Photos: Marines in the making

Recruits put their heads down as they board a bus headed for the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, where they will be grilled, trained and molded into Marines. They were ordered to remain silent and motionless for the 15-minute ride.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

New recruits kneel near the yellow footsteps on the concrete. The Marines bring in new batches of recruits at night — on the theory that night is more disorienting.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Recruit Andrew Ortega shouts during boot camp at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot. Most of the young men had waited six to nine months for their turn to attend boot camp. Women are trained separately at a camp in Parris Island, S.C.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Before shipping off to boot camp, recruits are ordered to“power walk” through processing stations -- tossing their cigarettes, filling out paperwork, saying goodbye to their hairstyles. The latter takes about 25 seconds.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Recruits receive matching haircuts.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Marine recruits sit in neat lines to fill out paperwork.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Recruits are issued their uniforms.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Enlistment is rising for the Marine Corps and other branches of the military.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)