Sergeant First Class Rubén Vasquez is currently retired from the AGR Recruiting & Retention, Army National Guard. Prior to this position he was at 1st Marine Corps District, as Assistant Officer Procurement Chief, providing guidance to the Officer Selection Team Recruiters and reviewing all Officer Candidate applications. In addition, he was in charge of assisting AOP/AAOP in all areas of planning; generating statistics and maintaining reports; assisting Officer Selection Team’s in professional selling skills and systematic recruiting; and, serving as the liaison between Officer Selection Team and AOP shop.
In May of 1999, he served as the Reserve Procurement Chief of 1st Marine Corps District where he was responsible for monitoring Quota Serial Numbers through EQM and for serving as the liaison to higher Headquarters on all Reserves matters. He also worked as the program manager for Reserve Referrals.
He reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Parris Island in March of 1980 and upon graduating from Recruit training, he received military occupational specialty training as a 0311 Rifleman. He stayed in the Corps as a Reservist, receiving on-the-job training as a 0341 Mortar man, until February 1985.
He volunteered three times as a 9916 Recruiter’s Aid Assistant during 1985 and 1986. In February 1987, he became an 8400 Recruiter. It was the challenges and the personal growth that attracted him to make a career as a recruiter. In 1988, he became an 8411 Recruiter serving at several Recruiting Sub-Stations in New York City: RSS Ridgewood, PCS Jackson Heights, RSS Jamaica, PCS Richmond Hill and PCS Flushing.
It was during his tenure in Flushing, in 1989, that he was named Recruiter of the Quarter - for the First and Second Quarters - and Recruiter of the Year for Recruiting Station Long Island. After a short stint at OSO, he became the NCOIC of Staten Island in the early ‘90s. It was here when he received his first Centurion Award. He also served in RSS Brooklyn and PCS Bay Ridge until February 1997. Gunnery Sergeant Vásquez became an 8421 Career Planner for Headquarters and Service Battalion Company in June 1997, tracking over 130 Marines and re-enlisting over 30 Marines during this tour of duty until May 1999.
A 24-year veteran in the Marine Corps, GYSGT Vásquez has received numerous recruiting and Heavy Hitter awards including two more Centurion Awards, becoming thus the first Tri-Centurion as a Reserve Recruiter. He is very proud of his many meritorious awards and commendations. Among his many achievements worth mentioning are: carrying Old Glory at the 2002 and 2003 Veteran’s Day Parade along Fifth Avenue in New York City; instrumental in obtaining legal services for the USMCR 225th , H&S, and Weapons before and during mobilization; recruiting a trumpeter for the President’s own United States Marine Corps Band; procured two Hispanic family to participate in the J. Walter Thompson’s Spanish speaking proof source film; volunteered one of his recruiter aid to paint a mural (to eliminate graffiti) depicting military themes at the Hell Gate Bridge in Astoria Park, Queens during Operation Gung Ho -- his aid received a Navy Achievement Medal. He was also instrumental in obtaining the point of contact for the joint venture with Bands of America.
During his spare time, he serves as the Commandant of the Marine Corps League’s Greater New York #1 Detachment. He is a Devil Dog in The Military Order of Devil Dogs in Gil Hodges #140 Pound. He also volunteers in several military organizations such as the Marine Corps Leatherneck Scholarship Ball Committee in New York and the Veterans Memorial Committee in Astoria, Queens. Sergeant First Class Vásquez enjoys boxing, jogging, photography and craft. Married for twenty-three years to Mayra Ríos-Benítez, a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, they reside in Brooklyn, New York.
Copyright © 2023 Veterans Anchor - All Rights Reserved.
Powered by GoDaddy
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.