Richmond, VA -- After more than 21 years of service in the Marine Corps, Gunnery Sgt. Marvin Faulcon retired in a ceremony in Richmond, Virgina, July 25.
“His capabilities and tremendous skill affected every one of us in the Recruiting Station,” said Maj. Ryan Gordinier, commanding officer of Recruiting Station Richmond. “He has helped train and mold our recruiters, the gatekeepers of the Corps, who determine who is eligible and capable of earning our beloved title. He has done so as a man of honor, a man of courage, and a man of commitment.”
The native of Frankfurt, Germany, graduated from Bowie High School located in Austin, Texas in June of 1993. In January of 1994, Gunnery Sergeant Faulcon graduated from basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California. Faulcon was sent to Personnel Administration School aboard Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he completed the Basic Administration Course, and was sent back to MCRD San Diego as an administration clerk for Headquarters and Service Company, filling many roles within his military occupational specialty.
Faulcon’s first experience at Marine Corps Recruiting Station Richmond, Virginia was as the operations clerk. After 18 months as the operations clerk, he requested and received orders to attend Recruiters School.
Faulcon was again stationed at RS Richmond and began working as a recruiter at Recruiting Sub-station Richmond South. As the World Trade Center towers fell on 9/11, Faulcon was faced with the tough task of recruiting the young men and women would take part in what became The Global War on Terror.
Faulcon would eventually take over the Sub-Station to become the staff noncommissioned officer in charge. After nine months of being the SNCOIC of RSS Richmond South, Faulcon returned to his administrative background and was stationed at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. Here he would take on the role as the base’s Reserve Liaison.
Not even a year into this duty station, Faulcon was called by his former command and was requested to come back to recruiting duty to take charge of RSS Chesapeake. In August 2005, Faulcon returned to recruiting duty to assume the role of SNCOIC of RSS Chesapeake, Virginia. Here he remained for another four years. He was able to lateral move into the Career Recruiter field and was also promoted to his current rank of gunnery sergeant.
In July of 2009, Faulcon checked out of RS Richmond and moved out west to RS Seattle, Washington, to take over RSS Bellevue. After 20 months as the SNCOIC of RSS Bellevue, Faulcon was assigned as the Military Entrance Processing Station Liaison for RS Seattle, responsible for the accuracy and quality control of the enlistment process for the entire RS.
After three years of being stationed at RS Seattle, Faulcon decided to go back to RS Richmond, where he was assigned as the assistant recruiter instructor for the station. Here, he was responsible for the training and evaluation of all recruiters, and helped to mold the recruiters into successful team, meeting some of the most challenging recruiting requirements in all of Marine Corps Recruiting Command.
For his outstanding contributions to the recruiting station and the Marine Corps, Faulcon was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal during the ceremony.
Faulcon was quick to thank his family for supporting him throughout his 21 years as an active duty Marine.
“Everything you have done for me has led me to where I am today, and I truly thank you for it,” he said.
Faulcon and his family will retire to Austin, Texas, where he will pursue a second career in human resources.