1.
Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
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Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps is a unique non-commissioned rank and billet in the United States Marine Corps. A sergeant major typically serves as the unit commanders senior enlisted adviser and to matters of discipline. In 1833, an act of legislation made the rank of sergeant major permanent for the Marine Corps and this continued until 1946, when the rank was abolished, only to be re-introduced in 1954 as part of the Marine Corps rank structure. While Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps is the wording of the rank. The Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps is selected by the Commandant of the Marine Corps and typically serves a four-year term, since Sergeant Major Wilbur Bestwick was appointed the first Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps in 1957,17 different Marines have filled this post. Specific Media related to Sergeants Major of the United States Marine Corps at Wikimedia Commons
2.
United States Marine Corps
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The U. S. Marine Corps is one of the four armed service branches in the U. S. Department of Defense and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the military officer in the U. S. Armed Forces, is a Marine Corps general, the Marine Corps has been a component of the U. S. Department of the Navy since 30 June 1834, working closely with naval forces for training, transportation, and logistics. The USMC operates posts on land and aboard sea-going amphibious warfare ships around the world, two battalions of Continental Marines were formed on 10 November 1775 in Philadelphia as a service branch of infantry troops capable of fighting for independence both at sea and on shore. The role of the Corps has since grown and evolved, expanding to aerial warfare and earning popular titles such as, Americas third air force, and, second land army. By the mid-20th century, the U. S. Marine Corps had become a major theorist of and its ability to rapidly respond on short notice to expeditionary crises gives it a strong role in the implementation and execution of American foreign policy. As of 2016, the USMC has around 182,000 active duty members and it is the smallest of the U. S. The USMC serves as an expeditionary force-in-readiness and this last clause, while seemingly redundant given the Presidents position as Commander-in-chief, is a codification of the expeditionary responsibilities of the Marine Corps. It derives from similar language in the Congressional acts For the Better Organization of the Marine Corps of 1834, in 1951, the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee called the clause one of the most important statutory – and traditional – functions of the Marine Corps. In addition to its duties, the Marine Corps conducts Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure operations, as well as missions in direct support of the White House. The Marine Band, dubbed the Presidents Own by Thomas Jefferson, Marines from Ceremonial Companies A & B, quartered in Marine Barracks, Washington, D. C. The Executive Flight Detachment also provides transport to Cabinet members. The relationship between the Department of State and the U. S. Marine Corps is nearly as old as the corps itself, for over 200 years, Marines have served at the request of various Secretaries of State. After World War II, an alert, disciplined force was needed to protect American embassies, consulates, in 1947, a proposal was made that the Department of War furnish Marine Corps personnel for Foreign Service guard duty under the provisions of the Foreign Service Act of 1946. A formal Memorandum of Agreement was signed between the Department of State and the Secretary of the Navy on December 15,1948, during the first year of the MSG program,36 detachments were deployed worldwide. Continental Marines manned raiding parties, both at sea and ashore, the Advanced Base Doctrine of the early 20th century codified their combat duties ashore, outlining the use of Marines in the seizure of bases and other duties on land to support naval campaigns. Throughout the late 19th and 20th centuries, Marine detachments served aboard Navy cruisers, battleships, Marine detachments served in their traditional duties as a ships landing force, manning the ships weapons and providing shipboard security. Marines would develop tactics and techniques of amphibious assault on defended coastlines in time for use in World War II, during World War II, Marines continued to serve on capital ships
3.
Airman Basic
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Airman basic is the lowest enlisted rank in the United States Air Force, immediately below airman. The pay grade for airman basic is E-1, as opposed to all other USAF enlisted and officer ranks, airman basic has no rank insignia affiliated. The lack of uniform insignia for airmen basic is the reason for the nickname slick-sleeve, all other enlisted Air Force ranks wear stripes, in accordance with Air Force Instruction 36-2618, The Enlisted Force Structure, the term of address for an airman basic is Airman Basic or Airman. When the U. S. Air Force was split from the U. S. Army on July 26,1947, it inherited the U. S. Armys enlisted ranks, the lowest U. S. Air Force enlisted rank became private, which wore no rank insignia. Under normal circumstances, airmen basic are eligible for promotion to airman after six months time in grade, however, individuals enlisting for six years are promoted from AB to airman first class upon completion of either technical training or the indoctrination course for combat control or pararescue. In accordance with AFI 36-2502, Airman Promotion Program, all promotions from AB require that an airmans immediate commanding officer approve the promotion in writing before he or she may assume it, United States Air Force enlisted rank insignia United States military pay
4.
