As 7 Eyewitness News reported earlier in March, the Marine Corps recruiting station located on Lafayette Avenue will deactivate this summer. But the mission of those still assigned to Western New York is not expected to change.
On Wednesday evening we sat down with Maj. Christopher Kaprielian, the Commanding Officer of the local headquarters and some of the Marines who will remain in the area once the deactivation occurs.
He says the Buffalo site will close in July due to a population shift and the need to reallocate the recruiting force across the country. "Every single Marine that is currently assigned to recruiting station Buffalo in a recruiting capacity will continue to interact with applicants and those that desire to serve as a United States Marine," said Maj. Kaprielian.
Many who work locally have been reassigned to Pittsburgh. But we're told approximately 20 Marines assigned specifically to recruiting duty will remain in Western New York.
One such Marine is SSgt. Erick Crumley, who said, "The mission and approach remains the same. Ultimately we are just looking for the qualified man or woman who has that same sense of drive, pride of belonging, who wants to take that challenge."
Buffalo's Marine Corps recruiting station in Buffalo currently supports more than 355 high schools and more than 50 colleges and universities throughout the area.
