Tyson Hume, a graphic design teacher and head coach of wrestling and cross country at Warner High School, Warner, Okla., discusses the experiences he is looking forward to prior to attending an Educators' Workshop with 9th Marine Corps District, Western Recruiting Region, Marine Corps Recruiting Command, at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, Calif., June 21, 2024. Participants visited MCRD San Diego to observe recruit training and gain a better understanding about the transformation from recruits to United States Marines. Educators also received classes and briefs on the benefits that are provided to service members serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Maxwell Cook)
U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Armando Lopez, an operations clerk with 9th Marine Corps District and Illinois native, is more than just a Marine, he’s a mentor, a motivator, and a certified Marine Corps Martial Arts Instructor (MAI). Through the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP), he teaches Marines how to cultivate mental toughness, leadership, and grit.
Major. Hillebrand, a Wisconsin native and commanding officer of Recruiting Station (RS) Milwaukee, always had the drive and desire to join the Marine Corps, but he was not sure how to begin the process. As a student, Hillebrand struggled in school and felt uncertain about his future. High school came with pressure from all directions, and navigating his newfound adulthood
proved difficult.
On February 23rd, 2025, the City of Chicago and veterans from across Chicagoland honored the Marines of World War II and the 80th anniversary of the flag raising on Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima by laying a wreath next to the Eternal Flame in the heart of Daley Plaza.
