Gonzalo A. Vasquez
Sergeant Major
SgtMaj Vasquez, a native of Belize, Central America, graduated High School in 1983.
SgtMaj Vasquez enlisted in April of 1984 and attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Ca. He then reported to Camp Geiger, N.C. for Infantry Training School and was then to Amphibious Reconnaissance School.
From January 1985 to April 1986 he was assigned to 3rd Recon Bn., at Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan.
After his Far East tour he received orders for 1st Recon Bn., Camp Pendleton, Ca., where he served until February 1987, at which time DRP became the nucleus for the newly reactivated, 1st Force Reconnaissance Company (1st Force Recon). During his five years at 1st Recon Bn and 1st Force Recon co., he deployed on three Western Pacific (West Pac) deployments; one of which was an eight month deployment for Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, 1990-1991.
In October of 1992, he was selected for assignment to Marine Security Guard (MSG) Bn., Quantico Va. After which he was assigned to MSG Detachments Cameroon and Luxembourg.
Returning to 1st Force Recon in June 1995, he served as Team Leader, Company Gunnery Sergeant and Training Chief. During that tenure deployed with the15th MEU and also served as Force Protection NCOIC Saudi Arabia.
On 29 December 2000, he was reassigned to I MEF Special Operations Training Group where he served as Chief Instructor, Special Missions Branch.
In May 2002 he was promoted to First Sergeant and received orders to 1st FSSG and served as Company First Sergeant for four different companies within Transportation Support Battalion including Support Co. CSSB 10 where he participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) from January through September 2003.
On 01 December 2003 he was assigned as the MSSG 15 Sergeant Major where he served as the (renamed) Combat Logistics Battalion 15 and completed two Western-Pacific deployments which included service in Iraq with the 15th MEU on both tours.
SgtMaj Vasquez's arrived in Okinawa Japan on 24 August and served as the MTACS-18 SgtMaj from 21 September 2007 through 16 Dec 2008.
SgtMaj Vasquez served as the Director of the Okinawa SNCO Academy from 17 December 2008 until 13 May 2011 where he assumed the duties of the 31st MEU Sergeant Major where he still serves today.
SgtMaj Vasquez's personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold star, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal and Combat Action Ribbon with gold star. He is authorized to wear the Navy/Marine Corps Parachutist and marine Combatant Diver insignias.
He has attended over 50 military and civilian schools including the United States Army's Special Forces School (Engineer Sergeant 18C course; Class 6-88).