SPRINGFIELD, Missouri – The Centurion Award is one of the most prestigious honors in Marine Corps recruiting, presented to those who successfully recruit 100 or more future Marines within their 36-month tour. This award was recently presented to U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Alex Porter, a Minnesota native with Recruiting Station Kansas City, for recruiting 110 individuals into the Marine Corps.
“Receiving this award is so rewarding,” said Porter. “Knowing that I have helped so many different individuals and looking forward to what they are going to accomplish when they hit the fleet is motivating.”
For Porter, the key to success lies in forming authentic connections with applicants, being willing to do the hard work and consistently showing up.
“Recruiting isn’t necessarily difficult, but it is demanding, and it comes along with its challenges, but it is not impossible. If you can show that you are genuine to these people, they will show that same respect back, making the process easier.”
To Porter, the future Marines he recruited were unique individuals with their own paths and futures to create.
“Recruiting was just something I always wanted to do. I want to pay it forward because maybe they come from less fortunate areas, or didn’t have access to better opportunities, but it is my job to make them figure out what is going to make them successful.”
Recruiting for Porter is about the human connection and how he can help each individual create a successful career in the Marine Corps.
“Seeing the transformation from poolee to Marine is rewarding in itself,” he stated. “I’m glad I get to be a part of their journey.”
Porter’s unwavering dedication to his job and the Marine Corps has not gone unnoticed. He considers receiving the Centurion Award a huge achievement not just for himself, but also for everyone who supported him alongside recruiting duty.