Both realize that the same teamwork may not apply at other recruiting stations, but it works well for them. All four of the recruiters in the small Times Square station earned "Recruiter of the Year" titles.
Working in a station that's so well known has its ups and downs. "The visibility the recruiters get from the public is both good and bad," said Hay. Famous music artists, models and actors visit the station unannounced. "Even P. Diddy was here hanging out with us in front of the station one day," said Kelly.
Other visitors are less welcome. Anti-war protesters have targeted the station in the past. "The protesters don't really affect the recruiters...it's just business as usual," said Hay.
Actually, protests offer an opportunity for the recruiters to show off how well they relate to different people. During one protest, "people handcuffed themselves to the flag pole," said Cordero. "So, once they were handcuffed, I went out and handed my business card out to their free hands."
According to RS New York operational statistics, the RS contracted more than 1,300 applicants last fiscal year. "A significant portion [of those contracts] come from Manhattan," said Reese. "We couldn't sustain our mission without Manhattan."
The location of the station combined with hard work provides those numbers. "There's always a lot of traffic there," said Kitsakos. "Combining the walk-ins with plenty of good, old-fashioned, area canvassing can make a recruiter competitively successful."
The same factors that can make a day successful also create an intense atmosphere. "It's like Wall Street in here sometimes," said Cordero. "There's so much to handle in such little time."
For Marines willing to handle the pressure of recruiting in Times Square, Hay said the challenge is worth it. "The recruiters get lots of VIP status and visits from famous people. I would say Times Square is the most exciting place to be as a Marine."
