Stories

U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Jonathon Sweet, the staff noncommissioned officer in charge of Recruiting Substation Northern Michigan, congratulates a newly enlisted Marine Corps poolee on his enlistment, Nov. 11, 2018. - U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Jonathon Sweet, the staff noncommissioned officer in charge of Recruiting Substation Northern Michigan, congratulates a newly enlisted Marine Corps poolee on his enlistment, Nov. 11, 2018. (Courtesy Photo)

Returning to where his story began

U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Jonathon Sweet has returned to the community in which he grew up -- doing what he remises did not happen to him – informing young men and women about the opportunities the United States Marine Corps can provide.

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Staff Sgt. Brianna Pate, left, stands on the ice next to 12 poolees during an enlistment ceremony in Huntsville, Alabama Dec. 28, 2020. The poolees are swearing into the delayed entry program for Recruiting Substation (RSS) Huntsville; Marine recruiters will prepare them mentally and physically before going to boot camp. The Huntsville Havoc hosted their first Military Appreciation Night with Marine poolees publicly swearing in after the first period. Pate is a Marine Corps recruiter from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, currently stationed at RSS Huntsville. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Devin Phommachanh) - Staff Sgt. Brianna Pate, left, stands on the ice next to 12 poolees during an enlistment ceremony in Huntsville, Alabama Dec. 28, 2020. The poolees are swearing into the delayed entry program for Recruiting Substation (RSS) Huntsville; Marine recruiters will prepare them mentally and physically before going to boot camp. The Huntsville Havoc hosted their first Military Appreciation Night with Marine poolees publicly swearing in after the first period. Pate is a Marine Corps recruiter from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, currently stationed at RSS Huntsville. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Devin Phommachanh)

Huntsville Havoc hosts Marine enlistment ceremony on the ice

HUNTSVILLE, AL – The first period ended, 12 players skated off the ice, and 15 young men walked quickly out into the bright ice rink as the crowd continued to cheer. The Huntsville Havoc honored the men and women who have served, and are still serving, our country during their first Military Night of the season on December 28, 2020.

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U.S. Marine Sgt. Joshua Roberson, left, a canvassing recruiter with Recruiting Substation Raleigh, Recruiting Station Raleigh is joined by Santa Claus to receive donations for Toys for Tots from Elijah in Raleigh, North Carolina on December 16, 2020. This is Elijah’s 3rd year donating to the Toys for Tots drive with Santa and the Marines. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt Jacob Colvin) - U.S. Marine Sgt. Joshua Roberson, left, a canvassing recruiter with Recruiting Substation Raleigh, Recruiting Station Raleigh is joined by Santa Claus to receive donations for Toys for Tots from Elijah in Raleigh, North Carolina on December 16, 2020. This is Elijah’s 3rd year donating to the Toys for Tots drive with Santa and the Marines. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt Jacob Colvin)

Recruiting Substation Raleigh Receives Toys for Tots donations

The holiday season is often called the season of giving, and this year one little boy is doing his best to help others with his very own spirit of giving. For the past three years, Elijah and his mother, Christina DiGiulio, have gone to Recruiting Substation Raleigh and donated to the Toys for Tots program.

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U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Ajanel Williams, left, a logistics chief with Recruiting Station Cleveland, wins first place in the figure division at the Chicago Pro show in Atlanta, Ga., Oct. 18, 2020. She has competed in five professional bodybuilding competitions, achieving first place in four of them. (Photo by Courtesy) - U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Ajanel Williams, left, a logistics chief with Recruiting Station Cleveland, wins first place in the figure division at the Chicago Pro show in Atlanta, Ga., Oct. 18, 2020. She has competed in five professional bodybuilding competitions, achieving first place in four of them. (Photo by Courtesy)

Marine Wins Bodybuilding Competition

U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Ajanel Williams, left, a logistics chief with Recruiting Station Cleveland, wins first place in the figure division at the Chicago Pro show in Atlanta, Ga., Oct. 18, 2020. She has competed in five professional bodybuilding competitions, achieving first place in four of them. (Photo by Courtesy)

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Alexia Fields, a poolee with Permanent Contact Station Dyersburg, Recruiting Substation Jackson, Recruiting Station Nashville, discusses the importance of family and how she considers the other poolees and Marines to be a part of her extended family while at her home in Dyersburg, Tennessee, Aug. 28, 2020. Alexia, a senior with Dyer County High School, is awaiting her graduation to receive a date to attend Marine Corps Recruit Training. - Alexia Fields, a poolee with Permanent Contact Station Dyersburg, Recruiting Substation Jackson, Recruiting Station Nashville, discusses the importance of family and how she considers the other poolees and Marines to be a part of her extended family while at her home in Dyersburg, Tennessee, Aug. 28, 2020. Alexia, a senior with Dyer County High School, is awaiting her graduation to receive a date to attend Marine Corps Recruit Training.

The family we are given and the family we choose

The Fields family of Dyersburg, Tennessee is awaiting baby number nine, bringing them just shy of a full-sized Marine Corps rifle squad. This family of almost 11 has provided at least two of those children with the foundation of leadership and teamwork that is inherent among Marines. Much like the close-quarters living that many junior Marines experience, living with so many people under one roof can often be fun, frustrating, noisy, and chaotic, but the bonds it creates among them are unbreakable.

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