Alexander Vandegrift
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General Alexander Archer Vandegrift, USMC was a general in the United States Marine Corps. He commanded the 1st Marine Division to victory in its first ground offensive of World War II, for his actions during the Solomon Islands campaign, he received the Medal of Honor. Vandegrift later served as the 18th Commandant of the Marine Corps, Alexander Archer Vandegrift was born on March 13,1887 in the town of Charlottesville, Virginia where his father of Dutch descent was an architect and contractor. Young Vandegrift, known as Archer in his boyhood, had an interest in the military – both from reading military history novels and from stories of ancestors who fought in various wars. While at the Marine Corps Schools in 1909 he wrote an article entitled Aviation. As Commandant, he appointed the Hogaboom Board, named for Major General Hogaboom, the chairman, that began the USMCs development of vertical envelopment, the use of helicopters for air assault. During his early years as a lieutenant, General Vandegrift was also very nearly dismissed from the Marine Corps due to disciplinary infractions. In his first Marine Corps evaluation, dated June 30,1909, following instruction at the Marine Officers School, Port Royal, South Carolina, his first tour of duty was at the Marine Barracks, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In 1912, he went to shore duty in the Caribbean, first to Cuba. He participated in the bombardment, assault, and capture of Coyotepe in Nicaragua, then in 1914, he participated in the engagement and occupation of Vera Cruz, Mexico. In December 1914, following his promotion to first lieutenant, he attended the Advance Base Course at the Marine Barracks, upon completion of schooling, he sailed for Haiti with the 1st Marines and participated in action against hostile Cacos bandits at Le Trou and Fort Capois, Haiti. In August 1916, he was promoted to captain and became a member of the Haitian Constabulary at Port-au-Prince and he returned to Haiti again in July 1919 to serve with the Gendarmerie dHaiti as an Inspector of Constabulary. He was promoted to major in June 1920, Major Vandegrift returned to the U. S. in April 1923 and was assigned to the Marine Barracks, MCB Quantico, Virginia. He completed the Field Officers Course, Marine Corps Schools in May 1926 and he then was transferred to the Marine Corps Base San Diego, California as Assistant Chief of Staff. In February 1927, he sailed for China where he served as operations and he was ordered to Washington, D. C. in September 1928, where he became assistant chief coordinator, Bureau of the Budget. Following duty in Washington, D. C. he joined the Marine Barracks, Quantico, during this assignment, in June 1934, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. Ordered to China in June 1935, LtCol Vandegrift served successively as executive officer, promoted to colonel in September 1936, Vandegrift reported to Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D. C. in June 1937, where he became Military Secretary to the Major General Commandant. In March 1940, he was appointed Assistant to the Major General Commandant, brigadier General Vandegrift was ordered to the 1st Marine Division in November 1941, shortly before the United States of America entered World War II
5.
