Stories

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)

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.

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)

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)

High school educator Briana Allen performs the combat fitness test aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego during the Educators Workshop this past February. The workshop is a week-long program designed to better inform high school teachers, coaches and administrators about the benefits and opportunities available in the Marine Corps. (Photo by Sgt. Michelle Reif) - High school educator Briana Allen performs the combat fitness test aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego during the Educators Workshop this past February. The workshop is a week-long program designed to better inform high school teachers, coaches and administrators about the benefits and opportunities available in the Marine Corps. (Photo by Sgt. Michelle Reif)

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) - 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)

Nearly 200 young men and women from the upper Midwest attended Recruiting Station Des Moines’ All-Hands Future Marine function, June 6-7, at Camp Dodge, Iowa, to prepare for recruit training.The future Marines, commonly known as poolees, traveled from Nebraska, South Dakota, Illinois, Wisconsin and across Iowa to take part in team building and physical training events they will experience at either Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., or MCRD San Diego, Calif.During the all-hands function, each of the 10 recruiting substations, or RSS, competed against one another in events such as log runs, where Marines and their poolees donned flak jackets and Kevlar helmets and raced against other teams while holding a log. Other events were more individual-based such as the initial strength test, or IST, which is a shortened version of the Marine Corps physical fitness test. - Nearly 200 young men and women from the upper Midwest attended Recruiting Station Des Moines’ All-Hands Future Marine function, June 6-7, at Camp Dodge, Iowa, to prepare for recruit training. The future Marines, commonly known as poolees, traveled from Nebraska, South Dakota, Illinois, Wisconsin and across Iowa to take part in team building and physical training events they will experience at either Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., or MCRD San Diego, Calif. During the all-hands function, each of the 10 recruiting substations, or RSS, competed against one another in events such as log runs, where Marines and their poolees donned flak jackets and Kevlar helmets and raced against other teams while holding a log. Other events were more individual-based such as the initial strength test, or IST, which is a shortened version of the Marine Corps physical fitness test.

Kirsten Lockwood, a student athlete at Mississinewa High School, will participate in this year’s Summer Leadership Character and Development Academy (SLCDA) in Quantico Virginia. - Kirsten Lockwood, a student athlete at Mississinewa High School, will participate in this year’s Summer Leadership Character and Development Academy (SLCDA) in Quantico Virginia.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Educators experience a mock pick up day, May 2, with drill instructors at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Calif., during the Marine Corps Educators Workshop. Pick up day is when recruits meet their drill instructors they will have until graduation. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Calvin H. Hilt) - SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Educators experience a mock pick up day, May 2, with drill instructors at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Calif., during the Marine Corps Educators Workshop. Pick up day is when recruits meet their drill instructors they will have until graduation. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Calvin M. Hilt)