Coronavirus: National Marine Corps recruiting goes digital, to telephone

Female recruits practice for final drill aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C. (Handout/Pvt. Crystal N. Curtis/U.S. Marine Corps)

Female recruits practice for final drill aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C. (Handout/Pvt. Crystal N. Curtis/U.S. Marine Corps)

The Marine Corps Recruiting Command will temporarily transition to prospecting entirely via digital and telephonic means, and Marine recruiters will no longer meet with new applicants in person in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

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“The preservation of our recruiting force, applicants, poolees, and their families is the highest priority for the Marine Corps Recruiting Command during this national emergency,” said Maj. Gen. James W. Bierman, commanding general of MCRC.

“With that in mind, we will immediately transition to prospecting exclusively via digital and telephonic means, and no longer initiate in-person interviews. We remain committed to recruiting the highly-qualified men and women our Nation needs for its Marine Corps.

"Because recruiting is an activity of vital importance to our Nation and Corps, we will continue our efforts to ship young men and women to our Recruit Depots and Officer Candidate School as conditions permit,” Bierman said. “At the same time, it is recognized this imperative is not the only consideration. Our efforts will prioritize protecting our Marines and families."

Local recruiting offices will continue to be staffed, but at reduced manpower levels commensurate with social distancing guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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