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Marine
Recruiter Brings Home Opportunities
by U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Alvin Pujols December 9, 2018 Individuals join the Marine Corps for many reasons like family legacy, building a greater life for our family and searching for challenge. While many find accomplish these things while in the Marine Corps, a select few bring these opportunities to the youth in the United States and even fewer to their hometowns. Sgt. Edwin Carranza, a canvassing recruiter with Recruiting Station Phoenix, has been in the Marine Corps just over 7 years, completing one enlistment doing his primary duties as a communications Marine and a second enlistment as a canvassing recruiter. “It was during the beginning of my second enlistment that I was selected to become a recruiter,” said Carranza, a San Luis, AZ native. “My first thought was I wanted to recruit out of my hometown.”  ----------------------------------------------------------- Carranza knew the duty was a difficult one and wanted to ensure his family was taken care of as he completed recruiting duty. “Recruiting in general is considered one of the toughest jobs in the Marine Corps because of the constant pressure to meet mission requirements,” Carranza said. “If I went to my hometown I feel like I would be at an advantage as well as being able to help out my family. Since I would be working a lot I knew being close to family would make the transition more tolerable for my wife and daughter.” But Carranza’s thoughts weren’t only on his family but about those individuals whose lives he would impact by bringing them the opportunities the Marine Corps has to offer. “I take great pride recruiting out of my own hometown of San Luis because other than college, which is difficult to pay for, the only options for young individuals is the call center I used to work at or working the fields, which is physically draining due to the intense heat,” said Carranza. “But for me to help out these students who went to the high school I went to and help them start their future. This makes me feel good because I didn’t have somebody there to tell me.” Recruiting Duty also allows Marines like Carranza to influence the parents and influencers in their communities.  ----------------------------------------------------------- Carranza said “I get to talk to parents and tell them the story of how the Marine Corps helped me out and there comes a time while speaking to the applicant that they want to join the military not just because of the benefits but to be Marines. That's what makes me feel good at the end of the day.” As Carranza continues his career he will be aided not only by his fellow Marines on recruiting duty but one day the Marines he himself put in the Marine Corps. The U.S. Marines | Marines - The Few, The Proud | U.S. Marines Gifts | U.S. Marine Corps | U.S. Department of Defense |
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