SERGEANT MAJOR
CARLTON W. KENT, USMC (RETIRED)
Carlton W. Kent completed recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, in March 1976 and was assigned to the 1st Marine Brigade. In May 1978, he was transferred to Marine Security Guard Battalion where he served as a Marine Security Guard. He served at the American Embassy, Kinshasa, Zaire and Panama. In June 1981, he transferred to Fort Benning, Georgia, for Airborne School and then to Parachute Riggers School at Fort Lee, Virginia. In June 1982 he was assigned as 2d Air Delivery Platoon Commander, and parachute rigger billets in various commands aboard Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
In February 1983, he was transferred to Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California, for duty as a drill instructor, senior drill instructor and battalion drill master with 1st Battalion. In January 1985, he was meritoriously promoted to gunnery sergeant.
In May 1985, GySgt Kent transferred to 3d Air Delivery Platoon as Platoon Sergeant. In June 1986 he transferred to Engineer Company, Brigade Service Support Group 1, 1st Marine Brigade, Hawaii, as Company Gunnery Sergeant. In March 1988, GySgt Kent was assigned to Noncommissioned Officers School, 1st Marine Brigade, as the Noncommissioned Officer In Charge.
In February 1989, GySgt Kent transferred to Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, as a student at Drill Instructor School. After completion of Drill Instructor School, GySgt Kent was assigned to Naval Aviation Officers Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida, as a Drill Instructor, Chief Drill Instructor, and First Sergeant. In February 1990, he was promoted to first sergeant and assigned as First Sergeant, Marine Aviation Training Support Group, Pensacola.
In June 1992, he transferred to the 4th Marines for duty. A year later in June 1993, he transferred to the Army Sergeants Major Academy, Fort Bliss, Texas. After graduation, in February 1994 he was transferred and assigned as First Sergeant, Battery L, 3d Battalion, 12th Marines. In December 1994, he assumed the duties as Sergeant Major, 3d Battalion, 12th Marines. In August 1997, SgtMaj Kent was transferred to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, where he was assigned duties as Sergeant Major, 2d Recruit Training Battalion, and in September 1999 as Sergeant Major, Recruit Training Regiment.
In May 2001, he was transferred to Marine Forces Europe/Fleet Marine Force Europe, Stuttgart, Germany, where he was assigned the duties as the Sergeant Major of Marine Forces Europe. In April 2004, he was transferred to I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California, to serve as the sergeant major.
Sergeant Major Kent assumed the post as the 16th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps on 25 April 2007
Sergeants Major of the Marine Corps