Stories

220601-M-CY007-855 - On March 17, 2022, Jack A. Haertling stood before his own father, Jeff A. Haertling, and the Marine Corps Recruiting Station Kansas City Commanding Officer, Maj. Rick Hayek, to take the oath of enlistment. Having dreamed of being a Marine since his childhood, Jack spent his senior year of high school deciding whether he would follow through on his dream or attend college instead. Ultimately, he decided to take the plunge and commit to service in the Marine Corps like his father and others before him. Jack is scheduled to attend recruit training in September. (illustration courtesy of the Heartling family)

The Haertling family’s rich heritage | Marine service passed onto son

On March 17, 2022, Jack A. Haertling stood before his own father, Jeff A. Haertling, and the Marine Corps Recruiting Station Kansas City Commanding Officer, Maj. Rick Hayek, to take the oath of enlistment. Having dreamed of being a Marine since his childhood, Jack spent his senior year of high school deciding whether he would follow through on his

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Poolee Marijane D. Huff, a Burlington, Kansas native, poses for a photo with her recruiter, Sgt. Alberto Figueroavidal, at Burlington High School, March 9, 2022. Huff, a state ranked wrestler and avid volunteer in her community, placed second in her state wrestling championship this year and is the second female wrestler in her school to win one hundred matches. Huff joined the Marine Corps Delayed entry program May 11, 2021 and is scheduled to depart for recruit training in June 2022. - Poolee Marijane D. Huff, a Burlington, Kansas native, poses for a photo with her recruiter, Sgt. Alberto Figueroavidal, at Burlington High School, March 9, 2022. Huff, a state ranked wrestler and avid volunteer in her community, placed second in her state wrestling championship this year and is the second female wrestler in her school to win one hundred matches. Huff joined the Marine Corps Delayed entry program May 11, 2021 and is scheduled to depart for recruit training in June 2022.

Made in Kansas | poised for Parris Island

In a town of nearly 2,500, one Burlington High School student stands out among the rest. Marijane D. Huff, a Burlington, Kansas native, walks the halls of her school quickly—dashing from class to wrestling practice, then track and cross country. After school lets out and she finishes her practices, she rushes to work at Sonic, stays behind to

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Daniel Hayek (left) takes his Oath of Enlistment from his father, Maj. Richard Hayek, the Commanding officer of Marine Corps Recruiting Station Kansas City, before signing an active duty contract with the U.S. Marine Corps at Kansas City Military Entrance Processing Station in Kansas City, Mo., July 26, 2021. By committing to the Marines, Daniel is poised to become a fourth-generation service member in his family-- following the footsteps of his mother, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Daniel graduated from Navarre High School in Navarre, Fla., in 2020. - Daniel Hayek (left) takes his Oath of Enlistment from his father, Maj. Richard Hayek, the Commanding officer of Marine Corps Recruiting Station Kansas City, before signing an active duty contract with the U.S. Marine Corps at Kansas City Military Entrance Processing Station in Kansas City, Mo., July 26, 2021. By committing to the Marines, Daniel is poised to become a fourth-generation service member in his family-- following the footsteps of his mother, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Daniel graduated from Navarre High School in Navarre, Fla., in 2020.

A long standing legacy | Kansas City Marine officer swears son into the Corps

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Across the nation, the Marine Corps is looking for the next generation of Marines. Through the bustling streets of New York City or along the shores of Midwestern lakes, every Marine on recruiting duty hustles to find the best of the best – the next applicant who could one day become a beloved sergeant major or even a general.

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Carlos Brown, left, a pastor and the business representative for the International Longshoreman’s Association, Mark Brown, middle, a retired Marine, and Jason Brown, the Fine Arts Department Chair and Band Director for East St. Louis High School, pose for a photo in Swansea, Ill., Feb 27, 2021. The three men were gathered together for an interview about their life story. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Andrew Jones) - Carlos Brown, left, a pastor and the business representative for the International Longshoreman’s Association, Mark Brown, middle, a retired Marine, and Jason Brown, the Fine Arts Department Chair and Band Director for East St. Louis High School, pose for a photo in Swansea, Ill., Feb 27, 2021. The three men were gathered together for an interview about their life story. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Andrew Jones)

Meet the Browns: The story of an East St. Louis family’s Success, Dedication to Corps, Community

Rewind 33 years to the summer of 1988. Carlos Brown and Cortez Brown, recent high school graduates from East St. Louis Lincoln High School, are driving down Interstate 70. They are heading west, out of St. Louis, in a 1979 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. Cortez has his bare feet hanging out of the window, which may sound picturesque, but in less than a month the pair would be thousands of miles away with shaved heads, wondering what they got themselves into.

