9th Marine Corps District

9th District Logo Final
Marine Corps Recruiting Command
Chicago, Illinois

01

9th Marine Corps District Change of Command

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Brian Blaine, left, the oncoming commanding officer of the 9th Marine Corps District, and Col. Aaron Lloyd, right, the outgoing commanding officer of the district, shake hands during a change of command ceremony at Naval...

02

RS Chicago Pool Function June 2026

U.S. Marine Corps poolees with Recruiting Station Chicago, compete in tug-of-war during a pool function at the Ned Brown Forest Preserve in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, June 13, 2026. The pool function provided an opportunity for future Marines to...

03

RS Oklahoma City Change of Command

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Aaron Lloyd, center, the commanding officer of 9th Marine Corps District, and Sgt. Maj. Daniel Jacobson, right, Recruiting Station Oklahoma City senior enlisted leader, awards Maj. Darryl Gravelle following a change of command...

04

Recruiting Station Salt Lake City Change of Command

U.S. Marines with Recruiting Station Salt Lake City, 9th Marine Corps District, participate in a change of command ceremony at Camp Williams, Salt Lake City, Utah, June 19, 2026. The ceremony signifies the transfer of authority, accountability and...

05

Marines attend Annual Remembrance Ceremony at OKC Memorial

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Darryl Gravelle, center, the Recruiting Station Oklahoma City commanding officer, and Sgt. Maj. Daniel Jacobson, right, the Recruiting Station Oklahoma City sergeant major, salute memorials to two Marines following the 31st...

06

RS Denver All-Hands Poolee Event

U.S Marine Corps Sgt. Armando Perez, a drill instructor with Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, instructs a poolee during Recruiting Station Denver's annual pool function at Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora, Colorado, April 11, 2026. The annual...

07

9th Marine Corps District 15K Hike

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Aaron C. Lloyd, left, commanding officer of 9th Marine Corps District, leads a formation during a 15-kilometer hike at Rock Cut State Park in Caledonia, Illinois, April 3, 2026. Marines with the district conducted the hike to...

08

RS Kansas City: Centurion Award Presentation and Retirement Ceremony

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Sarah E. Bickel, left, the former sergeant major of Recruiting Station Kansas City, passes a noncommissioned officer sword to Maj. Pat Leet, right, the commanding officer of Recruiting Station Kansas City, during her...

09

Marine Corps Recruiting Station Chicago Celebrate President George Washington's Birthday

U.S. Marines with Marine Corps Recruiting Station Chicago, pose for a photo at the Union League Club of Chicago’s annual George Washington Birthday Celebration, in Chicago, Illinois, Feb.19, 2026. The club hosts the event annually to honor the...

10

Western Recruiting Region Leadership Visits Recruiting Station Oklahoma City

U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. David C. Hyman, left, the commanding general of Western Recruiting Region, speaks with Sgt. Kyle Bolton, right, a canvassing recruiter with Recruiting Substation Oklahoma City South, during a visit to Recruiting...

Video by Lance Cpl. Truxton Tobin
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9th Marine Corps District Change of Command
9th Marine Corps District
July 31, 2026 | 1:10
U.S. Marines and civilians attend the 9th Marine Corps District change of command ceremony at Naval Station Great Lakes in Great Lakes, Ill., July 31, 2026. The change of command ceremony served as the official changeover between commanding officers, honoring the outgoing officer’s contributions to the unit while offering the opportunity for the oncoming officer to introduce himself to the Marines now under his charge. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Brian Stippey and Lance Cpl. Truxton T. Tobin)
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9MCD is responsible for Marine Corps officer and enlisted recruiting across 19 states – Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming, an area spanning more than 1.3 million square miles. A total of 875 U.S. Marines, Sailors and civilians serve throughout the district, working daily within their local communities, municipalities and schools to identify and prepare the next generation of Marines.

