9th Marine Corps District

Rural recruiting has some unique challenges associated within the it. Sergeant Corey Ridgeway tells us about his experience working in this environment.

U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Geoffrey Ogden, a reserve judge advocate, is depicted in a graphic illustration in St. Louis, Sept. 30, 2020. In the civilian sector, Ogden serves as a federal prosecutor in St. Louis. “As a Marine Judge Advocate, the immediate experience trying serious cases before military judges and juries, and the responsibilities incumbent with that experience, directly prepared me for my responsibilities as a federal prosecutor. Now, as a judge advocate in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, I am able to regularly return to a life and job that was very difficult to walk away from,” said Ogden. (U.S. Marine Corps photo illustration by Cpl. Andrew Jones) (This photo illustration was created using multiple images in Adobe Photoshop)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Evan French, a production recruiter, with Recruiting Substation Champaign, Recruiting Station St. Louis conducts a virtual interview with a prospect in Champaign, Illinois on July 28, 2020. During the month of April most of the RSS' stopped area canvasing to look for new prospects to ensure the safety of the recruiters and public. This led them to rely more heavily on phone calls and social media as their tool for communication. (Curtosey Photo)

Lt. Col. Christopher Tsirlis presents his son, Christian, with the $180,000 Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship during his high school awards night in 2019. Christian earned the scholarship in 2019 after a rigorous and competitive application process. He proved he was worthy of the scholarship through his academic achievements and proven leadership abilities as the captain of his school football and track teams. He also demonstrated outstanding physical fitness abilities.

IRON MOUNTAIN, Mich. -- Gunnery Sgt. Pete Vargo and Staff Sgt. Eric Fritz, Recruiting Substation Green Bay Recruiters, presented Caleb Plumley with the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps Marine scholarship at graduation from Iron Mountain High School. NROTC trains future leaders in the Navy and Marine Corps while they attend college. Plumley plans to become a Marine Corps officer after graduation from the University of Michigan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Emma S. Norris)