U.S. Marines with Recruiting Station Kansas City and students with Jobs for America’s Graduates Nebraska execute the Marine For A Day event in Lincoln, Nebraska, Sept. 9, 2025. Marine For A Day teaches students about post-secondary career opportunities like the Marine Corps by conducting workout-style leadership activities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Alexis Moradian)
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. Â Â 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.
