Recruit Axe T. Buffington, Platton 1003, Alpha Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, balances himself on a chain bridge during the 12 Stalls event at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 27. The 12 Stalls event is a part of the Crucible, which is a 54-hour test of endurance where recruits must conquer more than 30 different obstacles while they experience food and sleep deprivation. During the Crucible, recruits utilize small unit leadership skills they’ve acquired throughout training. Buffington is a native of Princeton, Minn., and was recruited out of Recruiting Substation St. Cloud, Minn. - Recruit Axe T. Buffington, Platton 1003, Alpha Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, balances himself on a chain bridge during the 12 Stalls event at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 27. The 12 Stalls event is a part of the Crucible, which is a 54-hour test of endurance where recruits must conquer more than 30 different obstacles while they experience food and sleep deprivation. During the Crucible, recruits utilize small unit leadership skills they’ve acquired throughout training. Buffington is a native of Princeton, Minn., and was recruited out of Recruiting Substation St. Cloud, Minn.