FROM: U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
Release No: NR-001-15
January 06, 2015
DoD Announces Recruiting and Retention Numbers for Fiscal 2015, Through November 2014
The Department of Defense announced today recruiting and retention statistics for the active and reserve components for fiscal 2015, through November 2014.
Active Component
• Recruiting. All four active services met or exceeded their numerical accession goals for fiscal 2015, through November.
• Army – 10,036 accessions, with a goal of 9,880; 101.6 percent.
• Navy – 5,079 accessions, with a goal of 5,079; 100.0 percent.
• Marine Corps – 4,126 accessions, with a goal of 4,123; 100.1 percent.
• Air Force – 3,177 accessions, with a goal of 3,177; 100.0 percent.
• Retention. The Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps exhibited strong retention numbers for the second month of fiscal 2014.
Reserve Component
• Recruiting. Five of the six reserve components met or exceeded their fiscal-year-to-date 2015 numerical accession goals through November 2014. Five of the six reserve components also met or exceeded the DoD quality benchmarks.
• Army National Guard – 7,305 accessions, with a goal of 8,128; 89.9 percent.
• Army Reserve – 5,024 accessions, with a goal of 4,667; 107.6 percent.
• Navy Reserve – 994 accessions, with a goal of 994; 100.0 percent.
• Marine Corps Reserve – 1,341 accessions, with a goal of 1,254; 106.9 percent.
• Air National Guard – 1,346 accessions, with a goal of 1,346; 100.0 percent.
• Air Force Reserve – 1,179 accessions, with a goal of 1,179; 100.0 percent.
• Attrition – Each of the six reserve components met their attrition goals or were within the allowed variance. Current trends are expected to continue. (This indicator lags due to data availability.)
Showing posts with label MARINE CORPS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MARINE CORPS. Show all posts
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Monday, September 2, 2013
THE PRESENCE OF THE NYPD IN AFGHANISTAN
FROM: U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
Face of Defense: NYPD Officer Serves in Afghanistan
By Marine Corps Cpl. Paul Peterson
2nd Marine Logistics Group
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan, Aug. 30, 2013 - Before the War on Terror, the toppling of the oppressive Taliban regime in Afghanistan, or the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, a young boy from the Bronx knew one thing: he wanted to help.
Marine Corps Sgt. Jonathan L. Vasquez was that boy in New York City. Today, Vasquez is a Marine Corps reservist currently serving with Combat Logistics Regiment 2, Regional Command-Southwest, in Helmand province, Afghanistan
"I've been that way since I was young," said Vasquez, who spent four years persistently applying to become a New York City police officer after joining the military at the age of 17.
"Both the career choices I made happen to help people. It's the best of both worlds, I say," he said.
While already committed to the idea of public service, the attacks on the World Trade Center changed things for the then-12-year-old Vasquez.
"I was in social studies class -- go figure, history," Vasquez recalled. "They actually brought the TV into the classroom and explained to us the World Trade Center was hit. At first they thought it was an accident, but then they told us it wasn't. I actually wish I was older, and I had joined right then."
As Americans paused to grieve and unite, he tightened his focus on the future. It was a five-year wait before he met the age requirements for military service and nearly a decade before he realized his dream of joining the New York City Police Department.
The wait and the right to wear the uniforms were worth it, Vasquez said.
"I don't want to sound corny. It's not like Superman or anything like that, but it feels good," he said. "New York is very patriotic. You get a lot of grace and a lot of thanks. It's an awesome feeling."
Not every day is easy. Both jobs come with separation from family, constant stress, and the burden of responsibility. Not all the right choices are clear, Vasquez said.
"You don't know," he said. "Sometimes you just have to make a decision and go with it. That's a trait of being a leader, especially in the Marine Corps where they grow you to become a leader."
Vasquez said he takes it all in stride. The strain is difficult, but it also forges bonds between him and his fellow service members and police officers. Still, the risks are palpable.
"When you put on that uniform for your shift, you don't know if you're coming home," Vasquez said. "You don't know if you'll [experience] a shooting or deliver a baby that day. It's very stressful, and it's every day of your life."
Vasquez balances the stress with an inherent optimism. Whether he's serving as a vehicle commander on a convoy in Afghanistan or working as a patrol officer out of the 47th Precinct, he's upbeat.
