For Americans living in Germany, it’s about to get a lot easier to join the Marine Corps.
Starting on Feb. 15, the Marine Corps will operate a recruiting substation at Kleber Kaserne, a U.S. Army base in Kaiserslautern, Germany, said Gunnery Sgt. Christopher Nieves, who is assigned to the facility.
A Marine stationed in Germany had suggested opening a recruiting facility because Americans were returning to the U.S. to enlist in the Corps, Nieves told Marine Corps Times on Thursday.
“It’s a market we’re not really in,” Nieves said. “We’re not really sure how it’s going to go. They proposed it and figured it will save the individuals that are interested a lot of time and money.”
Only Americans ― such as children of U.S. service members and contractors and other Americans living in Europe ― can enlist in the Marine Corps, he said.
Nieves said he plans to travel to bases in the Kaiserslautern Military Community to conduct PT with poolees several times a week. “I’ll have squad leaders for each area and they will report to me,” he said.
Stars and Stripes first reported on Thursday that the Marine Corps will open the recruiting substation in Germany.
For now, Nieves will be the only Marine recruiter in Europe, but he is working with applicants from Brussels, London and Spain, so the Marines may eventually visit high schools outside of Germany, he said.