Stories

U.S. Marine Corps Pvt. Carlos Paz-Sosa, a Marine with India Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, poses for a photo at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California, July 1, 2024. Paz-Sosa was highlighted due to his impressive transformation, losing more than 100 lbs. in order to become a Marine. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Elliott A. Flood-Johnson) - U.S. Marine Corps Pvt. Carlos Paz-Sosa, a Marine with India Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, poses for a photo at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California, July 1, 2024. Paz-Sosa was highlighted due to his impressive transformation, losing more than 100 lbs. in order to become a Marine. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Elliott A. Flood-Johnson)

Recruit Defies Odds to Follow Dream of Becoming Marine

U.S. Marine Corps Pvt. Carlos Paz-Sosa, who was recruited out of Recruiting Station Riverside, wasn’t always the most physically fit growing up; he struggled with his weight throughout his childhood. During his senior year of high school, he decided he wanted to embark on the journey of becoming a Marine. However, this would prove to be no easy task. If he wanted to have the privilege of going to recruit training, he’d have to lose more than 100 lbs.

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U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen William E. Souza III, commanding general, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Korea, left, and Brig. Gen. James A. Ryans II, commanding general, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and Western Recruiting Region, right, pose for a picture with Pfc. Junyoung Kim, left center and his family after a graduation ceremony for Echo Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California, June 28, 2024. Kim is a native of South Korea and was one of seven Marines with Echo Company who became U.S. citizens. Kim was recruited from Granada Hills, California. Graduation took place at the completion of the 13-week transformation, which included training for drill, marksmanship, basic combat skills, and Marine Corps customs and traditions. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alexandra M. Earl) - U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen William E. Souza III, commanding general, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Korea, left, and Brig. Gen. James A. Ryans II, commanding general, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and Western Recruiting Region, right, pose for a picture with Pfc. Junyoung Kim, left center and his family after a graduation ceremony for Echo Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California, June 28, 2024. Kim is a native of South Korea and was one of seven Marines with Echo Company who became U.S. citizens. Kim was recruited from Granada Hills, California. Graduation took place at the completion of the 13-week transformation, which included training for drill, marksmanship, basic combat skills, and Marine Corps customs and traditions. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alexandra M. Earl)

America’s Newest Citizens Earn the Title Marine

For some of the new Marines of Echo Company, the road to joining the Marine Corps was a long one. Pfc. Jonas Hernandez, 34-year-old native of Mexico recruited from Recruiting Sub Station Thousand Oaks, Calif., spent 17 years dreaming of one day becoming a United States Marine.

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U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Timothy Bowman, the Los Angeles Military Entrance Processing Station operations officer, administers the oath of enlistment to applicants enlisting into the U.S. Armed Forces at the LA MEPS in El Segundo, Calif., April 1. The Marine Corps, in collaboration with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, have reinstated the expedited naturalization program in order to provide qualified recruits the opportunity to become naturalized U.S. citizens upon completion of recruit training. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Courtney G. White) - U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Timothy Bowman, the Los Angeles Military Entrance Processing Station operations officer, administers the oath of enlistment to applicants enlisting into the U.S. Armed Forces at the LA MEPS in El Segundo, Calif., April 1. The Marine Corps, in collaboration with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, have reinstated the expedited naturalization program in order to provide qualified recruits the opportunity to become naturalized U.S. citizens upon completion of recruit training. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Courtney G. White)

Expedited Naturalization returns to MCRD San Diego

As recruits arrived at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego this week, a new chapter of patriotism and opportunity unfolded. With the revival of expedited naturalization, eight recruits from the 12th Marine Corps District arrived to embark on a journey that will conclude with both the title Marine and U.S. Citizen.

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Participants of the Executive Leadership Development Program receive a presentation at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Feb. 6, 2024 . The purpose of the visit is to familiarize participants of the ELDP with the rigors of recruit training and highlight the uniqueness that distinguishes Marines from the other branches of the Armed Forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Janell B. Alvarez) - Participants of the Executive Leadership Development Program receive a presentation at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Feb. 6, 2024 . The purpose of the visit is to familiarize participants of the ELDP with the rigors of recruit training and highlight the uniqueness that distinguishes Marines from the other branches of the Armed Forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Janell B. Alvarez)

A Transformative Journey: Inside the Executive Leadership Development Program at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego

At Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, a group of future leaders begin an impactful journey through the Executive Leadership Development Program, Feb. 6, 2024. The program’s main mission is to develop leaders who understand the mission of the Department of Defense and can navigate the complex challenges faced by military members.

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U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Aidee Calero with Mike Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, drinks from her water source during a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program training event at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Jan. 29, 2024. MCMAP aims to strengthen the mental and moral resiliency of individual recruits and Marines through realistic combative training, warrior ethos studies and physical hardening. Calero is a native of San Diego. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob B. Hutchinson) - U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Aidee Calero with Mike Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, drinks from her water source during a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program training event at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Jan. 29, 2024. MCMAP aims to strengthen the mental and moral resiliency of individual recruits and Marines through realistic combative training, warrior ethos studies and physical hardening. Calero is a native of San Diego. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob B. Hutchinson)

Overcoming Adversity on the Path to Becoming a Marine

Recruit Aidee Calero, a native of San Diego, Calif., harbored dreams of becoming a Marine, inspired by her interactions with Marines she had met in her hometown. She was excited to start her new journey after arriving to the depot; however, her journey faced an unexpected hurdle when she broke her foot during the initial days of training.

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U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Benedict Stur, with Delta Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, changes his socks at the halfway mark of a 8-kilometer hike on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Jan. 30, 2024. The purpose of the hike is to condition recruits to the rigorous terrain on Camp Pendleton and prepare them for their 13-kilometer hike and eventually the culminating event - the Crucible. Stur was recruited out of RSS Denver Metro South. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alexandra M. Earl) - U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Benedict Stur, with Delta Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, changes his socks at the halfway mark of a 8-kilometer hike on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Jan. 30, 2024. The purpose of the hike is to condition recruits to the rigorous terrain on Camp Pendleton and prepare them for their 13-kilometer hike and eventually the culminating event - the Crucible. Stur was recruited out of RSS Denver Metro South. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alexandra M. Earl)

A Journey of Purpose: Finding Meaning in Service

On a quest for purpose of life, individuals embark on diverse paths, seeking answers amid the transitions of youth or the trials of adulthood. The quest knows no bounds of age, and the answers remain elusive, subjective to each unique journey.

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