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Ei Ei Naing poses for a photo at Recruiting Sub-Station West Des Moines, Iowa, January 6, 2021. Naing is the recipient of the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Scholarship for Recruiting Station Des Moines Iowa/Nebraska. Born into a refugee camp, Naing and her parents immigrated to the United States for a better life and provide their daughter with better opportunities. (Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Timothy Smithers ) - Ei Ei Naing poses for a photo at Recruiting Sub-Station West Des Moines, Iowa, January 6, 2021. Naing is the recipient of the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Scholarship for Recruiting Station Des Moines Iowa/Nebraska. Born into a refugee camp, Naing and her parents immigrated to the United States for a better life and provide their daughter with better opportunities. (Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Smithers, Timothy, R./Released)

Asian-American immigrant awarded NROTC Marine option scholarship

Ei Ei Naing is one of the recipients of the Naval Reserve Officer Training scholarship, a highly competitive program with an acceptance rate of less than 20 percent. While achieving this scholarship is by no means an easy task, Naing’s journey to earn it is nothing short of incredible.

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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. - 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.

A Legacy of Service

FORT SNELLING, Minn.— Christian Tsirlis, former Lakeville South High School student and 2019 high school graduate, did not have the typical Minnesotan upbringing. Thanks to his dad’s military service, his childhood was unique, full of adventure and travel to exotic lands. While many teenagers might regret moving from town to town and school to school every few years, Christian relished the opportunity to gain new experiences and learn about new cultures. He was even inspired to become something most Americans never will, an officer in the United States Marine Corps.

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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) - 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)

The Masked Recruiters

Blue trousers and khaki shirts are less common in local malls and schools due to the restrictions caused by COVID-19, with most of the country’s population distancing themselves from one another and spending less time in public. Recruiters, however are still accomplishing their mission despite COVID-19.

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

Where Everybody Knows Your Name: Rural America Recruiting

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

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Sergeant John Brilhart, a musician with Marine Band San Diego, performs a solo at the Illinois State University Center for the Performing Arts during a tour of the Midwest. The band performs at more than 350 appearances per year. The band performs every Friday at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California when they are not on tour. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt Calvin Hilt) - Sergeant John Brilhart, a musician with Marine Band San Diego, performs a solo at the Illinois State University Center for the Performing Arts during a tour of the Midwest. The band performs at more than 350 appearances per year. The band performs every Friday at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California when they are not on tour. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt Calvin Hilt)

Marine Band San Diego Wows Midwest

Marine Corps Band San Diego toured the Midwest and provided concerts for the public April 15-17. The band’s primary mission is to provide musical support for military and civic ceremonies. In addition to these duties they also tour the Nation performing at high schools and universities to spread awareness about the Marine Corps Band. “The purpose of performing in the Midwest was to raise awareness about bands in the Marine Corps,” said Warrant Officer Alex Panos, the Officer-in-Charge for Marine Corps San Diego Band. “A lot of people are not aware of that. We also wanted to educate people that the Marine Corps Band program is an option for them.”

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Marines with Marine Corps Recruiting Command G3 Team develop user stories for the Marine Corps Recruiting Information Support System II Feb. 8, in Stafford, Virginia. Marine Corps Systems Command has partnered with Marine Corps Recruiting Command to develop MCRISS II with the goal of making the job of recruiters a little easier. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Joseph Neigh) - Marines with Marine Corps Recruiting Command G3 Team develop user stories for the Marine Corps Recruiting Information Support System II Feb. 8, in Stafford, Virginia. Marine Corps Systems Command has partnered with Marine Corps Recruiting Command to develop MCRISS II with the goal of making the job of recruiters a little easier. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Joseph Neigh)

Marine Corps modernizes how Marine recruiters capture data with new mobile tool

Marine Corps Systems Command has partnered with Marine Corps Recruiting Command to develop a new tool with the goal of making the job of recruiters a little easier. The launch is part of a strategic initiative to modernize the tools and technologies available to the recruiting force. The Marine Corps Recruiting Information Support System II, or MCRISS II, is a mobile platform that provides Marines with all of their recruiting needs from the moment they meet an applicant to the time they leave boot camp.

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