6th Marine Corps District

Private Joshua D. Zook reunites with his parents, Mark and Karen Zook, Oct. 14, 2016, after 13 weeks of recruit training aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. Mark and Karen are a Gold Star family. According to the National Gold Star Family Registry, the Department of Defense (DoD) distributes a Gold Star Lapel Button, also referred to as the Gold Star lapel, to members of the immediate family of a fallen service member. (Courtesy Photo)

Station commanders across Recruiting Station Montgomery gather together for a photo with Maj. Dwane Sims Oct. 29, 2016, during the 241st Marine Corps Birthday Ball celebration at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel and Spa in Montgomery, Alabama. Sims is the acting Commanding Officer for Recruiting Station Montgomery. (Official Marine Corps courtesy photo/Released)

Private First Class Stephen C. Johnson Shea graduated recruit training Nov. 18, 2016, as the honor graduate of platoon 1088. Johnson Shea was recruited out of Recruiting Substation Greenville by Gunnery Sgt. Marcell N. Garvey. (Official Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Diamond N. Peden/Released)

Colonel Jeffrey C. Smitherman, commanding officer of the 6th Marine Corps District, poses with Sgt. Maj. Samuel Heyward Jr., sergeant major of Marine Corps Recruiting Command, as he receives the gift provided by the Marines of the 6th MCD Nov. 10, 2016 at the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort and Spa in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Sergeant Major Heyward was the guest of honor at the district headquarters birthday ball. (Photo by Cpl. John-Paul Imbody/Released)

Colonel Jeffrey C. Smitherman, commanding officer of 6th Marine Corps District, slices the Marine birthday cake with the non-commissioned officer sword during the 6th Marine Corps District's 241st Birthday Ball Celebration Nov. 10, 2016 at the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort and Spa in Hilton Head, South Carolina. (Photo by Cpl. John-Paul Imbody/Released)

Major Michael L. Valenti slices the Marine birthday cake during the Recruiting Station Jacksonville's Marine Corps 241st Birthday Ball Celebration in Oct. 22, 2016 in Jacksonville, Florida. Valenti is the Commanding Officer of Recruiting Station Jacksonville.

Private First Class Jordan T. Whitehead, honor graduate of platoon 3091, stands at aparade rest before graduation Nov. 10, 2016, aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina. Whitehead was recruited out of Permanent Contact Station Scottsboro by Staff Sgt. Daniel R. Love. (Official Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Diamond N. Peden/Released)

Private First Class Jason P. Gautreaux, honor graduate of platoon 3090, presents his gudon during the pass and review during graduation Nov. 10, 2016, aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina. Gautreaux was recruited out of Recruiting Substation Houma by Staff Sgt. Spencer T. Brown. (Official Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Diamond N. Peden/Released)

Private First Class Scott M. Getz presents his platoon's guidon before recruit graduation Nov. 4, 2016 aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina. Getz was recruited out of Recruiting Substation Cartersville by Staff Sgt. Eric J. Baker. (Official Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Diamond N. Peden/Released)

Private First Class Mitchell S. Walden, honor graduate of platoon 2081, holds his guidon at parade rest before graduation Nov. 4, 2016, aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina. Walden was recruited out of Recruiting Substation Dothan by Sgt. Drew E. Shorkey. (Official Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Diamond N. Peden/Released)

Private First Class Erica F. Preston, honor graduate of platoon 4038, holds her guidon at parade rest before graduation Nov. 4, 2016, aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina. Preston was recruited out of Recruiting Substation Murfreesboro by Sgt. Robert L. Kauffman. (Official Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Diamond N. Peden/Released)

The 18th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Ronald L. Green, visits Marines assigned to Marine Corps Recruiting Station Baton Rouge and poolees in Gulfport, Miss., Oct. 26, 2016. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt Rubin J. Tan/Released)

Second Lieutenant Tyler R. Watkins leads Delta Company during a field meet at Officer Candidates School, aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., Aug. 4, 2016. Once an NCAA Division I athlete, Watkins transitioned from trying to play football professionally to his dreams of becoming a Marine officer. He graduated OCS with Officer Candidate Class 222, which had the most OCS graduates since 2009, on Aug. 6, 2016. Due to injuries sustained during OCS, he is temporarily assigned to the Plans and Research section at Marine Corps Recruiting Command aboard MCB Quantico. Watkins hopes to return to training in March 2017.

