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.
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
4.
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
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The Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Air Force. In this instance, the SEAC would outrank the CMSAF, while the CMSAF is a non-commissioned officer, the billet is protocol equivalent to a lieutenant general. The current Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force is Chief Kaleth O. Wright, on February 17,2017, Chief Kaleth O. Wright succeeded Chief James A. Cody, to become the 18th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force. On November 1,2004, the CMSAFs rank insignia was updated to include the Great Seal of the United States of America and this puts the insignia in line with those of the Army and Marine Corps which have similar insignia to denote their senior enlisted servicemen. The laurel wreath around the star in the field remained unchanged. The CMSAF wears distinctive collar insignia, traditionally, enlisted airmens collar insignia was silver-colored U. S. within a ring. The CMSAFs collar brass replaced the ring with a silver laurel wreath. The CMSAF also wears a distinctive cap device, enlisted airmens cap device is the Coat of Arms of the United States, surrounded by a ring, all struck from silver-colored metal. Much as with the distinctive collar brass, the ring is replaced with a laurel wreath for the CMSAF. The Sergeant Major of the Army wears an identical cap device, first considered in 1992, the SMAs color has been authorized since 22 March 1999. The Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force colors were authorized in January 2013, the official term of address for the CMSAF is Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force or Chief
5.
Commandant of the Marine Corps
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The Commandant of the Marine Corps is normally the highest-ranking officer in the United States Marine Corps and is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Under the authority of the Secretary of the Navy, the CMC designates Marine personnel, as with the other joint chiefs, the Commandant is an administrative position and has no operational command authority over United States Marine Corps forces. The Commandant is nominated by the President for a term of office. By statute, the Commandant is appointed as a general while serving in office. The Commandant is directly responsible to the Secretary of the Navy for the performance of the Marine Corps. This includes the administration, discipline, internal organization, training, requirements, efficiency, the Commandant is also responsible for the operation of the Marine Corps material support system. Since 1801, the residence of the Commandant has been located in the Marine Barracks in Washington, D. C. and his main offices are in Arlington County. The responsibilities of the Commandant are outlined in Title 10, Section 5043 the United States Code and the position is subject to the authority, direction, as stated in the U. S. Thirty-seven men have served as the Commandant of the Marine Corps. The longest-serving was Archibald Henderson, sometimes referred to as the Grand old man of the Marine Corps due to his thirty-nine-year tenure. In the 236-year history of the United States Marine Corps, only one Commandant has ever been fired from the job, Anthony Gale, as a result of a court-martial in 1820. Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps, allan Reed Millett and Jack Shulimson, eds. CS1 maint, Uses editors parameter Ulbrich, David J. Preparing for Victory, Thomas Holcomb and the Making of the Modern Marine Corps, 1936-183
6.
David M. Shoup
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Born in Indiana to an impoverished family, Shoup joined the military for financial reasons. Rising through the ranks in the era, he was twice deployed to China during the Chinese Civil War. He served in Iceland at the beginning of U. S. involvement in World War II and he was unexpectedly given command of the 2nd Marines, and led the initial invasion of Tarawa, for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor and the Distinguished Service Order. He served in the Marianas campaign, and later became a military logistics officer. Solidifying his reputation as a hard-driving and assertive leader, Shoup rose through the leadership of the Marine Corps, overhauling fiscal affairs, logistics. He was selected as commandant by President Dwight D. Eisenhower and he reformed the Corps, emphasizing combat readiness and fiscal efficiency, against what was perceived as politicking among its officers. Shoup opposed the escalation in response to events such as the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Bay of Pigs invasion. His high-profile criticism later spread to include the industrial complex. Historians consider Shoups statements opposing the war to be among the most pointed, david Monroe Shoup was born on 30 December 1904 in Battle Ground, Indiana. His family lived on a farm in Ash Grove, but moved to Covington to live on a new farm in 1916, at age 12 he was enrolled in Covington High School, a competitive high school with an advanced curriculum. Shoup was an excellent student, maintaining high marks in French, English, physics, additionally, he was involved in several extracurricular activities, including basketball, and was class president in his senior year. He later affectionately referred to his upbringing as that of an Indiana plowboy. Regarded by friends as very sociable, he met Zola De Haven in his freshman year and they were both very competitive in academics and athletics, and the two dated throughout high school, they were married in 1931. After high school, Shoup attended DePauw University where he was one of 100 awarded the Edward Rector Scholarship, majoring in mathematics, he joined the Delta Upsilon fraternity and maintained high marks, narrowly failing the selection criteria for Phi Beta Kappa Society. He was on the track and field and rifle teams, and also competed in the wrestling and he won the Indiana and Kentucky Amateur Athletic Union marathon in 1925. He waited tables, washed dishes and worked in a cement factory to pay his expenses. Lack of funds compelled him to take a year off after his year to teach school. He opted to enroll in the Reserve Officers Training Corps to offset his living expenses and he graduated from DePauw in 1926
7.
