SgtMaj Gries enlisted in the Marine Corps in June 1980; he attended Recruit Training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon graduation he attended Infantry Training School, Camp Geiger, North Carolina and completed the training as an honor graduate and was meritoriously promoted to Lance Corporal. He was assigned as a 60 mm mortar gunner with Weapons Platoon, Golf Company, 2d Battalion. 6th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He was discharged from active duty as a Sergeant in 1984.

He reenlisted February 1990 in the Selected Marine Corps Reserve and was assigned to Weapons Platoon, Fox Company, 2d Battalion, 24 Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Milwaukee, Wisconsin as the 60 mm mortar section Leader. He was activated in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm from December 1990 to April 1991.

In 1992 he was assigned as Administrative Chief for the Mobilization Unit in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and service in that billet until 1994 and was promoted to Staff Sergeant. He was again assigned to Fox Company as Weapons Platoon Sergeant until 1995.

In 1995 he served with Ammunition Company, 4th Force Service Support Group in Greenville, South Carolina as Platoon Sergeant. He served in that billet until 1996.

In 1996 he was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant and was assigned as the Military Advisor to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 25, Fort McCoy, WI and was responsible for the military training of the battalion's Seabees. He served in that billet from 1996 to 2002. In this billet he also served as an evaluator for active component Seabee battalions buring ther Kennel Bear exercises in Guam and Okinawa.

In 2002 he was promoted to 1stSgt and was assigned to Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 23d Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Houston, Texas. He was activated in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom conducting combat operations in the Al Anbar Province from June 2004 to June 2005. He continued to serve in that billet until being promoted to Sergeant Major in 2006.

As a Sergeant Major he assumed his first assignment as the Headquarters Battalion, 4th Marine Division Sergeant Major. In addition to duties as Battalion Sergeant Major, he has been a member of the FY07 Reserve SNCO Promotion Board, a member of the Marine Corps Reserve Policy Board and a graduate from the Keystone Senior Enlisted Joint Forces course.

Sergeant Major Gries currently holds the billet of Group Sergeant Major for MACG-48 in Great Lakes, IL.

His personal decorations include; Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (gold star in lieu of 3d award), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, (gold star in lieu of 2d award), and Combat Action Ribbon.