San Diego vs Parris Island: Who has the toughest Marine boot camp?

We gave each other crap about our boot camp location, but in reality, most of us 'Hollywood Marines didn't care about PI. But that was back in the stone age compared to now.

From the view of someone who has been at both: In 2022, Task & Purpose interviewed Lance Cpl. Kylie Hathaway who had the unique experience of training at both boot camps. Hathaway began her recruit training at MCRD San Diego. She was two weeks away from graduating when she fractured the tibia bone in her leg. As she recovered, the Marines gave her two options: go home or finish her training in a medical recovery unit for female recruits at Parris Island. She chose the latter.
“I feel like San Diego pushes you more physically while Parris Island tries to push you more mentally,” she said.