Stories

Lance Corporal Benjamin Bramblett completed Marine Corps recruit training as the company honor graduate of Platoon 3056, Company I, 3rd Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, August 17, 2018. Bramblett was recruited by Staff Sergeant Trevor McGee from Recruiting Substation Gainesville. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jack A. E. Rigsby) - Lance Corporal Benjamin Bramblett completed Marine Corps recruit training as the company honor graduate of Platoon 3056, Company I, 3rd Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, August 17, 2018. Bramblett was recruited by Staff Sergeant Trevor McGee from Recruiting Substation Gainesville. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jack A. E. Rigsby)

Private First Class Sharidon Mafnas completed Marine Corps recruit training as the honor graduate of Platoon 4028, Company O, 4th Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, August 17, 2018. Mafnas was recruited by Sergeant Christopher Osborne from Recruiting Substation Statesboro. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jorge Rosales) - Private First Class Sharidon Mafnas completed Marine Corps recruit training as the honor graduate of Platoon 4028, Company O, 4th Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, August 17, 2018. Mafnas was recruited by Sergeant Christopher Osborne from Recruiting Substation Statesboro. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jorge Rosales)

2nd Lt. Zachary Bowman stands proud with his family on graduation day at Officer Candidate School, Quantico, Virginia, Aug. 11, 2018. Bowman lost over 40 pounds on his journey to become a Marine Corps officer. Bowman will peruse the military occupation specialty of a judge advocate after The Basic School. (Curtesy photo provided by 2nd Lt. Zachary Bowman) - 2nd Lt. Zachary Bowman stands proud with his family on graduation day at Officer Candidate School, Quantico, Virginia, Aug. 11, 2018. Bowman lost over 40 pounds on his journey to become a Marine Corps officer. Bowman will pursue the military occupation specialty of a judge advocate after The Basic School. (Curtesy photo provided by 2nd Lt. Zachary Bowman)

The Rucking Raiders were joined by Marine Corps Recruiting Station Columbia during their Marine Raider March on a portion of the 900 mile ruck on July 21, 2018, as they passed through Columbia, S.C. Marines and future Marines from RS Columbia joined the ruckers for 8 miles of their journey, to honor service members who lost their lives in a aircraft crash a year ago. To support the march, follow the Marine Raider Memorial March on Facebook and visit their website at http://www.ruckingraiders.com. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tabitha Bartley) - The Rucking Raiders were joined by Marine Corps Recruiting Station Columbia during their Marine Raider March on a portion of the 900 mile ruck on July 21, 2018, as they passed through Columbia, S.C. Marines and future Marines from RS Columbia joined the ruckers for 8 miles of their journey, to honor service members who lost their lives in a aircraft crash a year ago. To support the march, follow the Marine Raider Memorial March on Facebook and visit their website at http://www.ruckingraiders.com. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tabitha Bartley)

Left to right, Sgt. Maj. Cortez L. Brown, Maj. Jonathan W. Landers, Gunnery Sgt. Isaac M. Ishak, Pfc. Gavin G. Northcutt, Marty Northcutt, Tori Northcutt, Col. Jeffrey C. Smitherman, Staff Sgt. Brian D. Raney, Capt. Kyle R. Kuhn, retired Master Sgt. Bud Schell, Capt. Asia Pastor, Gunnery Sgt. Nathan D. Mitchaner, Staff Sgt. Jon P. Slayton, Sgt. Maj. Rena M. Bruno and Staff Sgt. James B. Benham stand with Hunter A. Northcutt’s Honorary Marine award at Pelham Elementary School, Pelham, Tennessee, June 13, 2018. Only the Commandant of the Marine Corps can officially designate an individual as an “Honorary Marine” to acknowledge extraordinary contributions to the Marine Corps. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Mandaline Castillo) - Left to right, Sgt. Maj. Cortez L. Brown, Maj. Jonathan W. Landers, Gunnery Sgt. Isaac M. Ishak, Pfc. Gavin G. Northcutt, Marty Northcutt, Tori Northcutt, Col. Jeffrey C. Smitherman, Staff Sgt. Brian D. Raney, Capt. Kyle R. Kuhn, retired Master Sgt. Bud Schell, Capt. Asia Pastor, Gunnery Sgt. Nathan D. Mitchaner, Staff Sgt. Jon P. Slayton, Sgt. Maj. Rena M. Bruno and Staff Sgt. James B. Benham stand with Hunter A. Northcutt’s Honorary Marine award at Pelham Elementary School, Pelham, Tennessee, June 13, 2018. Only the Commandant of the Marine Corps can officially designate an individual as an “Honorary Marine” to acknowledge extraordinary contributions to the Marine Corps. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Mandaline Castillo)

U.S. Staff Sgt. Brian D. Raney and Raven Campbell eat dinner at The Alley, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on Jan. 20, 2018. The local resturnat donated the before the pair participated in a father-daughter dance. Raney is a recruiter currently stationed as with Recruiting Station Nashville, 6th Marine Corps District, Eastern Recruiting Region, Marine Corps Recruiting Command. (U.S. Marines photo by Sgt. Mandaline Hatch) - U.S. Staff Sgt. Brian D. Raney and Raven Campbell eat dinner at The Alley, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on Jan. 20, 2018. The local resturnat donated the before the pair participated in a father-daughter dance. Raney is a recruiter currently stationed as with Recruiting Station Nashville, 6th Marine Corps District, Eastern Recruiting Region, Marine Corps Recruiting Command. (U.S. Marines photo by Sgt. Mandaline Hatch)

