Marine Corps Recruiting Command > Units > 12th Marine Corps District

Recruiting Station Orange County Birthday Message

There is no better time to express our appreciation for the Marines who came before us than the Marine Corps birthday. On this day we honor and thank those who came before us, and pass down our traditions to the next generation of Marines and future Marines. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Sarah Ralph)

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Commanding Officer, 12th Marine Corps District
Colonel James B. Conway
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Sergeant Major, 12th Marine Corps District
Sergeant Major Carlos M. Murcia
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Marines donate blood in memory of Lyanna Fernandez By Cpl. Tessa Watts | November 4, 2020 Marines are more than warfighters on the battlefield, protecting and defending our nation and its freedom. The Marine Corps motto, “Semper Fidelis,” meaning, “always faithful,” represents the loyalty of every Marine to another and the faithfulness to stand together through every battle faced. Not every battle fought is on the frontline, some battles are fought within. MORE

Love Drops: Marines give back to those in need By Sgt. Sarah Ralph | October 15, 2020 The year 2020 has shown everyone that life’s circumstances are unpredictable and that if there was ever a time to help your neighbor, this is the year to do it. It has been said many times but can never be said enough, the Marine Corps is more than an elite force. Marines’ efforts stretch further than the frontlines. The United States Marine Corps is about providing for the Nation and that includes serving our local communities. MORE

National Hispanic Heritage Month: Becoming a Marine and an American citizen By Cpl. Tessa Watts | October 14, 2020 National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed every year from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 to commemorate the contributions of Hispanic Americans to the United States of America’s history and culture. A large part of these contributions are made by the honorable men and women of Hispanic descent who earn their naturalization after joining the armed forces in America. MORE

Marines pay tribute to 9/11 By Sgt. Christian Cachola | September 12, 2020 Today does not need an intro. For nineteen years, Sept. 11 has become more than just another date on the calendar – it’s a day that has affected every American’s life in some way, shape, or form. ‘Never Forget,’ became a phrase strongly associated with the day and quite frankly, we have not. Marines from the 12th Marine Corps District showed a form of remembrance this morning at the San Diego Convention Center in an effort to pay homage to those we lost on that tragic day. MORE

California native achieves dream through Marine Corps By Sgt. Emily Kirk | August 14, 2020 Who said there is only one correct path to achieving your goals and dreams? There are many ways to accomplish your goals and when life does not go as planned, do not give up, stay focused, and find a different route. That is how Private Kristofer Maldonado, a 2016 graduate of Nipomo High School, became a Marine. Maldonado started working with the Marines of Recruiting Sub-Station (RSS) San Luis Obispo, which is a part of Recruiting Station Los Angeles, in March 2020. MORE

Balancing the Marine Corps and family By Sgt. Bernadette Plouffe | July 28, 2020 The Marine Corps brings people together from all different backgrounds, ethnicities, and cultures from all around the world. Sergeant Angel Valdillez wanted to be a part of the Corps since he was 12 years old and on August 5, 2015, he left for recruit training from his home in Everett, Washington. “I always knew this is what I wanted to do,” said Valdillez. “I didn’t join for the benefits, I just wanted to be a Marine.” Little did he know what his career had in store for him. MORE

A second chance at earning the title By Sgt. Bernadette Plouffe | July 22, 2020 Esmeralda Rojas, a native of Bakersfield, California, commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps on November 16, at Marine Corps Officer Candidates School in Quantico, Virginia. MORE

Twins Ambition By Sgt. Sarah Ralph | June 26, 2020 Many believe that teenagers will change their minds several times before narrowing down what they might potentially want to do for a living. For Izhar and Nimsi RodaCopto, they knew at a young age that no matter what they decided to do, they wanted to make a difference. MORE

Marine follows in her mother’s footsteps By Sgt. Bernadette Plouffe | June 19, 2020 According to science, mother-daughter relationships are typically one of the strongest bonds out there. For the Hallfords, their bond is unbreakable. MORE

Best friends receive NROTC scholarship together By Sgt. Bernadette Plouffe | June 11, 2020 “I learned about the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps scholarship from my father,” said Cava. “Then throughout wrestling with Alec, I found out he wanted to be a Marine as well, so we decided to start training together.” MORE

San Diego native receives NROTC scholarship By Sgt. Bernadette Plouffe | June 10, 2020 “Logan Lidster is the epitome of what we are looking for in a scholarship recipient, which is why he beat out all other applicants on the West Coast,” said Capt. Katie Sliwoski, executive officer of Recruiting Station San Diego. MORE

Marine Corps helps young woman find her voice By Sgt. Bernadette Plouffe | May 28, 2020 “The Marine Corps has helped me to speak out about the sexual assault that happened to me when I was younger,” said Kliewer. “If my drill instructors had not instilled the courage and strength they did in boot camp, I wouldn’t have found my strength and I wouldn’t have spoken up.” MORE

Future Marine loses 186 pounds to earn title United States Marine By Sgt. Bernadette Plouffe | May 22, 2020 He stood tall, looking over the top of everyone in the crowded restaurant. He could be spotted from a mile away, not because of his height, but because of the uniform he wore. His pride and confidence made him seem that much taller than everyone around him. His blood stripe lined the side of his pant leg and his shoes were so perfectly shined, Gabriel Mendez Ramirez could see his reflection staring back at him. Ramirez’s eyes lit up observing this seemingly perfect person. He knew nothing about the uniform he wore or who he was, so he marched up to him and asked. He was a United States Marine and from that day forward, Ramirez was determined that he would one day become a part of the Corps and earn his Eagle, Globe and Anchor. MORE