James L. Jones
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James Logan Jim Jones, Jr. is a retired United States Marine Corps general and the former United States National Security Advisor. Jones retired from the Marine Corps on February 1,2007, after retiring from the Marine Corps, Jones remained involved in national security and foreign policy issues. In 2007, Jones served as chairman of the Congressional Independent Commission on the Security Forces of Iraq, in November 2007, he was appointed by the U. S. Secretary of State as special envoy for Middle East security. He served as chairman of the Atlantic Council from June 2007 to January 2009, Jones was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 19,1943. Walsh School of Foreign Service, from which he received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1966, Jones, who is six feet four inches tall, played forward on the Georgetown Hoyas mens basketball team. In January 1967, Jones was commissioned a lieutenant in the U. S. Marine Corps. While overseas, he was promoted to first lieutenant in June 1968, returning to the United States in December 1968, Jones was assigned to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, where he served as a company commander until May 1970. He then received orders to Marine Barracks, Washington, D. C. for duties as a company commander, while at this post he was promoted to captain. From July 1973 until June 1974, he was a student at the Amphibious Warfare School, Marine Corps University, MCB Quantico, from January 1976 to August 1979, Jones served in the Officer Assignments Section at Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D. C. During this assignment, he was promoted to major in July 1977, remaining in Washington, his next assignment was as the Marine Corps liaison officer to the United States Senate, where he served until July 1984. In this assignment, his first commander was John McCain, then a U. S. Navy captain and he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in September 1982. Jones was selected to attend the National War College in Washington, following graduation in June 1985, he was assigned to command the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, 1st Marine Division, at Camp Pendleton, California, from July 1985 to July 1987. In August 1987, Jones returned to Headquarters Marine Corps, where he served as aide to the Commandant of the Marine Corps. He was promoted to colonel in April 1988, and became the Military Secretary to the Commandant of the Marine Corps in February 1989, during August 1990, Jones was assigned as the commanding officer of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. During his tour with the 24th MEU, he participated in Operation Provide Comfort in Northern Iraq and he was advanced to brigadier general on April 23,1992. Jones was assigned to duties as deputy director, J-3, U. S European Command, Stuttgart, Germany, on July 15,1992. During this tour of duty, he was reassigned as chief of staff, Joint Task Force Provide Promise, for operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Macedonia. Returning to the United States, he was advanced to the rank of general in July 1994 and was assigned as commanding general, 2nd Marine Division, Marine Forces Atlantic
8.
James T. Conway
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James Terry Conway is a retired United States Marine Corps four-star General who was the 34th Commandant of the Marine Corps. Conway was born in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas and he was commissioned as an infantry officer in 1970. His first assignment was command of a platoon with 3rd Battalion 1st Marines. He also served as the battalions 106mm recoilless rifle platoon commander, later, he served as Marine detachment executive officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk and as commanding officer of the Sea School at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. After graduating with honors from the Armys Infantry Officers Advanced Course, as a field grade officer, he commanded two companies of students and taught tactics at The Basic School. He then went on to serve as officer for the 31st Marine Amphibious Unit, with sea duty in the western Pacific and in contingency operations off Beirut. Returning to the United States, Conway was assigned as Senior Aide to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for two years. After graduating from Marine Corps Command and Staff College with honors, after the war, he was promoted to colonel and assigned command of The Basic School. Promoted to brigadier general in December 1995, he again was assigned to the Joint Chiefs, after being promoted to major general, he served as commander of the 1st Marine Division and as Deputy Commanding General of Marine Forces Central. He was promoted to lieutenant general and assumed command of I Marine Expeditionary Force on November 16,2002 and he commanded I MEF during two combat tours in Iraq, with 60,000 troops under his command, including Marines, soldiers, sailors, and British forces. In a press interview on May 30,2003, Conway was questioned about the failure at that point to locate weapons of destruction in Iraq. He replied, in part, It was a surprise to me then, it remains a surprise to me now and its not for lack of trying. Weve been to virtually every ammunition supply point between the Kuwaiti border and Baghdad, but theyre not there. But whether or not were wrong at the level, I think. US Marines of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force under Conways command constructed the military base Camp Alpha on top of ancient Babylonian ruins following the invasion. Dr. John Curtis of the British Museums Near East department described how parts of the site were levelled and paved over to create a helipad as well as parking lots for heavy vehicles. Donny George, head of the Iraqi State Board for Heritage and Antiquities, on June 13,2006, Conway was nominated by President George W. Bush to become the 34th Commandant of the Marine Corps, the nomination was confirmed by the Senate on August 2,2006. On November 13,2006, Conway was promoted to the rank of General at Marine Barracks, Washington, D. C. and he was the first Commandant in nearly 40 years to have not served in the Vietnam War
9.
