Sergeant Major McGinnis
Sergeant Major McGinnis was born in Laurel, Delaware. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on 17 July 2001, and attended recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina where he was meritoriously promoted to Private First Class. Upon completion, he reported to his MOS school at Camp Johnson, North Carolina where he was Honor Graduate and meritoriously promoted to Lance Corporal.
Following MOS school, Sergeant Major McGinnis reported to Third Marines, Third Marine Regiment, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii where he served as the Administrative Clerk and Legal Clerk for the Regiment. During that time he served with Third Marines and conducted numerous operations to include RIMPAC 2003 and PTA 2002 and 2003.
In January 2004, Sergeant Major McGinnis requested and received orders to attend Marine Security Guard School, Quantico, Virginia. Upon graduation, Sergeant Major McGinnis received orders to American Embassy Ankara, Turkey for duty as a watch stander as he awaited his clearance for his first assigned embassy, Moscow, Russia. In June 2004, Sergeant Major McGinnis was reassigned to American Embassy Moscow, Russia for duty as a watch stander. There he mastered and served as a Sergeant of the Guard and was promoted to Sergeant.
In July 2005, Sergeant Major McGinnis was reassigned to American Embassy Jakarta, Indonesia where he served as a watch stander, Assistant Detachment Commander, and Acting Detachment Commander. In August 2006, Sergeant Major McGinnis reported to American Embassy Bamako, Mali. While assigned there he served as the Assistant Detachment Commander and Acting Detachment Commander. Sergeant Major McGinnis opened the new embassy compound and transitioned to the new Marine BEQ during his tenure. Prior to receiving orders Sergeant Major McGinnis was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant.
In August 2007, Sergeant Major McGinnis received orders to Marine Barracks 8th & I where he served as the Staff Non-commissioned Officer in Charge of the Personnel Administrative Center. During this time Sergeant Major McGinnis served as the Senior Docent for the Commandant of the Marine Corps where he gave over 80 tours of the Home of the Commandants. Additionally, he served as the Administrative lead to Camp David and the White House personnel, and served as the Staff Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of the Barracks second Corporals Course. In July 2008, Sergeant Major McGinnis was transferred to MCI Company, Marine Barracks Washington, Washington, DC where he served as a Course Writer. During this time Sergeant Major McGinnis was the Administrative lead on the implemented Tiger Team that rewrote the Staff Non-Commissioned Officers Non-Resident Courses.
In October 2010, Sergeant Major McGinnis received orders from the Headquarters Recruiting Screening Team (HRST) to Recruiters School in San Diego, California. Upon graduation, Sergeant Major McGinnis was promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant and received orders to Recruiting Station Twin Cities, Minnesota where he was an enlisted recruiter in Coon Rapids, Minnesota. In August 2011, Sergeant Major McGinnis attended Advance Course in Quantico, VA where he was recognized as Top Ten Percent, Distinguished Graduate, and the Honor Graduate. Upon returning, Sergeant Major McGinnis was selected to fill the role of Recruiting Station Twin Cities Officer Selection Assistant, where he led the 9th Marine Corps Recruiting District in officer retention and assisted in RS Twin Cities winning RS of the Year in 2012.
In August 2013, Sergeant Major McGinnis received orders to III MEF, Okinawa, Japan where he served as the G-1 Future Operations Chief. While at III MEF, G-1, Sergeant Major McGinnis assisted in planning, validating, and sourcing all III MEF exercises in support of Southeast and Northeast Asia, which included MEFEX, Key Resolve, and Cobra Gold. Additionally, he served as JTF-505 J1 Assistant Operations Chief during Operation Damayan. In March 2014, Sergeant Major McGinnis volunteered to fill an IA Billet to Afghanistan where he filled the role of CJIATF-435 Detentions Operations Chief. During his deployment he oversaw all detainee operations within the AO and served as the NCOIC for numerous repatriation missions. Upon returning to III MEF, Sergeant Major McGinnis was promoted to First Sergeant and served as Service Company First Sergeant, Headquarters Regiment, 3d MLG from August 2014 to March 2016. During this time First Sergeant McGinnis attending First Sergeant’s Course, Senior Enlisted Legal Course, and Senior Enlisted Professional Military Education (SEPME) Course. In March 2016, Sergeant Major McGinnis executed orders to 2d Battalion, 3d Marines where he served as Company First Sergeant for THE Weapons Company, Headquarters & Service Company and Fox Company. Upon completion of two Unit Deployments Sergeant Major McGinnis was selected to his current rank and executed orders to Wounded Warrior Battalion-West. Sergeant Major McGinnis served as the Battalion Sergeant Major at Wounded Warrior Battalion-West from May 2019 till December 2020. Sergeant Major McGinnis assumed his currently billet as Battalion Sergeant Major, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines on 24 November 2020.
Sergeant Major McGinnis is an Honor Graduate of the Airforce Senior Enlisted Academy and has a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with Honors.
Sergeant Major McGinnis’ personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with three gold stars in lieu of fourth award, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with three gold stars in lieu of fourth award, and the Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.