Stories

Marines of Detachment 3 Maintenance Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 453 hosted a Toys for Tots 5K run at Imagination Station Park in Cortland, Ohio, Sept. 29, 2013. Top finishers in the event received a race medal, and all participants received a commemorative t-shirt. The Toys for Tots program, which began in 1947 by the Marine Corps Reserve, donates Christmas gifts to children who may not otherwise receive any. Marines from the area, to include Permanent Contact Station Warren, were on hand to help out with the charitable event. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. T.M. Stewman/Released) - Marines of Detachment 3 Maintenance Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 453 hosted a Toys for Tots 5K run at Imagination Station Park in Cortland, Ohio, Sept. 29, 2013. Top finishers in the event received a race medal, and all participants received a commemorative t-shirt. The Toys for Tots program, which began in 1947 by the Marine Corps Reserve, donates Christmas gifts to children who may not otherwise receive any. Marines from the area, to include Permanent Contact Station Warren, were on hand to help out with the charitable event. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. T.M. Stewman/Released)

Staff Sgt. Jose Benavidez, an Officer Selection Assistant with Officer Selection Office Raleigh, Marine Corps Recruiting Station Raleigh, helps an officer candidate with his gear during a three-mile hike aboard Umstead Park in Raleigh, N.C., Sept. 28, 2013. The candidates and Marines carried packs with 40 pounds of gear and an M-16 replica rubber rifle to get a feel for hiking while carrying weight. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Dwight A. Henderson/Released) - Staff Sgt. Jose Benavidez, an Officer Selection Assistant with Officer Selection Office Raleigh, Marine Corps Recruiting Station Raleigh, helps an officer candidate with his gear during a three-mile hike aboard Umstead Park in Raleigh, N.C., Sept. 28, 2013. The candidates and Marines carried packs with 40 pounds of gear and an M-16 replica rubber rifle to get a feel for hiking while carrying weight. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Dwight A. Henderson/Released)

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gabriel Diana, the Commanding Officer of Recruiting Station Charleston and Columbus, Ohio native, tosses a coin to determine who will kick or receive during a high school football game between Cabell Midland and Huntington at Cabell Midland High School Sept. 20, 2013. Several members of the Cabell Midland football team have enlisted in the Marine Corps, and one of those, defensive end Rian Caudill, is the son of U.S Marine Corps Master Sgt. Will Caudill, RS Charleston operations chief and native of Charleston, W.Va.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tyler J. Hlavac/Released) - U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gabriel Diana, the Commanding Officer of Recruiting Station Charleston and Columbus, Ohio native, tosses a coin to determine who will kick or receive during a high school football game between Cabell Midland and Huntington at Cabell Midland High School Sept. 20, 2013. Several members of the Cabell Midland football team have enlisted in the Marine Corps, and one of those, defensive end Rian Caudill, is the son of U.S Marine Corps Master Sgt. Will Caudill, RS Charleston operations chief and native of Charleston, W.Va. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tyler J. Hlavac/Released)

U.S. Marine Cpl. Bryan Nygaard, (center), Marketing and Public Affairs representative for Recruiting Station Baltimore, receives the Merit Award for best Personality Feature from Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Lt. Gen. John Paxton, left, and President of the United States Marine Corps Combat Correspondent Association Bill Hauptfleisch at Joint Base Andrews, July 27, 2013. The awards are given annually by the USMCCCA to service members who display excellence in journalism. Nygaard, a native of Ocala, Fla., won the award for an article titled “Illinois Corpsman works with Combat Engineers, proves his worth in Garmsir” which he wrote while deployed with II Marine Expeditionary Force in Afghanistan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Anderson/Released) - U.S. Marine Cpl. Bryan Nygaard, (center), Marketing and Public Affairs representative for Recruiting Station Baltimore, receives the Merit Award for best Personality Feature from Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Lt. Gen. John Paxton, left, and President of the United States Marine Corps Combat Correspondent Association Bill Hauptfleisch at Joint Base Andrews, July 27, 2013. The awards are given annually by the USMCCCA to service members who display excellence in journalism. Nygaard, a native of Ocala, Fla., won the award for an article titled “Illinois Corpsman works with Combat Engineers, proves his worth in Garmsir” which he wrote while deployed with II Marine Expeditionary Force in Afghanistan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Anderson/Released)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Edward Alsip, (left), a recruiter with Recruiting Station Frederick, talks with Toys for Tots representative and active community member of Martinsburg, Scott Stulb, Sept. 12, 2013 in Martinsburg, W. Va. When not recruiting, Alsip, a native of Fairfield, Ohio, spends his spare time ensuring local children receive toys for Christmas. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Amber Williams/Released) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Edward Alsip, (left), a recruiter with Recruiting Station Frederick, talks with Toys for Tots representative and active community member of Martinsburg, Scott Stulb, Sept. 12, 2013 in Martinsburg, W. Va. When not recruiting, Alsip, a native of Fairfield, Ohio, spends his spare time ensuring local children receive toys for Christmas. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Amber Williams/Released)