MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO, Calif. --
Commanders and senior enlisted personnel from Marine Corps Recruiting Command gathered for the Fiscal Year 2012 MCRC National Commanders Conference October 18-20 at the Omni Hotel in San Diego.
During the week-long conference, Marine Corps leadership recognized recruiting stations that exceeded standards during fiscal year 2011 and gave their guidance for fiscal year 2012.
Commandant of the Marine Corps General James F. Amos presented 44 recruiting station commanders with the Superior Achiever Award.
This award is given to recruiting stations that achieved or exceeded specified recruiting goals each fiscal year. They received plaques to display in their RS headquarters, honoring the hard work of all Marines who contributed to their success.
“Marines take great pride in knowing their day-to-day efforts are recognized,” said Maj. Mike Ogden, commander, RS New Jersey. “The (Superior Achiever Award) reflects the great things recruiters are doing on a daily basis.”
After presenting the awards, Amos spoke to the commanders about the crucial role of recruiting and the importance of maintaining a diverse Marine Corps.
“We have a connectedness to the American public no other service has,” said Amos. “By maintaining a diverse force we can help guarantee our connectedness to the American people.”
By focusing on diversity, said Amos, the Marine Corps can expand their recruiting efforts to include a wide variety of backgrounds and skill sets.
“Diversity gives us the opportunity to fish in a bigger pond,” said Amos.
He also reminded the group that as the Corps scales back in size, the standards to join the Marine Corps remain high and will not be compromised. He asked that they take his message back to their recruiting stations and ensure all recruiters understand his vision.
Since MCRC has Marines scattered across the country, the conference is the easiest venue to get the entire command in sync.
“Because the nature of (MCRC) is one of dispersion, it isn’t very easy to get together,” said Col. Michael R. Bowersox, MCRC assistant chief of staff. “This is our annual opportunity to get together and share information as well as understand the mission for the upcoming (fiscal year).”
The conference is an annual opportunity for RS commanders to set themselves up for success in the next fiscal year by gathering and discussing strategies and issues they face in the world of recruiting, said Ogden.
The information they gather is something they can share with their Marines upon returning to their respective RS.
“The bottom line is when we leave here, we can go back and talk to the Marines so they know the challenges that lie ahead and we can give them the guidance we received straight from the commandant,” Ogden said.
On the final day of the conference, conference attendees observed the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego Friday Morning Colors Ceremony.
Brig. Gen. Daniel D. Yoo presented three final awards for the WRR for fiscal year 2011. RS Los Angeles was recognized as the most improved recruiting station and RS San Diego received the awards for region quality recruiting station of the year and WRR recruiting station of the year.