PI076: Florida Native to Spend Holidays with Family After Completing USMC Boot Camp

by Staff Sgt. Andy Orozco

A Hollywood, FL native will spend 25 precious days of leave with local friends and family over the Holidays after completing the U.S. military’s most rigorous basic training Dec. 13, 2019. U.S. Marine Corps Pvt. Bennett R. Galvan said he is looking forward to spending time with his parents after enduring 13 weeks of training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina.

“We have a pretty unique Christmas tradition,” said Galvan, a 2019 graduate of South Broward High School. “Every year, Christmas morning, my whole family has a kickball tournament. I’m definitely glad I made it home in time to play.”

After enjoying the Holidays with his family, Galvan will report to Camp Geiger, North Carolina, to attend Marine Combat Training at the School of Infantry-East.

Staff Sgt. Donley D. Francis, Galvan’s recruiter, said he is proud of the young man’s journey from an 18 year-old South Broward High School graduate to a basically trained U.S. Marine.

“It feels amazing to see a young man or woman’s journey begin in their senior year of high school — to not only watch them close the book but to watch them create an entire new book with a fresh chapter filled with endless possibilities,” said Staff Sgt. Francis, a canvassing recruiter with Recruiting Substation Hollywood, Recruiting Station Fort Lauderdale.

Upon completion of MCT, Galvan will report to Naval Air Station Pensacola, Pensacola, Florida, to begin training as an aviation electrician, his military occupational specialty. From there, Galvan will stand ready to support Marine Corps operations throughout the world.

Galvan is one of 859 of young men and women from South Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands who RS Fort Lauderdale has prepared for Marine Corps Recruit Training over the past year. The mission of RS Fort Lauderdale is to find the most highly qualified young men and women and help them begin the transition from civilian to Marine.

Ultimately, the Marine Corps’ goal is to prepare these young men and women to become ethical warriors who fight our nation’s battles and return to their local communities as contributing members of society.

For more information about Marine Corps recruiting in South Florida, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, contact Staff Sgt. Andy J. Orozco, at 954.452.0112 ext. 302.