Alford L. McMichael
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Alford L. McMichael is a retired United States Marine who served as the 14th Sergeant Major of the U. S. Marine Corps from 1999 to 2003. He was also the first Senior Non-Commissioned Officer for Allied Command Operations for NATO, McMichael retired from the Marine Corps in 2006 after 36 years of service. McMichael was born on February 24,1952 in Hot Springs, Arkansas and graduated from Hot Springs High School, McMichael enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on 27 August 1970, and attended recruit training at San Diego, California. In June 1971, after completing Infantry Training School and Basic Infantry Training at Camp Pendleton, California, McMichael was assigned to Marine Barracks, Pearl Harbor, in May 1973, he was transferred to 2nd Battalion 5th Marines at Camp Pendleton. In December 1973, he returned to Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego to serve as an instructor, series Gunnery Sergeant. In December 1975, he was transferred to 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, in January 1978, McMichael transferred to the 3rd Marine Division, where he served as a shore party chief with the 3rd Division Support Group. In January 1979, he received orders to Marine Security Guard School and, upon completion of the training, was assigned to the American embassy in Copenhagen, in May 1981, he returned to Quantico, Virginia to serve as an instructor for the Marine Security Guard School. In May 1983, McMichael was assigned to the University of Minnesota where he served as the Assistant Marine Officer Instructor for the NROTC Program, in January 1986, he was ordered to Marine Barracks, Roosevelt Roads in Puerto Rico, to serve as the barrackss first sergeant. In May 1991, McMichael was transferred to Quantico again, where he served as the Sergeant Major of Officer Candidates School, from January 1997 to June 1999, he served as the Sergeant Major for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Division, Headquarters Marine Corps. On 1 July 1999, McMichael assumed his post as the 14th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps and his tenure as the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps saw the establishment of the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program and the commencement of the Global War on Terrorism. Jones, Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, and Commander, United States European Command and he and General Jones previously served together while the latter was the 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps. McMichael served in this role from June 2003 until July 17,2006 and he retired from the Marine Corps shortly after with his highest appointed rank of Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps. McMichael sits on the committee of the National Symposium for the Needs of Young Veterans. McMichael commented, The Club gave me those things I use today in the Marine Corps and you made a difference in one child’s life. McMichael credits the Club, which he joined at age 9, in 2008, McMichaels memoirs were published under the title LEADERSHIP, Achieving Life-Changing Success From Within. McMichael, Alford L. LEADERSHIP, Achieving Life-Changing Success From Within, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Sergeant Major Alford L. McMichael, USMC. Whos Who in Marine Corps History, History Division, United States Marine Corps. Official NATO ACO Biography Interview with Marines Magazine Staff Sgt, top enlisted member blazing a trail for future NATO NCOs
6.
Alfred M. Gray Jr.
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Alfred M. Gray Jr. is a retired United States Marine Corps general who served as the 29th Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1987–91. He retired from the U. S. Marine Corps in 1991 after 41 years of service, Gray was born on June 22,1928 in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, where he was raised. He is the son of Emily and Alfred Mason Gray and he studied at Lafayette College, and received a Bachelor of Science degree from State University of New York. He has honorary degrees from Lafayette College, Monmouth University, Norwich University, the National Defense Intelligence College and he married the former Jan Goss of Burlington, Vermont on July 20,1980. Gray enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1950 and he served overseas with Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, attaining the rank of sergeant before being commissioned a second lieutenant in April 1952. C. During which he saw service in Guantanamo Bay and Vietnam and he took command of the Composite Artillery Battalion and U. S. Free World Forces at Gio Linh in April 1967, in September 1967, Gray was reassigned to the III Marine Amphibious Force in Da Nang where he commanded the 1st Radio Battalion elements throughout I Corps until February 1968. Following a brief tour in the United States, he returned to Vietnam from June to September 1969 in conjunction with surveillance and reconnaissance matters in the I Corps area. Advanced to brigadier general in March 1976, General Gray served as Commanding General, Landing Force Training Command, Atlantic, and the 4th Marine Amphibious Brigade. Promoted to major general in February 1980, he assumed command of the 2nd Marine Division, FMF, Atlantic, Camp Lejueune, N. C. in June 1981. Following his promotion to lieutenant general on August 29,1984, he was reassigned as Commanding General, FMF, Atlantic/Commanding General, II MEF, General Gray was promoted to general and became Commandant of the Marine Corps on July 1,1987. His appointment as Commandant of the Marine Corps was recommended by Jim Webb, as a reminder that the primary role of every Marine is a rifleman, he had his official photograph taken in the Camouflage Utility Uniform, the only Commandant to have done so. Gray appeared as himself on the Birthday Ball episode of Major Dad, appearing on 60 Minutes in the 1980s, he addressed the graduating class at the Naval Academy. The Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia is the home of the Alfred M. Gray Research Center, the center houses the Marine Corps Archives and Special Collections, the Quantico Base Library, and the research library for the Marine Corps University, as well a conference center. Gray routinely stops by to donate his recently read books, in 1991, he was awarded the Distinguished Sea Service Award by the Naval Order of the United States. Gray serves on the Board of Directors or Board of Advisors of a number of companies, including, American Defense Systems, Inc. American Public University System – serving as Chairman Emeritus and Member, Board of Trustees, The Columbia Group, globeSecNine, a privately held financial investment firm. Integrity Applications Inc. a privately held information assurance and security company, an information solution company Norwich University board of trustees
7.
