Meet U.S. Marines in New York

Elite soldiers of the U.S. Army are also present in New York. The Marines welcome the public at one of the city's most iconic locations.

What Is the U.S. Marines Corps?

If you watch action movies or follow the news, you’ve heard of the U.S. Marines Corps—one of the most elite fighting forces in the American military.
This elite corps was founded in 1775, even before American independence. Today it has nearly 184,000 personnel stationed around the world, from Afghanistan to Guantánamo to New York.
What brings the Marines to New York? They’ve set up their most iconic recruiting center right here: the U.S. Marine Corps Recruiting office. And the location is remarkable: right in the middle of Times Square, in a small booth flanked by two giant neon American flags on either side. If you’ve been to New York, you’ve definitely seen those glowing flags.

On my last trip to New York, I stepped into this recruiting center and met two Marines in dress uniform. I had no intention of enlisting—maybe next time! But I wanted to learn more. These elite soldiers are there to chat with the public and answer your questions about the Marines.
Don’t hesitate to approach them and chat for a few minutes. As you can see, they’re happy to pose for photos. And don’t let their sometimes stern expression fool you—they take their role and the prestige of the uniform seriously. It’s a unique encounter: you don’t get to talk with Marines every day.