MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Roughly 50 to 60 Marines stationed at the 8th Marine Corps Recruiting District, New Orleans, are relocating to other offices because of dangerous effects of Hurricane Katrina.
A temporary headquarters command element is being established in the Fort Worth and Dallas area. Currently, a basic command capability is established at the Embassy Suites, Dallas, and operations will be directed out of Recruiting Substation Fort Worth.
It is unclear when the command will be fully functional, but the relocating Marines are expected to regroup in Dallas by Tuesday, said Capt. John E. Niemann, the district's public affairs officer.
"The safety of our Marines is first," said Gunnery Sgt. Jay J. Connolly, public affairs chief for the district. "We've been trying to keep in touch with everybody to make sure everyone has a roof over their head and food in their bellies."
The command was able to reorganize and can still set the recruiting goals for the month and complete their mission.
The district has made mission for over 5 years consecutively and intends to make mission for this month, according to Connolly.
The command is expecting a return trip to New Orleans to retrieve equipment left behind but it is uncertain when.