Allen H. Turnage
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Allen Hal Turnage was a United States Marine Corps General who earned the Navy Cross and the Distinguished Service Medal while leading the 3rd Marine Division on Bougainville and Guam in World War II. General Turnage was born on January 3,1891, in Farmville and he attended the University of North Carolina before entering the Marine Corps as a second lieutenant on November 17,1913. Almost immediately, he was sent to France where he served as Commanding Officer, Machine Gun Battalion, 5th Marine Brigade. Following World War I, he was an instructor at the Marine Officers School, Quantico, served with the Gendarmerie dHaiti again from 1922 to 1925, and completed the Field Officers Course at Quantico. Later, between two tours of duty at Headquarters Marine Corps, he was assigned sea duty on the staff of Battleship Divisions Four and Three. Ordered overseas in 1939, he served as Commanding Officer of Marine Forces in North China and he returned to Headquarters Marine Corps in April 1941, and was serving as Director of the Division of Plans and Policies when World War II broke out. That October, he joined the newly formed 3rd Marine Division as Assistant Division Commander and he then led the Division in the landing at Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville,1943, and in the recapture of Guam,1944. After two years with the 3rd Division, in September 1944 General Turnage was assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps as Director of Personnel, in May 1946, his alma mater, the University of North Carolina, awarded him the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. His final assignment was as Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, General Turnage retired from active duty on January 1,1948, and was advanced to four-star rank on retirement by reason of having been specially commended for heroism in combat. General Turnages awards include, TURNAGE, ALLEN H. Major General, U. S. Marine Corps Commanding General, 3d Marine Division Date of Action, November 1–27,1943 Citation, The Navy Cross is presented to Allen H. Turnage, Major General, U. S. SPOT AWARD, Serial 0049 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps, General Allen H. Turnage, USMC, Whos Who in Marine Corps History, History Division, United States Marine Corps. Navy Cross Awards to members of the U. S, General Allan H. Turnage profile in, OBrien, Cyril J. Liberation, Marines in the Recapture of Guam, Marines in World War II Commemorative Series, History Division, United States Marine Corps,1994. Archived from the original on 21 November 2007
8.
Anthony Gale
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Anthony Gale was the fourth Commandant of the United States Marine Corps and the only one ever fired. Fewer records survive concerning him than any other commandant and he is the only commandant for whom the Marines neither know his burial location nor have a portrait or likeness. His date of birth is in dispute and it is variously reported to be in 1761 or on September 17,1782 in Dublin, Ireland. He was commissioned as a lieutenant on July 26,1798. Born in Ireland to Anthony Gale and Ann Delany, Gale declared his intent to become a United States citizen on June 15,1798, Ireland land records involving his mother Ann Delany suggest Gale was born in Queen’s County, Ireland, subsequently renamed County Laois. Gale married Catherine Swope on January 4,1800, in Cumberland County, the couple settled in Philadelphia and had three children – Amelia, who died after four weeks, a son, Washington Anthony, and another daughter, Emily, both of whom survived into adulthood. Early in his Marine career, he fought, in quick succession, the French, the Barbary pirates, the British. Angered by the mistreatment of a Marine sentry, Gale killed Navy Lieutenant Allen MacKenzie in a duel and this incident, perceived to be an affront to the Corps, subsequently brought Commandant William W. Burrows approval for Gales defense of his Corps honor. Later in his career, Gale took “an active and gallant part” during the siege of Fort McHenry in the War of 1812. In 1815, while commanding at Philadelphia, he fell out with Commandant Franklin Wharton over construction of barracks, Wharton had been accused of overspending on the project, and he in turn charged Gale with building extravagant officers quarters. Gale asserted that he had given no specific plans and that Wharton had known what was being done. A court of inquiry cleared Gale, but he was banished to a less desirable post in New Orleans, brevet Major Gale, although next senior at the time of Whartons death on September 1,1818, had to battle for the job. At the time, the Corps was authorized only one lieutenant colonel, one could only rise in rank by virtue of the death or removal of a superior officer. When Wharton died, a scramble for the Commandants job ensued, brevet Major Archibald Henderson asserted that as the senior line officer present, he should be Acting Commandant. Henderson was also characteristically blunt in giving his assessment of Gales qualifications to the new Secretary of the Navy, in an attempt to discredit Gale, in February,1819, Henderson and Miller participated in a court of inquiry resurrecting the old charges concerning Gale’s tenure in Philadelphia. However, during his testimony, Henderson was forced to admit that his knowledge of Gale’s misconduct was based on hearsay, Miller could similarly not provide firsthand evidence of wrongdoing by Gale. Soon came more direct troubles with Smith Thompson, who frequently countermanded Gales orders, finally, on August 8,1820, Gale submitted a letter analyzing the proper division of function between himself and the Secretary, pointing out the impossibility of his position. It was also alleged that he began to drink heavily at this time, two weeks after that, on August 29, Gale was arrested and ordered to face court-martial
9.
