Sergeant Major Gay enlisted into the Marine Corps in the Delayed Entry Program on 16 December 1999. He began recruit training with
First Battalion, Charlie Company, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California.
Private Gay attended Naval Aircrew Candidate School (NACCS) in Pensacola, Florida in November 2000. Upon completion of
NACCS, Private First Class (PFC) Gay attended H-1 helicopter mechanic training and UH-1N Crew Member Training at Camp
Pendleton.
In June of 2001, PFC Gay was assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367 (HMLA-367), Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3d
Marine Air Wing, Camp Pendleton, California. He served as an UH-1N Crew Chief and H-1 Plane Captain. During his tour of duty,
Corporal Gay deployed to Okinawa, Japan with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and was promoted to Sergeant in December of
2003. In May of 2005, Sergeant Gay graduated Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course at Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics
Squadron-1 (MAWTS-1) in Yuma, In August of 2004 Sergeant Gay deployed to Al Anbar Province, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi
Freedom (OIF) where he participated in Operation Phantom Fury.
In February of 2006, Sergeant Gay reported to MAWTS-1 in Yuma, Arizona where he served as a UH-1N Crew Chief Instructor.
While at MAWTS-1, Sergeant Gay trained UH-1 aircrew in advanced weapons and tactics to gain the MOS of 6177. He was promoted
to Staff Sergeant in August of 2006. In November 2006, he provided augment instructor support for HMLA-367 deployed in support of
OIF. In August 2008, Staff Sergeant Gay became the first MAWTS-1 instructor qualified in the UH-1Y and in November of 2008 was
selected as the SNCOIC of the H-1 Tactical Training Unit (TTU) at Camp Pendleton, California, charged with converting the
maintenance crews and enlisted aircrew of Marine Aircraft Group-39's five HMLA squadrons from the UH-1N to the UH-1Y model
helicopter.
In June of 2010 SSgt Gay transferred to HMLA-169 and was assigned as the Flight Line Division SNCOIC. Staff Sergeant Gay
deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in October of 2010. During this time SSgt Gay
was again selected to lead the H-1 TTU for MAG-29 and upon his return from deployment, reported to MAG-29 HQ, 2d Marine
Aircraft Wing, and was assigned to HMLA-167 as the Naval Aviation Training and Operating Procedures Standardization (NATOPS)
Chief. The following year, Gunnery Sergeant and was assigned to MAG-29 HQ, as the MAG-29 Enlisted NATOPS Evaluator and
Ground Safety Manager. In July of 2014 GySgt Gay reported to Marine Aviation Training Systems Site, 3d Marine Air Wing, Camp
Pendleton, California where he managed aviation flight simulator systems.
GySgt Gay was promoted to the rank of First Sergeant on 1 October 2015 and reported to Headquarters and Support Company, 1st
Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division where he served as Company First Sergeant. First Sergeant Gay was selected to the
position of Senior Enlisted Advisor (SEA) to the Commander, Task Force (TF) Al Asad and deployed in support of Operation Inherent
Resolve as a military advisor to the 7th Iraqi Army Division from March to December of 2016. First Sergeant Gay reported to 3d Low
Altitude Air Defense Battalion in January 2018 then was selected to serve as the SEA to the Commander of TF Spartan from October
2018 to February 2019 before returning to 3d LAAD Bn. First Sergeant Gay was promoted to Sergeant Major in December 2019
reported to Marine Air Support Squadron 3 where he served as Squadron Sergeant Major from January 2020 to January 2022.
Sergeant Major Gay is currently serving as the Battalion Sergeant Major for 3d Assault Amphibian Battalion at Camp Pendleton, Ca.
Sergeant Major Gay´s personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal Individual Action, Air Medal with Strike
Flight numeral 13, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with three Gold Stars and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement
Medal with three Gold Stars.