Stories

Recruiting Station Twin Cities Commanding Officer Maj. Kenneth Gawronski and Eau Claire, Wis., recruiter Sgt. Cody Stauner present Levi Nayes and Jacob Zwiefelhofer with a Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps Scholarship during the Bloomer High School awards ceremony May 23. Ninety-seven students made up the Bloomer High School 2012 graduating class. Of those who qualified for the scholarship, 300 were accepted nation-wide. Only one other school in 9th Marine Corps District received two scholarships. - Recruiting Station Twin Cities Commanding Officer Maj. Kenneth Gawronski and Eau Claire, Wis., recruiter Sgt. Cody Stauner present Levi Nayes and Jacob Zwiefelhofer with a Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps Scholarship during the Bloomer High School awards ceremony May 23. Ninety-seven students made up the Bloomer High School 2012 graduating class. Of those who qualified for the scholarship, 300 were accepted nation-wide. Only one other school in 9th Marine Corps District received two scholarships.

Woodbury, Minn., recruiter Sgt. Brandon Blazer, 27, from Dayton, Ohio, visits with Cathy and Gregg Patnode April 27 after their son, Luke, underwent reconstructive surgery. Luke is a 14-year-old eighth grader at Lake Middle School. Marines with Recruiting Station Twin Cities also visited Luke in 2010 after he suffered a major stroke. Luke's parents told Blazer that their son has wanted to join the Corps since he was a little kid. - Woodbury, Minn., recruiter Sgt. Brandon Blazer, 27, from Dayton, Ohio, visits with Cathy and Gregg Patnode April 27 after their son, Luke, underwent reconstructive surgery. Luke is a 14-year-old eighth grader at Lake Middle School. Marines with Recruiting Station Twin Cities also visited Luke in 2010 after he suffered a major stroke. Luke's parents told Blazer that their son has wanted to join the Corps since he was a little kid.

Recruiting Substation Burnsville's Patrick Massey, Sgt. Joshua Draveling, Andrew Morris, Jeremy Kaiser and Anna Albrecht set aside their hair nets for a few moments to take a photo during the Evergreen Community Church's Kids Against Hunger packing session April 14. Overall, 165 volunteers spent the day packaging more than 67,000 meals. - Recruiting Substation Burnsville's Patrick Massey, Sgt. Joshua Draveling, Andrew Morris, Jeremy Kaiser and Anna Albrecht set aside their hair nets for a few moments to take a photo during the Evergreen Community Church's Kids Against Hunger packing session April 14. Overall, 165 volunteers spent the day packaging more than 67,000 meals.

Eileen Dwyer performs scales for Gunnery Sgt. Jason Knuckles, 9th Marine Corps District Marine band placement director, during a practice audition in front of her high school music class March 26. Dwyer is a senior at Duluth East High School and hopes to one day play with the Marine Drum and Bugle Corps. For additional imagery from the audition, visit www.facebook.com/rstwincities. - Eileen Dwyer performs scales for Gunnery Sgt. Jason Knuckles, 9th Marine Corps District Marine band placement director, during a practice audition in front of her high school music class March 26. Dwyer is a senior at Duluth East High School and hopes to one day play with the Marine Drum and Bugle Corps. For additional imagery from the audition, visit www.facebook.com/rstwincities.

Sgt. Adam Kruse, 26, from Huron, S.D., receives a certificate March 9 from Stephanie Winkel, senior fitness coordinator at the Eagan, Minn., YMCA, for being named "Fittest Male." Kruse earned his new title by completing the YMCA Fitness Challenge with the fastest time. The fitness course consisted of three rounds of 21 kettle-bell swings, 15 push-ups and nine burpees, also known as bend-and-thrusts. Kruse, a recruiter out of the Woodbury, Minn., office, crossed the finish line in 2:26. - Sgt. Adam Kruse, 26, from Huron, S.D., receives a certificate March 9 from Stephanie Winkel, senior fitness coordinator at the Eagan, Minn., YMCA, for being named "Fittest Male." Kruse earned his new title by completing the YMCA Fitness Challenge with the fastest time. The fitness course consisted of three rounds of 21 kettle-bell swings, 15 push-ups and nine burpees, also known as bend-and-thrusts. Kruse, a recruiter out of the Woodbury, Minn., office, crossed the finish line in 2:26.

Recruiting Station Twin Cities Commanding Officer Maj. Kenneth Gawronski welcomed a new sergeant major when Sgt. Maj. James C. Kirkland (right) relinquished his post to Sgt. Maj. Sean P. Cox during a post and relief ceremony at the Fort Snelling Welcome Center March 9. - Recruiting Station Twin Cities Commanding Officer Maj. Kenneth Gawronski welcomed a new sergeant major when Sgt. Maj. James C. Kirkland (right) relinquished his post to Sgt. Maj. Sean P. Cox during a post and relief ceremony at the Fort Snelling Welcome Center March 9.

Former infantry officer Mike Jones, owner of CrossFit Minneapolis and CrossFit St. Paul, performs a snatch demonstration for Marines attending a three-day training seminar. More than 20 Marines with Recruiting Station Twin Cities attended the class to enhance fitness levels within the command. Jones, a Springfield, Va., native, served with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment. For additional imagery from the event, visit www.facebook.com/rstwincities. - Former infantry officer Mike Jones, owner of CrossFit Minneapolis and CrossFit St. Paul, performs a snatch demonstration for Marines attending a three-day training seminar. More than 20 Marines with Recruiting Station Twin Cities attended the class to enhance fitness levels within the command. Jones, a Springfield, Va., native, served with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment. For additional imagery from the event, visit www.facebook.com/rstwincities.

Sgt. Jeremias Orden, Sgt. Jacob Bucinski and Staff Sgt. Paul Schmotter show off their mustaches during the Recruiting Station Twin Cities annual flag football tournament at the St. Croix Valley Recreational Center Nov. 18. The Rochester, Minn., recruiters were among 30 people who grew out their facial hair to promote early cancer detection and ultimately reduce the number of preventable deaths. - Sgt. Jeremias Orden, Sgt. Jacob Bucinski and Staff Sgt. Paul Schmotter show off their mustaches during the Recruiting Station Twin Cities annual flag football tournament at the St. Croix Valley Recreational Center Nov. 18. The Rochester, Minn., recruiters were among 30 people who grew out their facial hair to promote early cancer detection and ultimately reduce the number of preventable deaths.