John A. Lejeune
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John Archer Lejeune was a United States Marine Corps lieutenant general and the 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps. Lejeune had nearly 40 years service in the Marine Corps including commanding the U. S. Armys 2nd Division during World War I and his service with the Marine Corps after he retired was as the 5th Superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina was named in his honor during World War II, Lejeune is often referred to in the present day as being the greatest of all Leathernecks and the Marines Marine. Lejeune was born on January 10,1867 at the Old Hickory Plantation near Lacour and he was the son of Confederate States Army Captain Ovide Lejeune. He attended the program at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge from September 1881 to April 1884. Subsequently, he secured an appointment as a midshipman at the United States Naval Academy, from which he graduated in 1888, at the completion of a two-year cruise as a midshipman, he chose service in the Marine Corps. He was commissioned a lieutenant in the Marine Corps on 25 July 1890. After receiving his Marine Corps commission, Lejeune reported to Marine Barracks and he reported for duty to the Marine Barracks, Norfolk, Virginia, on 3 November 1890. While in Norfolk, he met Ellie Harrison Murdaugh, they were engaged just before he began his sea duty, from 1 October 1891 to 28 July 1893, Lejeune served on board USS Bennington and was promoted to first lieutenant on 26 February 1892. On 28 August 1893, he reported for duty at the Norfolk Barracks, while stationed in Norfolk again, he married Miss Murdaugh on 23 October 1895. On 2 August 1897, Lejeune assumed command of the Marine Guard of the USS Cincinnati, on the morning of 9 August 1898, he commanded the approximately 30-man landing party at Cape San Juan, Puerto Rico that covered the withdrawal of 35 U. S. He was detached from Cincinnati on 17 February 1899, and on 18 February 1899 and he was promoted to captain on 3 March 1899 and left his position on the Massachusetts on 10 May 1900. From 12 January 1903 to 21 January 1903, Captain Lejeune was on duty at the Norfolk Barracks and he was promoted to Major on 3 March 1903 and was on duty at Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D. C. from 15 May 1903 to 8 August 1903. On 8 August 1903, Major Lejeune was ordered to USS Panther to command the Marine Battalion on board that vessel, on 23 October 1903, the battalion, with Lejeune in command, was transferred to USS Dixie. From 16 December 1903 to 21 December 1904, Major Lejeune was on duty ashore on the Isthmus of Panama in command of this battalion, from 27 January 1905 to 20 May 1906, Lejeune served at the Marine Barracks, Washington, D. C. He then returned to Panama in command of a battalion of Marines from 29 May to 6 July 1906 and this was detached duty, and on 29 March 1907, Major Lejeune was detached from command of the Washington Barracks and ordered to the Philippines. His family—his wife and three daughters accompanied him on overseas duty. Arriving in the Philippines on 2 May 1907, Lejeune assumed command of the Marine Barracks and Naval Prison, Navy Yard, Cavite and he assumed command of the First Brigade of Marines on 15 June 1908 and was promoted to lieutenant colonel on 13 May 1909
10.
Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr.
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Lemuel Cornick Shepherd Jr. was a four-star general of the United States Marine Corps. A veteran of World War I, World War II, as Commandant, he secured a place on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, gaining parity for the Marine Corps with the other military services. Lemuel Cornick Shepherd Jr. was born February 10,1896, in Norfolk and he graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1917, graduating a year early so he could enter the Marine Corps. While at VMI, Shepherd became a member of the Beta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Order. He was commissioned a lieutenant in the Marine Corps on April 11,1917 and reported for active duty at the Marine Barracks, Port Royal, South Carolina. Less than a year reporting for duty, 2nd Lt. The 5th Marines became part of the 4th Marine Brigade, 2nd Division, the 2nd Division was placed under the command of Marine Corps Brigadier General Charles A. Doyen, who had been the 5th Marines commander. The 2nd Division trained with French Army veterans the winter of 1917-18, Shepherd served in defensive sectors in the vicinity of Verdun. On July 28,1918, Marine Corps Major General John A. Lejeune assumed command of the 2nd Division and he also received the Montenegrin Silver Medal for Bravery. After duty with the Army of Occupation in Germany, Captain Shepherd sailed for home in July 1919, in September 1919, he returned to France. His assignment was to prepare relief maps showing the battlefields over which the 4th Marine Brigade, Shepherd returned to the States in December 1920, and was assigned as White House aide and Aide-de-Camp to the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Major General John A. Lejeune. In July 1922, he took command of a company of Marines at the Brazils Centennial Exposition in Rio de Janeiro. In June 1923, Shepherd was ordered to sea duty as Commanding Officer of the Marine Detachment on the USS Idaho and this tour was followed by duty at the Marine Barracks, Norfolk, where he commanded the Sea School. In April 1927, Shepherd sailed for duty in China. Shepherd returned to the United States in 1929 and attended the Field Officers Course, following the withdrawal of Marines from Haiti in 1934, Major Shepherd was detailed to the Marine Barracks, Washington, D. C. as Executive Officer and as Registrar of the Marine Corps Institute. In March 1942, four months after the United States entry into World War II and he organized, trained, and took the unit overseas as part of the 3rd Marine Division. Upon promotion to Brigadier general in July 1943, he served on Guadalcanal, Brigadier General Shepherd was assigned as Assistant Division Commander of the 1st Marine Division. In May 1944, Shepherd assumed command of the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade and led them in the invasion and subsequent recapture of Guam during July, for distinguished leadership in this operation, Shepherd received his first Distinguished Service Medal and was promoted to Major General