To schedule an appointment for a photo, please email SG-9MCD-D9DHQ-PAO@marines.usmc.mil

OFFICIAL PHOTO WORKSHEET

For OMPF photos, please arrive with your completed and signed Official Photo Worksheet (linked above)

 

To request COMMSTRAT support, please complete the below worksheet and email it to SG-9MCD-D9DHQ-PAO@marines.usmc.mil

COMMSTRAT REQUEST FORM

9th Marine Corps District
2223 Luce Boulevard Building 523
Great Lakes, IL 60088

Duty NCO
​Cell: (224) 217-8379

Adjutant (Best POC for new joins)
Office: (667) 893-4406

District Readiness Coordinator 
Cell: (847) 975-5887

Marketing & Media Relations 
Office: (667) 893-4426
SG-9MCD-D9DHQ-PAO@marines.usmc.mil

Chaplain 
Office: (667) 893-4427
Cell: (847) 227-7489

Western Recruiting Region Security Manager
Office: (619) 524-8817

District Security Manager
Office: (667) 893-5000

Voting Officer
(667) 893-4446

How to Vote Information Graphic

On behalf of the Command Team, welcome to 9th Marine Corps District!

At 9th Marine Corps District, we believe that Family and Personal Readiness is one of the most important tenants of a successful career. Readiness at home means Mission success for the Marine.

As the Deployment Readiness Coordinator (DRC), I serve as a special staff member to the Commanding Officer. My main objective is to support the Commanding Officer with implementing the Unit, Personal and Family Readiness Program at every Recruiting Station (RS).

I do this by providing information through recurring communication, resource referrals, providing deployment and readiness support, and volunteer management.

I also serve as an informational link between the 9th Marine Corps District Commander and your Recruiting Station (RS) Uniformed Readiness Coordinators (URCs). Your unit URCs will keep you informed of command training events, briefs and local, current and command-sponsored events. Each unit’s resources may look different because they are uniquely tailored to the area you are stationed at. You will receive e-mails and messages from MOL informing you of what is taking place within your respective command.

One of the most important facets of the support I provide to you is by being the Command Health Benefits Advisor. If you need assistance with TRICARE or Dental, I can assist. I also serve as the command EFMP Liaison so that I may assist with family member enrollment and the Command Military Component Approving Official for the DOD ASYMCA Gym Membership Outreach Initiative.

The Gym Membership Initiative assists service members and their families receive reduced or free facility memberships at your local YMCA or private fitness facility.

Once on deck, ensure that you connect with your URC at the RS or me at District HQ. We have important information for you and starting a conversation can help us better understand the type of resources and support that you need. Your wellbeing is important; we are here to help alleviate everyday stressors during this unique assignment. We understand you no longer have the luxury of on base amenities at your disposal.  My goal is to connect you and assist you with taking advantage of as many resources as possible, so you don’t feel the weight of being detached from a traditional MCB.

The Command Family Readiness Team and I look forward to assisting you and your family. We are here to support you, advocate for you and aim to help improve your quality of life.

Please reach out for your Resource needs, big or small. If I cannot directly assist, I will find the person who can.

Lizz Lara
9th Marine Corps District
Great Lakes, IL 60088
Office : 847-887-8320 , Cell: 847-975-5887

9th Marine Corps District Leaders

Portrait of Commanding Officer
Commanding Officer
Commanding Officer, 9th Marine Corps District

Col Brian Blaine was born in Cleveland, Mississippi. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on March 5th, 1996. As an enlisted Marine, he served with 9th Engineer Support Battalion, Marine Wing Support Squadron 272, and 3rd Battalion, 24th Marines. He was commissioned in March 2004 through the Officer Candidate Course, followed by the Basic School and Infantry Officer Course in Quantico, Virginia. 

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Portrait of Sergeant Major
Sergeant Major
Sergeant Major, 9th Marine Corps District

SgtMaj Curtis enlisted in the Marine Corps on 26 October 2001. He reported to Parris Island, South

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