By Marine Corps Sgt. Alvin Pujols, 8th Marine Corps District
YUMA, Ariz. -- Marine Corps Sgt. Edwin Carranza takes pride
in recruiting new Marines from his hometown of San Luis, Arizona.
Carranza, a canvassing recruiter with Recruiting Station
Phoenix, has been in the Marine Corps just over 7 years, completing one
enlistment doing his primary duties as a communications Marine and a second
enlistment as a canvassing recruiter.
“It was during the beginning of my second enlistment that I
was selected to become a recruiter,” he said. “My first thought was I wanted to
recruit out of my hometown.”
Carranza said he knew recruiting duty is difficult, and he
wanted to ensure his family is taken care of.
“Recruiting in general is considered one of the toughest
jobs in the Marine Corps because of the constant pressure to meet mission
requirements,” Carranza said. “If I went to my hometown, I feel like I would be
at an advantage as well as being able to help out my family. Since I would be
working a lot I knew being close to family would make the transition more
tolerable for my wife and daughter.”
Bringing Opportunities
But Carranza’s thoughts weren’t only on his family but also
about those individuals whose lives he would impact by bringing them the
opportunities the Marine Corps has to offer.
“I take great pride recruiting out of my own hometown of San
Luis because other than college, which is difficult to pay for, the only
options for young individuals is the call center I used to work at or working
the fields, which is physically draining due to the intense heat,” Carranza
said.
Recruiting duty also allows Marines like Carranza to
influence the parents and influencers in their communities.
Carranza said, “I get to talk to parents and tell them the
story of how the Marine Corps helped me out, and there comes a time while
speaking to the applicant that they want to join the military not just because
of the benefits but to be Marines. That's what makes me feel good at the end of
the day.”
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