“It was on a Friday afternoon that I received a call that changed the direction of my Marine Corps career forever,” said Gunnery Sgt. Terry Love, staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge, Recruiting Substation Grand Rapids. “Master Sergeant Young, my previous recruiter instructor from (Recruiting Station) Lansing, called me and asked, ‘Hey warrior, do you want to come back out and recruit?’ I had left recruiting three years earlier and didn’t really consider becoming an 8412 (career recruiter). My whole life, I had been looking for a challenge, and I got one during my first tour. I told him I’d love to, and I’ve been doing it ever since.”
From that point on, Love has exemplified greatness in the recruiting field, winning numerous awards as a recruiter, including a Centurion. Now, in recognition of his leadership, dedication and hard work, Love was selected as the 9th Marine Corps District SNCOIC of the Year.
The Zion, Ill., native received his inspiration from his former SNCOIC during his first tour as a recruiter.
“Master Sergeant Ruperd would train you and then hold you accountable,” said Love. “There was never anything I couldn’t go to him about. With Master Sergeant Ruperd, mission was not an option. However, his Marines never came second, and I mirror some of my leadership traits after his.”
Love attributes his success to hard work and motivation.
He started the fiscal year in RSS Flint. Seven months into the fiscal year, he moved to RSS Grand Rapids. On the heels of a net Average Per Recruiter performance of 1.69 at RSS Flint, he followed with a 1.45 at RSS Grand Rapids for an overall net APR of 1.57.
From the time he and his recruiters start working, until they go home at night, Love ensures that their time is productive and motivating.
“The bottom line is results,” he said. “I train my recruiters and then I know they can do the job, so I hold them accountable when the job is not done. All of my recruiters are confident and they know that I am all about accomplishing the mission and making them successful.”
RS Lansing’s Rookie Recruiter of the Year, Sgt. Anthony Hernandez, said, “He trains you, then pushes production and will not let you fail. He’s a Marine like all other Marines. He doesn’t fail. If an obstacle comes up, he adapts and overcomes.”
According to Love, after making mission, he continues to meet self-set objectives with no excuses. He said he holds his recruiters to three appointments and one interview per day.
“I know that as long as we continue to prospect, we will continue to make mission early,” Love said. “Also, being an (staff) NCOIC in RS Lansing, I – as well as all the other (staff) NCOIC’s – know that there is no excuse for not making mission!”
Love also recognizes the importance of quality of life for his recruiters.
“Even though we continue to prospect, I keep my recruiters fresh by allowing them to spend time on the weekends with their families,” said Love. “That makes recruiting duty a lot less stressful when you’re spending time with the wife and kids.”
Love’s hard work and dedication has been recognized by many, but none as important as the Marines who work for him on a daily basis.
“His leadership and work ethic are outstanding,” said Master Sgt. Gregory Young, RS Lansing operations chief. “When Love took over (RSS) Grand Rapids, the Marines immediately responded to him and saw the benefits of locking out early. Once mission is made, Gunnery Sgt. Love still has his Marines prospect, sell, and even (assigns) local tests and medical reviews to set up early mission making for the next month.”
Love said that RSS Flint was more challenging than RSS Grand Rapids.
“Flint was not making mission every month before I took over,” he said. “I knew that it was going to be hard work to pick that station up, especially after being in the Fleet for almost three years and jumping right into the (staff) NCOIC position again.”
Love and his recruiters put in heavy hours, got the station on track in two weeks and never looked back.
“The (staff) NCOIC of Grand Rapids, Top Olsen, took care of RSS Grand Rapids, and they were making mission every month,” said Love. “So, I knew that if I kept the same work ethic as I did in Flint, I would make mission, make it early, and life would be good.”
Love’s advice to recruiters: “Just remember that if you do what you have always done, you will continue to get what you have always gotten.”