Archibald Henderson
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Archibald Henderson was the longest-serving Commandant of the Marine Corps, serving from 1820 to 1859. His name is learned by all recruits at Marine recruit training as the Grand old man of the Marine Corps and he participated in several shipboard engagements and was decorated for bravery. He was brevetted a major in 1814, from 16 September 1818 to 2 March 1819, Henderson was the acting Commandant. On 17 October 1820, at age 37, Lt. Colonel Henderson was appointed the Commandant of the Marine Corps and he served for a little over 38 years, the longest of any officer to hold that position. Henderson is credited with thwarting attempts by President Andrew Jackson to combine the Marine Corps with the Army in 1829. Instead, Congress passed the Act for the Better Organization of the Marine Corps in 1834 and he was promoted to colonel the same year. He went into the field as Commandant during the Indian campaigns in Florida and Georgia during 1836 and 1837, tradition says that he pinned a note to his door, Gone to Florida to fight the Indians. Will be back when the war is over, Marines also served in the Mexican-American War during Hendersons tenure as Commandant. The sword presented to him at the end was inscribed, From the Halls of Montezuma, to the Shores of Tripoli. Archibald Henderson died suddenly on 6 January 1859 and he was buried in the Congressional Cemetery. USS Henderson, and Henderson Hall Barracks were named for him. S, Marines This article incorporates public domain text and image from the official USMC biography. This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Colonel and Brevet Brigadier General Archibald Henderson, USMC. Whos Who in Marine Corps History, History Division, United States Marine Corps. With Fidelity and Effectiveness, Archibald Hendersons Lasting Legacy to the U. S. Marine Corps, allan Reed Millett and Jack Shulimson, eds. Annapolis, Maryland, United States Naval Institute
10.
Ben Hebard Fuller
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Ben Hebard Fuller was a major general in the United States Marine Corps and served as the 15th Commandant of the Marine Corps between 1930 and 1934. Born in Big Rapids, Michigan, Fuller was a member of the United States Naval Academy class of 1889. After serving two years of service as a cadet, a requirement at the time before commissioning. He, with six members of his class, attended the first course for new Marine officers at the School of Application. On 26 October 1892, he married Katherine Heaton Offley, from 1904 to 1906, he served at the Naval Station, Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii. From March to June 1911, he commanded the 3rd Regiment of Marines at Camp Meyer, Guantanamo Bay, following a tour of duty as Fleet Marine Officer of the U. S. Atlantic Fleet, from January 1915 to June 1916, LtCol Fuller was assigned to the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, in August 1918, he was assigned to command the 2nd Brigade of Marines in the Dominican Republic, remaining there until October 1920. He also served on the Staff of the Military Governor of Santo Domingo as Secretary of State, Interior, Police, War and Navy, from December 1919, until his detachment departed from Santo Domingo. From November 1920 to July 1922, he served on the staff of the Naval War College, Newport, and from July 1922 to January 1923, commanded the Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Virginia. In January 1924, he assumed command of the 1st Brigade of Marines in the Republic of Haiti, with headquarters at Port-au-Prince, following the death of the Commandant, Major General Wendell C. Neville on July 9,1930, Brigadier General Fuller was promoted to major general and he served in that capacity until March 1,1934, when he was retired from active service, having attained the statutory retirement age of sixty-four years. Major General Fullers tenure was a period of retrenchment and withdrawal of Marines from foreign countries. Beginning in 1933, these Marines composed the newly designated Fleet Marine Force, the road running from the main gate of Marine Corps Base Quantico to the town of Quantico, Virginia is named Fuller Road. An enlisted housing facility at the Naval Support Activity Annapolis is named Fuller Hall, the entry can be found here. Allan Reed Millett and Jack Shulimson, eds