It's in his voice every day, a nasal-heavy New York accent even a Midwesterner could appreciate and a snicker-like smile to back it up. On patrol or drenched in sweat inside the sweltering gym at Camp Leatherneck, Vasquez keeps smiling, laughing and joking.
He's the kind of New Yorker who will interrupt the climax of a perfectly good movie to point out the setting is his city. He's got "attitude."
"Not in a bad way," Vasquez said. "I'm very respectful, and I'll respect anyone as long as they respect me."
Vasquez said his family back home worries about him, but their constant support is a source of strength. He said he finds contact with his daughter particularly uplifting.
"She puts a smile on my face," he said, completely dropping his shield of military toughness. "I can see it in her eyes [when we talk online] that she really misses me ... it feels good."
Vasquez also has deployed to South America, Asia, and Iraq. At every turn, he's brought his love for service with him.
"I'm grateful for all the things the military has done for me as well as the things I try to do for the military," Vasquez said. "It's the same thing for the police department. I'm glad I have a career back home I can go to and also help people."
Face of Defense: NYPD Officer Serves in Afghanistan
By Marine Corps Cpl. Paul Peterson
2nd Marine Logistics Group
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan, Aug. 30, 2013 - Before the War on Terror, the toppling of the oppressive Taliban regime in Afghanistan, or the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, a young boy from the Bronx knew one thing: he wanted to help.
Marine Corps Sgt. Jonathan L. Vasquez was that boy in New York City. Today, Vasquez is a Marine Corps reservist currently serving with Combat Logistics Regiment 2, Regional Command-Southwest, in Helmand province, Afghanistan
"I've been that way since I was young," said Vasquez, who spent four years persistently applying to become a New York City police officer after joining the military at the age of 17.
"Both the career choices I made happen to help people. It's the best of both worlds, I say," he said.
While already committed to the idea of public service, the attacks on the World Trade Center changed things for the then-12-year-old Vasquez.
"I was in social studies class -- go figure, history," Vasquez recalled. "They actually brought the TV into the classroom and explained to us the World Trade Center was hit. At first they thought it was an accident, but then they told us it wasn't. I actually wish I was older, and I had joined right then."
As Americans paused to grieve and unite, he tightened his focus on the future. It was a five-year wait before he met the age requirements for military service and nearly a decade before he realized his dream of joining the New York City Police Department.
The wait and the right to wear the uniforms were worth it, Vasquez said.
"I don't want to sound corny. It's not like Superman or anything like that, but it feels good," he said. "New York is very patriotic. You get a lot of grace and a lot of thanks. It's an awesome feeling."
Not every day is easy. Both jobs come with separation from family, constant stress, and the burden of responsibility. Not all the right choices are clear, Vasquez said.
"You don't know," he said. "Sometimes you just have to make a decision and go with it. That's a trait of being a leader, especially in the Marine Corps where they grow you to become a leader."
Vasquez said he takes it all in stride. The strain is difficult, but it also forges bonds between him and his fellow service members and police officers. Still, the risks are palpable.
"When you put on that uniform for your shift, you don't know if you're coming home," Vasquez said. "You don't know if you'll [experience] a shooting or deliver a baby that day. It's very stressful, and it's every day of your life."
Vasquez balances the stress with an inherent optimism. Whether he's serving as a vehicle commander on a convoy in Afghanistan or working as a patrol officer out of the 47th Precinct, he's upbeat.
It's in his voice every day, a nasal-heavy New York accent even a Midwesterner could appreciate and a snicker-like smile to back it up. On patrol or drenched in sweat inside the sweltering gym at Camp Leatherneck, Vasquez keeps smiling, laughing and joking.
He's the kind of New Yorker who will interrupt the climax of a perfectly good movie to point out the setting is his city. He's got "attitude."
"Not in a bad way," Vasquez said. "I'm very respectful, and I'll respect anyone as long as they respect me."
Vasquez said his family back home worries about him, but their constant support is a source of strength. He said he finds contact with his daughter particularly uplifting.
"She puts a smile on my face," he said, completely dropping his shield of military toughness. "I can see it in her eyes [when we talk online] that she really misses me ... it feels good."
Vasquez also has deployed to South America, Asia, and Iraq. At every turn, he's brought his love for service with him.
"I'm grateful for all the things the military has done for me as well as the things I try to do for the military," Vasquez said. "It's the same thing for the police department. I'm glad I have a career back home I can go to and also help people."
