[PHOTO] Times Square Armed Forces Recruiting Station

[rfmcdonald]

The U.S. Armed Forces Recruiting Station in Times Square is eye-catching, to me for its existence in Times Square as well as for the glitzy electronic flag on the side. This 2004 Marine Corps News Service article seems as good an introduction to it as any.

Located in the heart of New York City, the Times Square Armed Forces Recruiting Station never really has a "typical" day. Its location and notoriety make it one of the most interesting duty assignments in the Marine Corps.

Times Square itself is formed by the angle of Broadway intersecting 7th Avenue between West 42nd and 47th Streets, though the name also applies to the general surrounding area. The station sits on a small traffic island between Broadway and 7th Ave., and it has the best view of the chaos that's synonymous with Times Square.

"There isn't a better place to work," said Brooklyn native Gunnery Sgt. Alexander Kitsakos. Kitsakos is a double Centurion (more than 200 enlistees), and he worked on Extended Active Duty as a recruiter in Times Square from 1995 to 1997. "It's the crossroads of the world and the most famous recruiting station in the country."

Marines have represented the Corps in Times Square since the building opened in 1946. The Corps is careful with who they give that responsibility to. "The type of person we put in Times Square has to be positive," said Sgt. Maj. Fenton Reese, Recruiting Station New York. "You have to have one really positive attitude and a great image."

"Image is everything," said Reese. "Recruiters look good anyway -but [for Times Square] we need a razor-sharp Marine who can also deal with the public," he said. "There are people there of all races and nationalities, and it's very fast-paced. We need a Marine who can relate to all of them."