9th Marine Corps District

9th Marine Corps District

Midwest Marines

Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois

Individuals who recently enlisted in the Marine Corps attempt to follow orders from drill instructors while their families look on during a Drill Instructor Family Night at Events Center West in West Des Moines, Iowa, March 23, 2018. Marine Corps Recruiting Command hosts the family nights to better prepare both parent and enlistee prior to attending Marine Corps Recruit Training. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Levi Schultz)

Staff Sgt. Shawn Dundee, staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge, Recruiting Substation Des Moines, speaks to parents of those who recently enlisted in the Marine Corps during the station’s annual Drill Instructor Family Night at Events Center West in West Des Moines, Iowa, March 23, 2018. Marine Corps Recruiting Command hosts the family nights to better prepare both parent and enlistee prior to attending Marine Corps Recruit Training. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Levi Schultz)

Recruiting Station Indianapolis educators work together to accomplish one of the obstacles during the 12-Stall exercises on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., during the RS Indianapolis and RS St. Louis Educator Workshop, March 5-9. Educators and key influencers from across all parts of Indiana and Illinois attended the Marine Corps Recruiting Command’s Educator Workshop aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot to better understand the transformation process in becoming a United States Marine. The workshop demonstrated to teachers, coaches and other student influencers how the Marine Corps makes Marines, wins our nation’s battles, and develops quality citizens.

Staff Sgt. Ryan Kraus, a recruiter with Recruiting Station Indianapolis, assists educators with rifle handling basics on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., during the RS Indianapolis and RS St. Louis Educator Workshop, March 5-9. Educators and key influencers from across all parts of Indiana and Illinois attended the Marine Corps Recruiting Command’s Educator Workshop aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot to better understand the transformation process in becoming a United States Marine. The workshop demonstrated to teachers, coaches and other student influencers how the Marine Corps makes Marines, wins our nation’s battles, and develops quality citizens.

Recruiting Station St. Louis educators congratulate each other after completing a problem-solving event at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., during the Recruiting Station St. Louis Educators Workshop, March 5-9. The purpose of the workshop is to identify and provide selected educators and other community influencers the opportunity to gain first-hand experience on how the Marine Corps transforms young men and women into U.S. Marines. This workshop provides current information regarding Marine Corps recruit training practices and procedures, military job skills and opportunities, military lifestyle, and educational benefits available to Marines. The intent of the program is to demystify the recruit training experience and foster closer relationships between recruiting station personnel and those in their communities who have influence on the decisions of young men and women.

Recruiting Station St. Louis educators congratulate each other after completing a problem-solving event at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., during the Recruiting Station St. Louis Educators Workshop, March 5-9. The purpose of the workshop is to identify and provide selected educators and other community influencers the opportunity to gain first-hand experience on how the Marine Corps transforms young men and women into U.S. Marines. This workshop provides current information regarding Marine Corps recruit training practices and procedures, military job skills and opportunities, military lifestyle, and educational benefits available to Marines. The intent of the program is to demystify the recruit training experience and foster closer relationships between recruiting station personnel and those in their communities who have influence on the decisions of young men and women.

Educators participate during a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program event at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Calif., during the Recruiting Station St. Louis Educators Workshop, March 5-9. The purpose of the workshop is to identify and provide selected educators and other community influencers the opportunity to gain first-hand experience on how the Marine Corps transforms young men and women into U.S. Marines. This workshop provides current information regarding Marine Corps recruit training practices and procedures, military job skills and opportunities, military lifestyle, and educational benefits available to Marines. The intent of the program is to demystify the recruit training experience and foster closer relationships between recruiting station personnel and those in their communities who have influence on the decisions of young men and women.

A drill instructor speaks to educators at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Calif., during the Recruiting Station St. Louis Educators Workshop, March 5-9. The purpose of the workshop is to identify and provide selected educators and other community influencers the opportunity to gain first-hand experience on how the Marine Corps transforms young men and women into U.S. Marines. This workshop provides current information regarding Marine Corps recruit training practices and procedures, military job skills and opportunities, military lifestyle, and educational benefits available to Marines. The intent of the program is to demystify the recruit training experience and foster closer relationships between recruiting station personnel and those in their communities who have influence on the decisions of young men and women.

