US military swears in hundreds of new recruits at TAFD 2015

Photo By Sgt. Thomas Crough | Future Soldiers reciting the Oath of Enlistment during the 56th Annual Torrance Armed Forces Day Parade in Torrance, Calif., May 16, 2015. More than 800 new recruits from all five branches of the Armed Forces were sworn in at the parade.  

TORRANCE, CA, UNITED STATES

05.16.2015

Story by Spc. Thomas Crough 

201st TPASE

TORRANCE, Calif. – “… I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies …” echoed down Torrance Boulevard as more than 800 new recruits recited the Oath of Enlistment Saturday, during the 56th Annual Torrance Armed Forces Day Parade.

This group was the largest marching in the parade this year and was composed of brand new Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen who were sworn in by the parade’s Grand Marshall, Rear Adm. Joseph A. Servidio, commander of the 11th Coast Guard District. This year, the parade highlighted the U.S. Coast Guard as the “honored branch.”

“It’s nice to see this many people show up and support the military and it makes my enlistment feel important,” said Arik Pulsifer, a 21-year-old from Malibu, Calif. “I grew up by the ocean and have always respected the Coast Guard I thought it would be the best career path for me to remain near the ocean and help people.”

Pulsifer ships out to USCG basic training in Cape May, N.J., later this summer and hopes to be stationed in either Alaska or the Channel Islands.

“I joined the Army for the benefits, travel and life experience,” said Ashley Arceneaux, a 24-year-old future Soldier from Lawndale, Calif. “I chose the Army because of its training style.”

Arceneaux hopes teamwork skills she learned playing basketball will help her during basic training, and that her degree in Criminal Justice from Cal State Northridge will help her in her desired field of Military Intelligence.

The parade is the nation’s longest-running military parade sponsored by any city and drew a crowd of nearly 100,000 on-lookers. Current and former members of all five branches of the military were present to march in the parade, demonstrate military equipment and tactics and spend time with the public.

The day was a celebration of the men and women who have served this country and a way for new service members to start their careers in the United States military.

• Date Taken: 05.16.2015
• Date Posted: 05.17.2015 18:10
• Story ID: 163593
• Location: TORRANCE, CA, US
• Hometown: LAWNDALE, CA, US
• Hometown: MALIBU, CA, US