Second Lieutenant Tyler R. Watkins poses for a photo at Marine Corps Recruiting Command aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., Oct. 26, 2016. Watkins is a former NCAA Division I student athlete who graduated Officer Candidates School, Aug. 6, 2016. Due to injuries sustained during OCS, he is temporarily assigned to the Plans and Research section at MCRC. Watkins hopes to return to training in March 2017. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Shaehmus Sawyer/Released)

Second Lieutenant Tyler R. Watkins defends his zone as Coastal Carolina University’s linebacker during the final game of the regular season, facing off against Charleston Southern University at Brooks Stadium, Conway, S.C., Oct. 25, 2014. Watkins applied everything he learned playing football to his training at Officer Candidates School aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va. He graduated OCS with Officer Candidate Class 222, which had the most OCS graduates since 2009, on Aug. 6, 2016. Due to injuries sustained during OCS, he is temporarily assigned to the Plans and Research section at Marine Corps Recruiting Command aboard MCB Quantico. Watkins hopes to return to training in March 2017.

Marines with the Officer Selection Team Gainesville pose in a photo with Florida Gator Women's Basketball team at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center in Starke, Florida, Oct. 15, 2016. Officer Selection Teams are a vital part of the recruiting mission accoss the 6th Marine Corps District. (Courtesy Photo)

Pfc. Trace A. Morrill, honor graduate of platoon 1080, holds his guidon at parade rest before graduation aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, Oct. 28, 2016. Morrill was recruited by Staff Sgt. Walter C. Vaughn from Recruiting Substation Peachtree City. (Marine Corps photo by Cpl. John-Paul Imbody/Released)

Pfc. Cory E. Arensen, honor graduate of platoon 1081, presents his guidon before graduation aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, Oct. 28, 2016. Fielder was recruited by Sgt. Steven L. McNeely from Recruiting Substation Fort Pierce. (Marine Corps photo by Cpl. John-Paul Imbody/Released)

Sergeant Rebecca D. Schilling oversees a pull-up bar challenge during the Jacksonville Marine Corps Half Marathon and Freedom Oct 16, 2016, at Metropolitan Park, Jacksonville, Florida. Schillings is a canvassing recruiter at Recruiting Substation Jacksonville Beach.

Staff Sergeant Clifford M. Lucker presents Carol Turner with the March to Greatness challenge coine during the live airing of the pep rally Oct. 21, 2016, at River Bluff High School in Lexington, South Carolina. Turner, a snare drum player and band president, earned the recognition for the hard work and dedication she shows during marching band and in her community. Lucker is a canvassing recruiter at Marine Corps Recruiting Station Columbia. (Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tabitha Bartley/Released)

Recruit Edwin Morales, Platoon 3090, Company M, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, “breaks the seal” on his M50 joint service general purpose mask while in the gas chamber aboard Page Field, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. Morales was recruited by Staff Sgt. Mario Sanchez from Recruiting Substation Fort Myers, Recruiting Station Fort Lauderdale. Morales, a native of Cape Coral, Florida, joined the Marine Corps to become a combat engineer. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. John-Paul Imbody/Released)

Col. Sean Salene, the officer-in-charge of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Nashville, gives his remarks during a press conference at the Nashville Metropolitan Courthouse, Aug. 10. The press conference was held to announce that Nashville would be host to this year's Marine Week. Marine Week is the largest Marine Corps community outreach program and is designed to connect Marines with the communities they serve. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Bobby J. Yarbrough/Released)

Pfc. Jacob J. Price, honor graduate of platoon 3046, presents his platoon's guidon as the rest of his platoon is saluting before the graduation ceremony, June 3rd, 2016, aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. Price, a native of Crawfordville, Fla., was recruited by Staff Sgt. Jacob D. Melrose at Recruiting Substation Tallahassee. To be recommended as an honor graduate, a recruit must not only display honor, courage, and commitment during their three months of training but excel in physical training, knowledge, and have a team player disposition. (Official Marine Corps photo by Cpl. John-Paul Imbody)

Maj Kathryn Wagner relinquishes command to Maj Jonathan Landers as the Commanding Officer for Recruiting Station Nashville, TN during the change of command ceremony at the Music City Sheraton Hotel June 8, 2016. “You are getting a truly professional and dedicated group of Marines that are ready to go in any direction you point to without fail,” said Maj Wagner to Maj Landers. “I am truly honored and humbled to be your new CO,” said Maj Landers to the Marines. “Nashville is where I wanted to be. There is nowhere else I wanted to be as CO then right here.” (Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Michael Iams)