Photo By Staff Sgt. Nicole Zurbrugg | Staff Sgt. Samuel D. Balle earned the title of Top Recruiter of the District for 8th...... read more read more
Staff Sgt. Samuel D. Balle earned the title of Top Recruiter of the District for the month of October 2017 and was meritoriously promoted to the rank of staff sergeant Jan. 2, 2018.
Recruited out of the local West Jordan recruiting sub-station, Balle joined the Marine Corps in 2009 at the age of 19. He used his familiarity with the area and ties to the community to become a prosperous recruiter for Recruiting Sub-Station Sandy.
“Staff Sgt. Balle is a good recruiter, but most importantly he demonstrates the characteristics of a solid Marine – tenacious, professional and driven,” said Maj. Peter E. Ankney, commanding officer of Recruiting Station Salt Lake City. “A solid Marine makes the best of every situation, which sets the foundation of success wherever he/she is at.”
As a recruiter for Recruiting Station Salt Lake City, he has faced many challenges and triumphs, but Balle says what makes him successful is genuine concern for the young citizens of this community and their futures.
“Our young citizens want to live a life of significance and when someone crosses their path that cannot help them accomplish this, they move on,” said Balle. “I have learned as a recruiter you have to have genuine concern for helping them figure out their future. Even if their desire is not to join the military, I do my best to educate them and push them toward a better future.
Balle said that before recruiting he was introverted and didn’t get any enjoyment out of talking to people.
“Recruiting was a difficult challenge for me to start because I am more of an introvert,” said Balle. “Talking to people used to drain me, but recruiter’s school transformed me into an extrovert. It’s something I have to work hard at but the more I do it, the easier it becomes. Getting out of my shell has definitely been a challenge.”
Balle also attributes his success to boot camp, which is known for making you comfortable in uncomfortable places and situations, and his primary job in the Marine Corps as an 0311 Infantry Marine.
“My job and training is all about embracing the challenges,” said Balle. “Digging and living in dirt holes and baby wipe showers in the field for weeks can be miserable. So when I come here, yes it is long hours away from family and a stressful job, but no one is in danger.”
With two young children and one on the way, Balle says out of all the challenges the greatest challenge of all is learning how to balance family, life and a job. In an environment where your work takes the majority of your time, often working 60-80 hours per week, finding a balance is difficult. Unlike deployments, where Marines are away for extended periods and families learn to cope without their presence, this job presents a new set of challenges. The Marine is very close in proximity, but spends so much time away from home.
“This has been one of the biggest struggles for us,” said Shantelle Balle, Balle’s wife. “But we recognized that early on and knew that finding the balance had to be a priority in order to be successful, as a family as well as on the job. Communication and a strong relationship help us work through this”
Through all the struggles and trials, Shantelle and her husband found a way to be successful, as a couple, parents and as a Marine family on recruiting duty. “I am so proud! He has always had a strong work ethic but to be as driven as he is, at a job that can get you down so often, makes me feel even more proud,” said Shantelle. “I feel like his success is heavily contributed to his mindset. He has the ability to see the positivity in every situation, while keeping the end goal in mind. He is so vastly dream and goal focused, it is hard to derail him from that. Things that would typically be an end for most people are just small bumps in the road to him and he keeps his drive. He is able to keep that mindset until he accomplishes what he needs to. I love that about him.”
| Date Taken: | 01.03.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 01.16.2018 17:03 |
| Story ID: | 262219 |
| Location: | SANDY, UT, US |
| Hometown: | SANDY CITY, UT, US |
| Web Views: | 596 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Husband, Father, Marine, Recruiter and the Secret to Success, by SSgt Nicole Zurbrugg, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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