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
A MOTIVATED MARINE'S STORY
 |
| Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Shane Kruse, a Conrad, Iowa, native, decided to follow in his parents' footsteps and become a Marine. Now a driver and machine gunner with the Combined Anti-Armor Team 2, Company F, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, Kruse is now serving in Afghanistan on his first combat deployment. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Mark Garcia |
Face of Defense: Motivated Marine Serves in Afghanistan
By Marine Corps Cpl. Mark Garcia
Regional Command Southwest
MUSA QAL'AH DISTRICT CENTER, Afghanistan, Dec. 11, 2012 - Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Shane Kruse decided as a senior in high school that he wanted to join the Corps.
Growing up in the small town of Conrad, Iowa, Kruse had a graduating class of 48 students. He had the opportunity to receive a college education while on scholarship for either football or baseball, but the urge to become a Marine was greater. Kruse was on his way to recruit training four months after graduating from high school.
"Both my parents were in the Marine Corps," said Kruse, a driver and machine gunner with the Combined Anti-Armor Team 2, Company F, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7.
"My cousin was a Marine and was involved in the early stages of Iraq. I figured it was in my blood," Kruse said. "I felt like I needed to become a Marine. I've always been driven to be the best and the Marine Corps offered me the opportunity."
Kruse is currently serving on his second deployment; his first was with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.
"I joined the Marine Corps because of 9/11, and I wanted to serve my country," Kruse said. "I wanted to be the best and I saw the Marine Corps as the best branch of the military that I could have joined."
Kruse noted the risks involved with his current deployment compared to his previous one.
"This deployment is a lot more serious," Kruse said. "It's more dangerous, this deployment. You just have to take things more seriously because you're in life-and-death situations out here. This deployment is a big eye-opener. It's something you've been training for and preparing for the past two-and-a-half years, and it's finally happening. When you first get blown up or you first get shot at it gives a different perspective."
Kruse has enjoyed his current deployment because of his unit's ability to accomplish its mission in a combat environment.
"This deployment has been nice compared to the MEU," Kruse said. "It's nice to know that you're contributing to the war effort and to your country directly. I feel like we've been doing good things this deployment."
During this deployment, Kruse has had to cope with the difficulties associated with leaving a spouse at home.
"It's a growing experience," he said. "It's part of growing up. It's hard coming straight out of high school and going into the adult world, especially in the military. But you learn to deal with it and take it day-by-day until you can see your loved ones again."
Recently Kruse participated in Operation Helmand Viper, which took place during October in Zamindawar, a known insurgent hotbed between Musa Qal'ah and Kajaki. Kruse is referred to as the Tony Hawk of the drivers in his unit because of his ability to maneuver through dangerous terrain that's sometimes laden with improvised explosive devices.
"Lance Cpl. Kruse, in my eyes, is one of the best machine gunners and drivers we have," said Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Joseph Dalbec. "He's a great asset to this team and our company. Not only that, but he's a great friend of mine. He's been my best friend for almost three years."
Although Kruse is undecided on whether he will re-enlist, he plans on striving forward during his time in the Marine Corps and answering his nation's call whenever needed.
Friday, May 4, 2012
LAST DAY IN THE MARINE CORP
FROM: VETERANS ADMINISTRATION
“How am I Going to Top That?”April 30, 2012 by Bryan Escobedo
I remember the feeling of sadness as I drove out of the front gate of Camp Lejune on my last day in the Marine Corps. I thought to myself, “How am I going to top that?” I was a Sergeant, a squad leader, and I had a memory full of epic adventures.
Leading Marines and working together for the common good is what I would miss most, along with the unlimited access to explosives. Luckily, that inner fire found a new home in The Mission Continues. It gave me an opportunity to direct all my passion, military leadership, along with every residual ounce of ‘Oorah,’ and redirect it into a new mission: inspiring positive change in my community through service as a Mission Continues fellow.
My personal mission was to tackle unemployment in the Greater Houston Area among my fellow veterans, which I have been very successful with so far. Then I got a phone call. The staff asked me if I would like to be on the Colbert Report, to which I replied…”yyAAAiiyah..” along with other indistinguishable sounds of excitement.
Turns out, the Colbert Report was doing a piece on the focus of my fellowship: veteran unemployment. What ensued was an experience of a lifetime! I remember waking up to an anxiety attack from utter excitement! I felt like I won the lottery, and it was thanks to The Mission Continues.
