SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Tuesday is the first of KRIS 6 News’ week-long look at how United States Marines are made.
Sunrise anchor, Sierra Pizarro, and photojournalist, Alexis Montalbo, were invited to participate in the U.S. Marines Educators' Workshop in San Diego, Calif., after Sierra and her Sunrise co-anchor, Paulo Salazar, were invited to apply for the opportunity in December while working closely with Coastal Bend Marines during the Toys for Tots program.
Every year, community leaders from across the country are invited to learn about career opportunities offered by the U.S. Marine Corps, and Sierra and Alexis are getting an inside look while attending the second-to-last workshop of the year.
There are about 20 people in the group – all of them are Texans. Two of them are from the Coastal Bend: one is a college-and-career specialist from the Corpus Christi Independent School District; the other is an early-college adviser from the Riviera Independent School District, Elias Arredondo.
"I'm excited about it,” he said. “As a veteran - I am prior military – not a Marine, but in the Army, but I'm excited about the opportunity that helps me gain knowledge to answer questions from my students."
The workshop's first day begins with breakfast at 6 a.m. Pacific Time, then the group will move on to a recruiting brief and combat fitness test.
This experience is mentally and physically challenging because of the firsthand chance to train like a Marine. The goal is to inform educators, so that they can prepare the next generation.