Marines, civilians and friends in the 9th Marine Corps District family pose for photo during the MWR Polar Bear Plunge at Naval Station Great Lakes, Ill., Jan. 27. Around the world, thrill seekers participate in the Polar Bear Plunge, which consist of jumping into freezing water. (Photo by U.S. Marine Cpl. Quavaungh Pointer)

Marines with 9th Marine Corps District participate in the MWR Polar Bear Plunge at Naval Station Great Lakes, Ill., Jan. 27. Around the world, thrill seekers participate in the Polar Bear Plunge, which consist of jumping into freezing water. . (Photo by U.S. Marine Cpl. Quavaungh Pointer)

Corporal Alejandro Bedoya, the marketing and communication Marine with Recruiting Station Oklahoma City, receives the Gung Ho award during the Corporals Course 1-18 graduation at Naval Station Great Lakes, Ill., Jan. 26. Corporals spread across the Midwest gathered here to take part in the three-week course where they learned everything from sword and guidon manual, combat conditioning, personal and professional communication, foundations of Marine Corps leadership, career progression and much more. (Photo by U.S Marine Corporal Quavaungh Pointer)

Marines pose for photo, with Sgt. Brittany Keiter, the noncommissioned officer in charge for Corporals Course, after the Corporals Course 1-18 graduation at Naval Station Great Lakes, Ill., Jan. 26. Corporals spread across the Midwest gathered here to take part in the three-week course where they learned everything from sword and guidon manual, combat conditioning, personal and professional communication, foundations of Marine Corps leadership, career progression and much more. (Photo by U.S Marine Corporal Quavaungh Pointer)

Master Sgt. Alice Parks, training team member with 9th Marine Corps District, gives a speech during the Corporals Course 1-18 graduation at Naval Station Great Lakes, Ill., Jan. 26. Corporals spread across the Midwest gathered here to take part in the three-week course where they learned everything from sword and guidon manual, combat conditioning, personal and professional communication, foundations of Marine Corps leadership, career progression and much more. (Photo by U.S Marine Corporal Quavaungh Pointer)

Gunnery Sgt. Gene Bradley and 1st Lt. Terrence Stephens watch wrestlers compete during the 2018 National Wrestling Coaches Association National Duals at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum at Fort Wayne, Indiana, Jan. 4. Marines and wrestlers share similarities. The Marine Corps believes wrestlers possess certain characteristics and qualities that make them better suited for life as a Marine. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Quavaungh Pointer)

Staff Sergeant Jordan Jeffries (Left) stands alongside Sgt Jasmine Gonzalez (Right) presenting their Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals for being the fiscal year 2017 Recruiter and Rookie Recruiter of the Year of Recruiting Station Indianapolis.

Sgt Jasmine Gonzalez holds her Rookie Recruiter of the Year trophy while wearing her Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. Sgt Gonzalez was the fiscal year 2017 Rookie Recruiter of the Year for Recruiting Station Indianapolis.

Maj. Nicole Bastian, commanding officer of Marine Corps Recruiting Command/Recruiting Station St. Louis presents Gunnery Sgt. Shane Greer with his award during the 242nd Marine Corps Birthday Ball at Lumiere Place Casino and Hotel, St. Louis, Missouri, Nov. 10. Greer, recruiter with Recruiting Sub Station Mount Vernon was awarded the RS Recruiter of the Year 2017 for RS St. Louis.

Sgt. Jonathan Orlando stands at attention before receiving his award during the 242nd Marine Corps Birthday Ball at Lumiere Place Casino and Hotel, St. Louis, Missouri, Nov. 10. Orlando, recruiter with Recruiting Sub Station Morris, was awarded the RS Rookie Recruiter of the Year 2017 for Marine Corps Recruiting Command, Recruiting Station St. Louis. (US Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Harley Robinson)

Staff Sgt. Ryan Payne smiles after he is presented his award during the 242nd Marine Corps Ball at Lumiere Place Casino and Hotel, St. Louis, Missouri, Nov. 10. Payne, the Staff NonCommissioned Officer in Charge of Recruiting Sub Station Mount Vernon, was awarded the SNCOIC of the Year award 2017 for Marine Corps Recruiting Command/Recruiting Station St. Louis. (US Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Harley Robinson)

Sergeant Sara McGaffee, a Sioux Falls, S.D., native, poses for a photo with the Marines of Recruiting Sub Station Sioux Falls after being awarded 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.