Stories

Major Gordon Emmanuel, the commanding officer for Recruiting Station Orange County, poses for a photo in Santa Ana, California on Feb. 21, 2021. 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. 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 Staff Sgt. Ruben Lopez, a recruiter with Marine Corps Recruiting Sub-Station Orange, assists in collecting toys for the Winter Toy Drive 2020 in Anaheim, California on Dec. 6, 2020. Marines with Recruiting Station Orange County volunteered to assist California Love Drop and Purist with their annual toy drive to help local kids in need. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Sarah Ralph) - U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Ruben Lopez, a recruiter with Marine Corps Recruiting Sub-Station Orange, assists in collecting toys for the Winter Toy Drive 2020 in Anaheim, California on Dec. 6, 2020. Marines with Recruiting Station Orange County volunteered to assist California Love Drop and Purist with their annual toy drive to help local kids in need. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Sarah Ralph)

Sgt. Jessica Hernandez, an operations clerk with Recruiting Station San Diego, and Sgt. Angel Valdillez, a drill instructor with Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, work hard to balance the Marine Corps and their family. (U.S. Marine Corps graphic by Sgt. Bernadette Plouffe) - Sgt. Jessica Hernandez, an operations clerk with Recruiting Station San Diego, and Sgt. Angel Valdillez, a drill instructor with Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, work hard to balance the Marine Corps and their family. (U.S. Marine Corps graphic by Sgt. Bernadette Plouffe)

Poolees with U.S. Marine Corps Recruiting Substation Fresno, Recruiting Station Sacramento, pick up trash while volunteering at the Fresno Rescue Mission in Fresno, Calif., Jan. 11, 2020. Part of the Marine Corps mission is to return quality citizens to society and this was an opportunity to give back to the community. - Poolees with U.S. Marine Corps Recruiting Substation Fresno, Recruiting Station Sacramento, pick up trash while volunteering at the Fresno Rescue Mission in Fresno, Calif., Jan. 11, 2020. Part of the Marine Corps mission is to return quality citizens to society and this was an opportunity to give back to the community.