Staff Sgt. Jose Flores, non-prior service recruiter, Recruiting Station Substation Patchogue, New York, was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for being named the Non-Prior Service Recruiter of the Year for FY14 on Jan. 29 at the Clubs at Quantico during the Combined Awards Ceremony. Flores was also meritoriously promoted from the rank of sergeant to staff sergeant.

Photo by Cpl. Jacky Fang

Commandant of Marine Corps recognizes recruiters of year

5 Feb 2015 | Lance Cpl. Logan Block The Official United States Marine Corps Public Website

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Virginia -- Commandant of the Marine Corps General Joseph F. Dunford awarded Gunnery Sgt. Orlando Torres from Recruiting Station Milwaukee and Staff Sgt. Jose Flores from Recruiting Substation Patchogue, New York, as the 2014 Recruiters of the Year at the Clubs at Quantico, January 29.

Recruiters put in countless hours of tedious work to enlist young men and women into the Marine Corps. These two recruiters have gone above and beyond their peers to earn these awards. In 2014, an average of 78 percent of Marine recruiters worked more than 60 hours per week, according to the Recruiter Quality of Life Survey.

For fiscal year 2014, the active duty Marine Corps had 31,510 accessions, with a goal of 30,523, putting the accession rate at 100 percent, according to the Department of Defense.

Being a recruiter is not only stressful for the Marine, but also for that Marine’s family. Flores’ wife, Eliana, said the hardest part about being married to a recruiter is the time they spend apart.

Prior service and non-prior service recruiters are evaluated at every level of the command structure and are narrowed down to one individual from each half of the nation for both categories. The Marine Corps Recruiting Command headquarters then reviews the finalists and selects the winners.

“The Marine Corps is a great organization,” said Flores, winner of the non-prior service recruiting award. “As long as you set a goal and you continue to work hard, I promise in the end it will pay off.”

Along with earning the recruiters of the year title, the two were meritoriously promoted to their present ranks.

“It felt great to get promoted and strive above my peers,” said Torres, winner of the prior service recruiting award.

“I am extremely proud to be here today.” said Dunford. “Not proud to be the Commandant of the Marine Corps, but proud to wear the same uniform as the Marine leaders being awarded today.”

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