SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- Gunnery Sgt. Tania T. Zych, a production recruiter with Recruiting Station San Antonio, Texas (RS San Antonio), was promoted in front of the Iwo Jima Monument at the Marine Military Academy in Harlingen, Texas by Capt. Luis E. Benavides, the Operations Officer with RS San Antonio, Jan. 6, 2024.
“I Know you; we went to the same high school!” said Benavides when Zych checked into the unit in January 2021.
Both Capt. Benavides and Gunnery Sgt. Zych graduated in 2012 from Los Fresnos High School in Los Fresnos, Texas. Zych enlisted into the Marine Corps right after high school while Benavides went to Texas A&M University and earned his commission in 2016. Years later, their paths crossed again in San Antonio.
“It’s a great honor to promote her since we went to high school together. The promotion was long coming and deserving because of her efforts.”
Zych has decided to stay at RS San Antonio and take on the challenge of being a career recruiter.
“Because of the lives that we are changing” said Zych as she addressed the platoon of fellow recruiters that were in attendance during her promotion.
RS San Antonio covers the southern portion of Texas spanning over 60,000 square miles from Austin all the way down to the Rio Grande Valley. The mission of RS San Antonio is to continue mentoring and leading the highest caliber of young men and women from all-across South Texas and maintain the legacy of producing the finest United States Marines.