Sgt. Kedrick Pierce, a Marine recruiter in Louisiana,

Sgt. Kedrick Pierce, a Marine recruiter in Louisiana, addresses the mass crowd who attended the 2013 Fan Festival for the 40th annual Bayou Classic held in the Champion Square on Nov. 30, 2013, in New Orleans. Pierce, a native of Montgomery, Ala., and several other Marines conducted an on-stage pull-up competition during the festivities. The Marines were also able to interact with the youth of the local community and attract potential Marine Corps applicants. For 39 years, the Bayou Classic has showcased the long-standing rivalry between the Southern University Jaguars and the Gambling State University Tigers. The United States Marine Corps has been a partner of the Bayou Classic for 13 consecutive years in celebration of the hard work, courage and commitment to excellence exhibited by its many participants. (Photo by Cpl. Octavia Davis)