A Future Mustang By Sgt. Sarah Ralph | May 21, 2020 Leadership is one of the many fundamentals that is instilled into a Marine during all stages of their career. There are some Marines who take on this role with pride and enjoy the aspect of helping and assisting others in the right direction. The Marine Corps has two sides to their leadership spectrum. There is the enlisted side of leadership where Marines can promote from Private all the way up to Sergeant Major or Master Gunnery Sergeant. The opposite side of the spectrum is the officer route, which goes from Second Lieutenant all the way up to a General. Both of these have very important roles as far as guiding and leading Marines, but they are vastly different when it comes to decision making. The Marine Corps offers two types of programs for enlisted Marines if they desire to become an officer without breaking their active duty time; Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Education Program (MECEP) or Enlisted Commissioning Program (ECP). MORE

Unveiling Commitment through Telecommuting By Sgt. Sarah Ralph | May 12, 2020 A Marine is forged in the Corps' values of honor, courage and commitment. The commitment Marines have to mission accomplishment is persistent, unrelenting, and guaranteed. Marines unwavering devotion to mission accomplishment help them find creative and innovative answers to unique problems in uncertain and trying conditions. Marine Corps Recruiting Sub-Station (RSS) Westminster in Orange County, California has implemented new techniques to ensure they keep that commitment to their pool of future Marines during a time when the nation faces the Novel Coronavirus. MORE

Defining Worth through Music and the Marine Corps By Cpl. Tessa Watts | March 31, 2020 The musicians of the Marine Corps demonstrate the core values of honor, courage and commitment through the balance of musical excellence and upholding the elite stature Marines are known for. U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Kelsey Worth, a musician with Marine Band San Diego, has proven herself an integral piece to the Marine Corps’ total force by exemplifying these values through her dedication as a saxophonist and as a Marine. MORE

Remembering to Breathe By Sgt. Juan Madrigal | February 25, 2020 RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Being thrown into an emergency can be frightening and confusing, especially when a person’s life is at risk. That is something U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Thomas Zandate, a recruiter out of Recruiting Substation Pomona, Recruiting Station Riverside, 12th Marine Corps District, can tell you firsthand when he noticed a man in need of medical attention. On February 20, 2020, Zandate’s heroic actions saved a man’s life in a parking lot off of Rio Rancho Rd. in Pomona, Calif. MORE

Answering the Call By Sgt. Jocelyn Ontiveros | January 28, 2020 FRESNO, Calif – Becoming a United States Marine is a process requiring devotion to bettering yourself and the community. For many, the enlistment process involves entering the Delayed Entry Program where one can spend up to a year waiting for their “ship date” to recruit training. Recruiters use this time to prepare them both physically and mentally for the rigors of recruit training. For the Marines of Recruiting Substation (RSS) Fresno, Calif., becoming a Marine includes service to your community. Because of this the Marines and their members of the Delayed Entry Program spent their Saturday morning volunteering at a local homeless shelter on January 11, 2020. MORE

12 MCD Marine awarded George Van Cleave Military Leadership Award By Sgt. Christian Cachola | December 20, 2019 Marines are no strangers to setting the example on and off the battlefield. One of these individuals is Capt. Richard A. Hayek, an Arlington, Texas native. Throughout his Marine Corps career he has used the lessons he learned to become an exemplary Marine and an inspirational leader. In recognition of his reputation and notable accomplishments, the USO awarded Hayek with the George Van Cleave Military Leadership Award on Dec. 4, 2019, during the 58th USO Armed Forces Gala and Gold Medal Dinner in New York, New York. But Hayek believes he didn’t earn that award from his merits alone. MORE

Principal for a Day By Sgt. Juan Madrigal | November 19, 2019 OAK HILLS, Calif - Community is an integral part of the United States Marine Corps. For Sgt. Mark Reinsberg, a recruiter in Victorville, Calif., giving back to his community in any way is always an opportunity worth taking advantage of. Reinsberg participated in the Principal for a Day event at Hesperia Unified School District on Nov. 19, 2019. The event allows members of the community a chance to get a behind-the-scenes look at the schools in the school district. MORE

Battles Won: Marines Make Annual Recruiting Mission By Marine Corps Recruiting Command | October 1, 2019 QUANTICO, Virginia – The Marine Corps Recruiting Command achieved its assigned recruiting mission by both component and category for Fiscal Year 2019. MORE

RS Los Angeles excels to win the War Hammer Award By Sgt. Emily Kirk | June 28, 2019 LOS ANGELES - Marine Corps Recruiting Station Los Angeles out performed all 12th Marine Corps District recruiting stations during Operation War Hammer, earning them the War Hammer Award and a Certificate of Commendation. The spring recruiting offensive helped foster competition among the recruiting force to generate momentum during a historically challenging time for recruiting. MORE

At this time, Military Entrance Processing Stations are still open. We are accepting and processing applicants, but have restricted our travel around the local area, following the guidance set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Defense. Please contact your recruiter if you or your family have questions regarding the current state of the enlistment process.

Rest assured, we are exercising an abundance of caution to ensure Marines, applicants, poolees and their families are protected and screened to prevent the spread of illness.

For the most up-to-date guidance on MCRD Graduations, please visit the Depots' websites at https://www.mcrdsd.marines.mil/ and https://www.mcrdpi.marines.mil/.

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Command Security Manager
Gilbert Benavidez Jr.
Marine Corps Recruit Depot/Western Recruiting Region
gilbert.benavidez@usmc.mil
(619) 524-8816

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