U.S. Marines and spouses with 6th Marine Corps District (6MCD) pose for a group photo during the District Spouse Orientation Course (DSOC) at the Four Winds Family Readiness Center aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, July 26, 2017. The DSOC provided Marines and their spouses a broad spectrum of tools to help them transition into the Marine Corps’ recruiting field. The spouses came from across the District to build connections and network with fellow spouses. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jack A. E. Rigsby) - U.S. Marines and spouses with 6th Marine Corps District (6MCD) pose for a group photo during the District Spouse Orientation Course (DSOC) at the Four Winds Family Readiness Center aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, July 26, 2017. The DSOC provided Marines and their spouses a broad spectrum of tools to help them transition into the Marine Corps’ recruiting field. The spouses came from across the District to build connections and network with fellow spouses. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jack A. E. Rigsby)

Glenda McCool, mother of U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Sean G. McCool, Platoon 2044, Golf Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, kisses her son after he is dismissed by his senior drill instructor following graduation June 9, 2017, on Parris Island, S.C. McCool, 19, from Sharpsburg, Ga., the seventh Marine in his family, earned the distinction of being his platoon’s honor graduate. Today, approximately 19,000 recruits come to Parris Island annually for the chance to become United States Marines by enduring 12 weeks of rigorous, transformative training. Parris Island is home to entry-level enlisted training for approximately 49 percent of male recruits and 100 percent of female recruits in the Marine Corps. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Jacob) - Glenda McCool, mother of U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Sean G. McCool, Platoon 2044, Golf Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, kisses her son after he is dismissed by his senior drill instructor following graduation June 9, 2017, on Parris Island, S.C. McCool, 19, from Sharpsburg, Ga., the seventh Marine in his family, earned the distinction of being his platoon’s honor graduate. Today, approximately 19,000 recruits come to Parris Island annually for the chance to become United States Marines by enduring 12 weeks of rigorous, transformative training. Parris Island is home to entry-level enlisted training for approximately 49 percent of male recruits and 100 percent of female recruits in the Marine Corps. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Jacob)

Gracyn Lasueur (left) poses for a photo with GySgt. Matthew Hoyle, the station commander for Recruiting Substation Dothan, Alabama, after being presented with the Semper Fidelis All-American award at Northview High School, May 18, 2017. LaSueur was one of 100 students who will attend the Battles Won Academy this summer in Washington D.C., where she will be given the opportunity to network with and hear from an elite circle of leaders from all walks of life, who like her, have fought and won their own battles. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Krista James/Released) - Gracyn Lasueur (left) poses for a photo with GySgt. Matthew Hoyle, the station commander for Recruiting Substation Dothan, Alabama, after being presented with the Semper Fidelis All-American award at Northview High School, May 18, 2017. LaSueur was one of 100 students who will attend the Battles Won Academy this summer in Washington D.C., where she will be given the opportunity to network with and hear from an elite circle of leaders from all walks of life, who like her, have fought and won their own battles. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Krista James/Released)

U.S. Marine Sgt. Sean Silverman presents Haden Blair an invitation to attend the 2017 Battles Won Academy at McMinn Central High School, Englewood, Tennessee, on May 19, 2017. The Battles Won Academy taps into the irreducible essence of the Marine Corps, which is the fighting spirit of the Marine. The essence of the Marines individually and collectively is the willingness to engage and the determination to defeat an opposing force – whether personal or on behalf of our nation and its communities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Mandaline Hatch) - U.S. Marine Sgt. Sean Silverman presents Haden Blair an invitation to attend the 2017 Battles Won Academy at McMinn Central High School, Englewood, Tennessee, on May 19, 2017. The Battles Won Academy taps into the irreducible essence of the Marine Corps, which is the fighting spirit of the Marine. The essence of the Marines individually and collectively is the willingness to engage and the determination to defeat an opposing force – whether personal or on behalf of our nation and its communities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Mandaline Hatch)

U.S. Marine Sgt. Roderick Evans presents Natasha Kusibab an invitation to attend the 2017 Battles Won Academy at Brentwood High School, Brentwood, Tennessee, on May 9, 2017. The Battles Won Academy will bring together 96 of the country’s top student-leaders July 13-17 in Washington D.C. The program provides Marines with several opportunities to purposefully engage the student leaders and share leadership lessons that will enhance their future success. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Mandaline Hatch) - U.S. Marine Sgt. Roderick Evans presents Natasha Kusibab an invitation to attend the 2017 Battles Won Academy at Brentwood High School, Brentwood, Tennessee, on May 9, 2017. The Battles Won Academy will bring together 96 of the country’s top student-leaders July 13-17 in Washington D.C. The program provides Marines with several opportunities to purposefully engage the student leaders and share leadership lessons that will enhance their future success. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Mandaline Hatch)

Marine Pfc. James O. Whitehurst was attached to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. Whitehurst joined the Marine Corps on 20 May, 1941 and was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of Tarawa, 20 November, 1943. Over several days of intense fighting, approximately 1,000 Marines and sailors were killed in action. A small number of these casualties were buried in Cemetery 27, a military cemetery on Tarawa Atoll. From June 2015 to February 2016, History Flight, a non-profit organization located the remains of 39 individuals who gave their life in the Battle of Tarawa, and were buried there, including Whitehurst. (Courtesy Photo) - Marine Pfc. James O. Whitehurst was attached to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. Whitehurst joined the Marine Corps on 20 May, 1941 and was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of Tarawa, 20 November, 1943. Over several days of intense fighting, approximately 1,000 Marines and sailors were killed in action. A small number of these casualties were buried in Cemetery 27, a military cemetery on Tarawa Atoll. From June 2015 to February 2016, History Flight, a non-profit organization located the remains of 39 individuals who gave their life in the Battle of Tarawa, and were buried there, including Whitehurst. (Courtesy Photo)

Captain Trey Kennedy received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for Heroism. (Courtesy Photo) - Captain Trey Kennedy received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for Heroism. (Courtesy Photo)