Stories

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.

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)

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.

Gunnery Sgt. Paul Odonnell, the staff noncommissioned officer in charge of Marine Corps Recruiting Sub Station Sioux Falls, posed for a photo with Sgt. Sarah McGaffee, a Sioux Falls, S.D., native, after presenting her with the Purple Heart Medal. On Oct. 20th, 2010, while deployed with Combat Logistics Battalion 3, McGaffee’s vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device while conducting convoy operations in support of Operation Steel Dawn II in the Helmand province of Afghanistan. McGaffee was awarded her Purple Heart, Dec. 16, 2017 in Sioux Falls, S.D., in front of a detail of Marines and her local friends and family. - Gunnery Sgt. Paul Odonnell, the staff noncommissioned officer in charge of Marine Corps Recruiting Sub Station Sioux Falls, posed for a photo with Sgt. Sarah McGaffee, a Sioux Falls, S.D., native, after presenting her with the Purple Heart Medal. On Oct. 20th, 2010, while deployed with Combat Logistics Battalion 3, McGaffee’s vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device while conducting convoy operations in support of Operation Steel Dawn II in the Helmand province of Afghanistan. McGaffee was awarded her Purple Heart, Dec. 16, 2017 in Sioux Falls, S.D., in front of a detail of Marines and her local friends and family.

Davionte L. L. Young scrambles on top of his opponent after slamming him to the ground during the Minnesota State High School Wresting Competition, Feb. 27. Young is rated the number five high school wrestler at 152lbs, and although he has been offered several scholarships to various colleges, he has turned them all down to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. - Davionte L. L. Young scrambles on top of his opponent after slamming him to the ground during the Minnesota State High School Wresting Competition, Feb. 27. Young is rated the number five high school wrestler at 152lbs, and although he has been offered several scholarships to various colleges, he has turned them all down to enlist in the United States Marine Corps.

The head football and softball coach at Maple Lake High School, Coach Tim Knudsen, shakes hands with Commanding Officer of Marine Corps Recruiting Station Twin Cities, Maj. Christopher Tsirlis, after having received the Marine Corps Semper Fi Coach Award, Feb. 21. - The head football and softball coach at Maple Lake High School, Coach Tim Knudsen, shakes hands with Commanding Officer of Marine Corps Recruiting Station Twin Cities, Maj. Christopher Tsirlis, after having received the Marine Corps Semper Fi Coach Award, Feb. 21.

Twenty-four aspiring Marines with Recruiting Station Twin Cities take the oath of enlistment at the Metrodome before the Minnesota Vikings battle the Jackson Jaguars on Sept. 9. All 24 of the Vikings Platoon members will ship off to boot camp Sept. 10-11. For additional imagery from the event, visit www.facebook.com/rstwincities. - Twenty-four aspiring Marines with Recruiting Station Twin Cities take the oath of enlistment at the Metrodome before the Minnesota Vikings battle the Jackson Jaguars on Sept. 9. All 24 of the Vikings Platoon members will ship off to boot camp Sept. 10-11. For additional imagery from the event, visit www.facebook.com/rstwincities.