Major Gordon Emmanuel, the commanding officer for Recruiting Station Orange County, poses for a photo in Santa Ana, California on Feb. 21, 2021. In honor of National Black History Month, Maj. Emmanuel discussed his life story and how he got to where he is today as a United States Marine. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Sarah Ralph) - Major Gordon Emmanuel, the commanding officer for Recruiting Station Orange County, poses for a photo in Santa Ana, California on Feb. 21, 2021. In honor of National Black History Month, Maj. Emmanuel discussed his life story and how he got to where he is today as a United States Marine. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Sarah Ralph)

Future Marine Christian Ponce, a poolee with Recruiting Sub-Station Santa Ana, Recruiting Station Orange County, poses for a photo in Santa Ana, California on Feb. 12, 2021. Ponce received a meritorious promotion to private first class for providing two referrals to his recruiter. Referrals are necessary to identify qualified applicants for potential service in the Marine Corps. As a future Marine, their first mission is to identify potential leads for their Recruiter in order to continue filling the ranks with our Nation's best and brightest. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Sarah Ralph) - Future Marine Christian Ponce, a poolee with Recruiting Sub-Station Santa Ana, Recruiting Station Orange County, poses for a photo in Santa Ana, California on Feb. 12, 2021. Ponce received a meritorious promotion to private first class for providing two referrals to his recruiter. Referrals are necessary to identify qualified applicants for potential service in the Marine Corps. As a future Marine, their first mission is to identify potential leads for their Recruiter in order to continue filling the ranks with our Nation's best and brightest. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Sarah Ralph)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Janey Conerly poses with her daughter, Loghan, in their home at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, Feb. 4, 2021. Conerly is an administrative clerk at Marine Corps Recruiting Command. Conerly reflected on her family upbringing as well as African American leaders from past and present who have inspired her, as she celebrates National African American History Month. “Because of my race, and I also know the history of my race and what we had to go through, I do take pride in being Black/ African American,” Conerly said. “I take pride in all the changes that the ones before me fought for…I take pride in us being us…I take pride in everything I do that comes with being Black/ African American. And that’s just because of the ones before me — the amount of work and the challenge that they endured for me to be able to live African American/ Black.” (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Naomi May) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Janey Conerly poses with her daughter, Loghan, in their home at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, Feb. 4, 2021. Conerly is an administrative clerk at Marine Corps Recruiting Command. Conerly reflected on her family upbringing as well as African American leaders from past and present who have inspired her, as she celebrates National African American History Month. “Because of my race, and I also know the history of my race and what we had to go through, I do take pride in being Black/ African American,” Conerly said. “I take pride in all the changes that the ones before me fought for…I take pride in us being us…I take pride in everything I do that comes with being Black/ African American. And that’s just because of the ones before me — the amount of work and the challenge that they endured for me to be able to live African American/ Black.” (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Naomi May)

The Marine Corps Recruiting Command National Training Team launched a new website page, “MCRC Connections,” at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, Feb. 1, 2021. MCRC Connections was created as an “all in one resource for sharing ideas, asking questions, and helping MCRC develop at the speed of change,” Chief Warrant Officer 5 Christopher Mayfield said in an email to MCRC Headquarters when he announced the page launch. “Included in Connections is the ability to share links to insightful articles, podcasts, and various other useful tools.” - The Marine Corps Recruiting Command National Training Team launched a new website page, “MCRC Connections,” at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, Feb. 1, 2021. MCRC Connections was created as an “all in one resource for sharing ideas, asking questions, and helping MCRC develop at the speed of change,” Chief Warrant Officer 5 Christopher Mayfield said in an email to MCRC Headquarters when he announced the page launch. “Included in Connections is the ability to share links to insightful articles, podcasts, and various other useful tools.”