Biography
Enlisted Conductor, 1st Marine Division Band
Gunnery Sergeant Tracy Martinez
Tracy Martinez, a native of Newbury Park, CA, entered Marine Corps Recruit Training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California in October 1995. Upon completion of recruit training and meritorious promotion to Lance Corporal, he attended the Basic Music Course at the Armed Forces School of Music in NAB Little Creek, Virginia. LCpl Martinez was then assigned to the III MEF Band at Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan as a saxophone instrumentalist. He was promoted to the rank of Corporal in December 1996. During his tour with the III MEF Band, Cpl Martinez served as a Fireteam Leader and Assistant Instrument Repair Technician. He was a featured soloist with the band on several occasions. In August 1997, Cpl Martinez was assigned to Marine Band Albany, GA as an instrumentalist. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in October 1997. Sgt Martinez also served as a Section Leader, Squad Leader, Assistant Instrument Repair Technician, Platoon Guide, and Training NCO. In January 2000, Sgt Martinez was transferred to the 1st Marine Division Band at Camp Pendleton, CA. During his tour he was assigned additional billets of responsibility including Platoon Guide, Section Leader, Platoon Sergeant, Training NCO, and Assistant Enlisted Band Leader. In 2003, Sgt Martinez deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he served as Platoon Sergeant of the Division Band as they provided security for the Combat Operations Center during the initial push to Baghdad. In October 2003, he was promoted to the rank of SSgt. SSgt Martinez deployed again with the 1st Marine Division Band in 2004 to Camp Blue Diamond Al Ramadi, Iraq and served as Guard Commander and Staff NCOIC of the Entry Control Point of the camp. SSgt Martinez was selected as an Enlisted Conductor in 2004, and received orders to the Armed Forces School of Music for the Unit Leaders’ Course. Upon completion of the Unit Leaders’ Course, SSgt Martinez was assigned to the Marine Forces Pacific Band, MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, HI as the band’s Enlisted Conductor. During his tour he led the band in performance throughout the Pacific Islands and Australia. He also earned his 1st Degree Black Belt in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program and attended the Martial Arts Instructor Course becoming certified as a MCMAP instructor. SSgt Martinez also completed his degree graduating with honors from Thomas Edison State College with a Bachelor of Arts in Music. In August 2007, SSgt Martinez was selected as Musician Technical Assistant and reported to Recruiter’s School at MCRD San Diego, CA, where he graduated first in his class. SSgt Martinez was assigned to 8th Marine Corps Recruiting District, NAS/JRB Ft. Worth, TX where he was responsible for eight recruiting stations across ten states. He recruited over 70 highly qualified musicians for entrance into the Marine Corps Music Program. He was promoted to his present rank of Gunnery Sergeant in July 2009. Gunnery Sergeant Martinez completed his graduate degree in December 2010 and received a Masters of Music Education degree from Boston University. Gunnery Sergeant Martinez reported to his present duty station as the Acting Bandmaster of the 1st Marine Division Band in January 2011. Gunnery Sergeant Martinez’s awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4th award), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2nd award), Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Good Conduct Medal (5th Award), National Defense Service Medal (2nd Award), Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment, and Marine Corps Recruiting Ribbon.
 
1st Marine Division