My wife and I got to meet Stephen Colbert, all of his wonderful staff, and First Lady Michelle Obama! They flew us out to New York, put us up in a nice hotel in Time Square, and paid us for our time on the show. We were overwhelmed by bountiful generosity. My wife and I are both fans of the show, so it really was a dream come true.
Walking into the studio was surreal. It was decorated with all sorts of funky art and hilarious pictures. Everyone who worked there was jovial, amicable and genuinely enthusiastic. Stephen was the nicest guy on and off camera, and he really loves the troops. He even went to Iraq in 2009 to entertain the troops. He just oozed funny constantly. Stephen Colbert is a guy I’d have a beer with any time….or a glass of wine with Michelle Obama, who we also got to meet.
She had a presence of elegance and kindness, as well as a warm motherly hug. I was at a loss for words when I met the First Lady. I didn’t know whether or not to call her First, Firsty, Michelle, Mrs. Obama, or Mi’lady, so I just reverted back to my military training and just called her ma’am. Nevertheless, I thanked her wholeheartedly for her veteran hiring initiative. She makes my job of getting vets back to work easy.
All I planned on doing was working for my veteran community, but I have gotten much more out of my fellowship than that. The rewards of working with my community show in the number of veterans hired, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. Doing good for my fellow man, and my brothers and sisters in arms is the most potent sense of satisfaction I have ever felt. My fellowship with The Mission Continues has reawakened my passion for leadership through service, and a love for my community. I’ll never be the same, and I’m just getting started.
Bryan Escobedo served in the United States Marine Corps and is currently completing a Mission Continues Fellowship at Lonestar Veterans Association in Houston, Texas.
“How am I Going to Top That?”April 30, 2012 by Bryan Escobedo
I remember the feeling of sadness as I drove out of the front gate of Camp Lejune on my last day in the Marine Corps. I thought to myself, “How am I going to top that?” I was a Sergeant, a squad leader, and I had a memory full of epic adventures.
Leading Marines and working together for the common good is what I would miss most, along with the unlimited access to explosives. Luckily, that inner fire found a new home in The Mission Continues. It gave me an opportunity to direct all my passion, military leadership, along with every residual ounce of ‘Oorah,’ and redirect it into a new mission: inspiring positive change in my community through service as a Mission Continues fellow.
My personal mission was to tackle unemployment in the Greater Houston Area among my fellow veterans, which I have been very successful with so far. Then I got a phone call. The staff asked me if I would like to be on the Colbert Report, to which I replied…”yyAAAiiyah..” along with other indistinguishable sounds of excitement.
Turns out, the Colbert Report was doing a piece on the focus of my fellowship: veteran unemployment. What ensued was an experience of a lifetime! I remember waking up to an anxiety attack from utter excitement! I felt like I won the lottery, and it was thanks to The Mission Continues.
My wife and I got to meet Stephen Colbert, all of his wonderful staff, and First Lady Michelle Obama! They flew us out to New York, put us up in a nice hotel in Time Square, and paid us for our time on the show. We were overwhelmed by bountiful generosity. My wife and I are both fans of the show, so it really was a dream come true.
Walking into the studio was surreal. It was decorated with all sorts of funky art and hilarious pictures. Everyone who worked there was jovial, amicable and genuinely enthusiastic. Stephen was the nicest guy on and off camera, and he really loves the troops. He even went to Iraq in 2009 to entertain the troops. He just oozed funny constantly. Stephen Colbert is a guy I’d have a beer with any time….or a glass of wine with Michelle Obama, who we also got to meet.
She had a presence of elegance and kindness, as well as a warm motherly hug. I was at a loss for words when I met the First Lady. I didn’t know whether or not to call her First, Firsty, Michelle, Mrs. Obama, or Mi’lady, so I just reverted back to my military training and just called her ma’am. Nevertheless, I thanked her wholeheartedly for her veteran hiring initiative. She makes my job of getting vets back to work easy.
All I planned on doing was working for my veteran community, but I have gotten much more out of my fellowship than that. The rewards of working with my community show in the number of veterans hired, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. Doing good for my fellow man, and my brothers and sisters in arms is the most potent sense of satisfaction I have ever felt. My fellowship with The Mission Continues has reawakened my passion for leadership through service, and a love for my community. I’ll never be the same, and I’m just getting started.
Bryan Escobedo served in the United States Marine Corps and is currently completing a Mission Continues Fellowship at Lonestar Veterans Association in Houston, Texas.
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