Lieutenant Colonel G. Troy Roesti
31st Marine Expeditionary Unit Executive Officer
Lieutenant Colonel Roesti attended Ohio University in Athens, Ohio and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve in 1992. He underwent recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon completion of Recruit Training, Marine Combat Training, and MOS School he was assigned to Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 24th Marines, in Perrysburg, Ohio as a Field Radio Operator, MOS 2531. While assigned to Wpns Co., 1/24, LCpl Roesti attended Mountain Warfare Training at Bridgeport, CA and took part in JTF-6 Counter Narcotics Operations.
In 1994 he completed his Bachelor’s degree in Military History and Foreign Affairs and was accepted into the Officer Candidate Program at Quantico, Virginia. He completed the 10 week Officer Candidate Course that same year and received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the USMCR. 2ndLt Roesti reported to The Basic School and was assigned to Bravo Company in Jan 1995. After completing The Basic School in July 1995, he reported to the Infantry Officer Course and earned his rating as an Infantry Officer, MOS 0302, in September.
In October, 2ndLt Roesti reported to his first fleet unit and took command of 2nd Platoon, India Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment. He served as a platoon commander with 3/6 from October 1995 to April 1997. In December 1995 he deployed with 3/6 to Okinawa on the Unit Deployment Program. While in Okinawa he trained extensively in the Northern and Central Training Areas. He also received winter warfare training in Hokkaido, Japan with the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force. Upon return from Okinawa in June 1996 he redeployed to Ft. Sherman Panama for Jungle Warfare Training.
In April 1997 1stLt Roesti reported to the School of Infantry to serve as the Executive Officer of Company A, Infantry Training Battalion. In March 1998 he received a regular commission as a 1stLt and took command of Company H, Marine Combat Training Battalion. 1stLt Roesti was frocked to the rank of Captain in July 1998 and served as “Hotel” Company’s commander until June 2000. During his tour at the School of Infantry he supervised the training of over 9000 Marines in infantry and combat tactics.
In June 2000 Captain Roesti was selected on the Aviator Field Accession Board to attend Flight School and reported to NAS Pensacola for training. He completed primary flight training at NAS Whiting Field and selected jet training which sent him to NAS Meridian, MS for another 1.5 years of intermediate and advanced flight training. In July 2002, Captain Roesti was winged as a Naval Aviator and reported to MCAS Cherry Point, NC to begin AV-8B flight training at VMAT-203.
Captain Roesti completed AV-8B training in July 2003 and was assigned to MAG-13 in Yuma, Arizona. In December 2003 he was assigned to “The Nightmares” of VMA-513 where he served as the Airframes Officer. In November 2004 he was promoted to Major and served as the squadron’s Director of Standardization and Safety. In April of 2005 he volunteered to deploy with “The Tomcats” of VMA-311 on their 31st MEU deployment and served as their Aircraft Maintenance Officer. He spent the 31st MEU deployment between Iwakuni, Okinawa, the Philippines, and flew from the U.S.S Essex and the U.S.S. Boxer.
In February 2006 Major Roesti reported to “The Sandsharks” of MWSS-371 where he served as their Executive Officer. In March of 2007 he deployed with “The Sandsharks” to Al Taqqadum, Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. While there he participated in numerous counter IED patrols and served as mission commander for the construction of helicopter landing zones in the Al Anbar Province.
In February 2008, Maj Roesti reported to “The Blacksheep” of VMA-214 to serve as their executive officer. In October he led the Operational Planning Team that developed the course of action to get the squadron ready for deployment to Afghanistan in less than six months. In May 2009 he deployed with the squadron to Kandahar Air Field in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. While there, he flew over 150 combat missions throughout the Kandahar, Helmand, and Nimroz Provinces. During the deployment, Major Roesti served as the site command’s Air Base Commander and worked closely with 2nd MEB, USFOR-A, and Coalition senior leadership at Kandahar to ensure the 550 Marines and Sailors from MALS-40, VMGR-352, MWCS-28 and VMA-214 had everything they needed to effectively function and fight from the air field.
In June 2010 Major Roesti was assigned to MAG-13 to serve as the Headquarters Squadron Commanding Officer where he provided leadership and guidance to the 142 Marines and Sailors assigned to the unit. Additionally, he balanced the assignments of MAG-13’s 2000 Marines and Sailors to Individual Augment Billets in support of OIF and OEF as well as the assignment of pilots to the four operational Attack Squadrons. He was promoted to LtCol on November 1, 2010.
Lieutenant Colonel Roesti joined the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit as the Executive Officer in June 2011.
Lieutenant Colonel Roesti’s personal decorations include Air Medal with Strike/Flight Numeral 3 and the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars.