3rd Intelligence Battalion Sergeant Major
Sergeant Major Lanpolsaen was born on 15 March 1969 in Udon Thani, Thailand. He graduated from Murphy High School, North Carolina in June 1989, and enlisted in the Marine Corps on 16 Oct 1989. Upon completion of Boot Camp, Honor Graduate and meritoriously promoted, Private First Class Lanpolsaen attended Basic Combat Engineers Course, Camp Lejeune, N.C. Upon graduating with honors and meritoriously promoted to Lance Corporal in May, 1990 he was assigned to Bravo Co., 3d Combat Engineer Battalion, 3d Marine Division, Okinawa, Japan for duty as a Combat Engineer. From October 1990 to March 1991 he was attached to MAGTF 4-90 and participated in security operations in the Republic of the Philippines. While at 3d CEB, he was Meritoriously Promoted to Corporal and participated in Operation Fiery Virgil in the Republic of Philippines for Mt. Pinatubo, volcano eruption, disaster relief and clean up from June to October of 1991.
Corporal Lanpolsaen was transferred to Charlie Company, 2nd Landing Support BN, for duty as a Shore Party Engineer from July 1992 to October 1995. While at 2nd LSB, he was selected as NCO of the quarter and participated in Operation Ocean Venture 1993 in Puerto Rico. He was later meritoriously promoted to Sergeant and deploy to Norway for cold weather training for Operation Strong Resolve 95.
Upon reenlistment Sgt Lanpolsaen reported to Marine Corps Recruiter School at San Diego, California. Upon graduating top ten percent and with academic honors, Sergeant Lanpolsaen was assigned to Recruiting Sub Station Jacksonville, Florida. In March of 1998 he was promoted to Staff Sergeant and was serving as a canvassing recruiter. After a successful tour from recruiting, Staff Sergeant Lanpolsaen was assigned to S-3, Combat Service Support Group 3, 3d Force Service Support Group, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. While at CSSG-3 from February 99 to January 2002, he participated in operations to Okinawa, Korea, Australia, and Thailand. In June of 2000 he attended the Staff Non-Commission Officers Career Course in Camp Pendleton, California where he graduated second from a class of 120 Staff Sergeants. He was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant on 1 November 2001.
In January of 2002 he was assigned to Marine Corps Engineer School, Court House Bay, North Carolina where he served as a demolitions instructor for Basic Combat Engineer, Combat Engineer Officer's Course, and Combat Engineer NCOs course. While there he was selected as Instructor of the Quarter and Instructor of the Year in 2003.
In April 2005 First Sergeant Lanpolsaen reported to 3d Battalion 7th Marines Regiment, 29 Palms, Ca. In September 2005, 3/7 deployed to Ar Ramadi, Iraq for OIF 04-06. Upon returning from Iraq in April, 2006, First Sergeant Lanpolsaen was reassigned as Weapons Company First Sergeant. The battalion redeployed to Ramadi, Iraq from April to November 2007. He also participated in Operation Foal Eagle 2008 in March 2008. In April 2009 First Sergeant Lanpolsaen reported to Support Company, Combat Service Support Group 3 and deployed with the battalion in November 2008 to May 2009 to Helmand Province, Afghanistan in support of OEF. First Sergeant Lanpolsaen was promoted to Sergeant Major on 1 March 2010.
Sergeant Major Lanpolsaen's personal decorations include the Bronze Star with combat "V", Combat Action Ribbon with gold star, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold star, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with a gold star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal, Nato ISAF Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal with 5 stars.
Sergeant Major Lanpolsaen is married to the former Kham Chanthavong of Daytona Beach, Florida. They have three children, JayJay, 17, Maile, 10, and Nalea, 7.