hour is up.

All Marines, regardless of gender or age are expected to maintain a certain level of fitness, so what they learn in boot camp, often becomes a regular workout routine.

Stay tuned to WACH Fox and check back to MidlandsConnect.com all week for more reports from Romney Smith at Parris Island as training continues. You can also follow Romney’s experiences on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/romneysmith.