Lieutenant Col. David Rodgers, reserve support officer, Marine Corps Recruiting Command, speaks to a parent attending a career exploration event at the Charlotte Convention Center, here, Feb. 26 during the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) baskeball tournament. The Marines engaged local students, parents, community inluencers and teachers to spread awareness of the Marine Corps and reinforce the idea of the armed services as a career option within the African American community. The Corps recognizes that the recruitment of qualified and skilled leaders from diverse backgrounds is essential to its future and is committed to continuing the legacy that these Marines have set forth. The CIAA consists of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) spanning the East Coast from Pennsylvania to North Carolina. (Photo by Lance Cpl. Stanley Cao)