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Biography
1stSgt. Vincent Santiago, Laghman Province, Afghanistan. March 2005.
Vincent Santiago is from Merizo, Guam. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in September of 1989. He attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California where he was meritoriously promoted to Private First Class upon graduation. He completed Marine Combat Training and then Infantry Training as an 0341-Mortarman at the School of Infantry (West), Camp Pendleton, California. Sergeant Major Santiago received orders to Marine Barracks, Guam in March of 1990. During March of 1991, he was promoted to Corporal (meritoriously) and later that year, transferred to 3d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, California.
During 1991, while assigned to 3d Battalion, 5th Marines, the unit deployed to Okinawa, Japan in support of the Unit Deployment Program and deployed again to Okinawa during 1992 as the Battalion Landing Team for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. Later that year Sergeant Major Santiago latterly moved to become an 0411-Maintenance Management Clerk and subsequently assigned to the Battalion S-4 as the Maintenance Management Chief.
In January of 1995, Sergeant Major Santiago reported to Drill Instructor School at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California and subsequently assigned to Alpha Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion. In January of 1997, he was promoted to Staff Sergeant (meritoriously). He served as a Drill Instructor, Senior Drill Instructor, and as a Series Gunnery Sergeant completing eight cycles.
Sergeant Major Santiago was transferred to 3d Maintenance Battalion, 3d Force Service Support Group, Okinawa, Japan in August of 1997 and assumed the duties as the Battalion Maintenance Management Officer. In 2000, he was selected to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant and transferred to the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland as an Assistant Military Officer Instructor and was assigned as the Senior Enlisted Leader for 19th Company. In May of 2001, Sergeant Major Santiago assumed the duties as the Drill Master, United States Naval Academy. In 2003 he was selected as an Honorary Member of the United States Naval Academy Class of 2003.
In 2004 he was selected to the rank of First Sergeant and transferred to 3d Battalion, 3d Marines, 3d Marine Division, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii for duty as the Company First Sergeant for Kilo Company. He deployed with the battalion in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from November 2004 through June 2005 and in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (5-7) during 2006.
Post-3rd Battalion 3rd Marines
During March of 2007 he was transferred to Combat Service Support Group-3, 3d Marine Logistics Group, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii for duty as the First Sergeant for Headquarters and Service Company. March of 2008, he assumed the duties as the First Sergeant of General Support Company, which was later re-designated as Combat Logistics Company 35.
Upon selection to Sergeant Major in October of 2008, he was transferred to the School of Infantry (West), Camp Pendleton, California in January of 2009 and assumed the duties as the Battalion Sergeant Major for Infantry Training Battalion. During March of 2011, Sergeant Major Santiago received orders to 3d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division and assumed the duties as the Battalion Sergeant Major. While assigned with 3d Battalion, 1st Marines, the battalion deployed as the Battalion Landing Team for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit from November 2011 to June 2012. During November 2012, Sergeant Major Santiago reported to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 24, Marine Aviation Group 24 for duty as the Squadron Sergeant Major until August 2013.
In August 2013 Sergeant Major Santiago was transferred to 3d Marine Regiment, 3d Marine Division, for duty as the as the Regimental Sergeant Major for 3d Marine Regiment. In June 2015 Sergeant Major Santiago assumed his current post as the 3d Marine Division Sergeant Major.
Sergeant Major Santiago’s personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with two gold stars; Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two gold stars, and the Combat Action Ribbon with gold star.