Sergeant Major William R. Sweet enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1982. He attended Marine Recruit Training at Parris Island, South Carolina from July to October 1982 and graduated as a Private First Class.
Upon graduation he was assigned to MATSS-902 at NAS Millington, Tennessee, where he attended the Basic Avionics School. Lance Corporal Sweet was selected to attend the Advanced First Term Avionics course before transferring to NAS Whidbey Island in October 1983 for training as a 6455 Electronic Countermeasures Technician. Corporal Sweet transferred to VMAQ-2 in March 1984 and was subsequently assigned to HAMS-14. Corporal Sweet was discharged from the Marine Corps in June 1986.
Lance Corporal Sweet re-enlisted in November 1989 and returned to MALS-14 for duty as a 6484 ECM Technician. He was promoted to Corporal in March 1990. In May 1990 he deployed with VMAQ-2 DET-X to Iwakuni, Japan and returning in June 1991. He redeployed with VMAQ-2 DET-Y in April 1992. He was promoted to Sergeant in September 1992 and returned from deployment in October re-enlisting for orders to MCRD Parris Island, South Carolina.
He attended Drill Instructor School in July 1993 and was assigned for duty in October to 3rd Battalion; Company K. Sergeant Sweet worked as a Drill Instructor, Senior Drill Instructor, and Academic Instruction Unit Instructor while assigned to MCRD Parris Island.
In September 1995 he was assigned to MALS-31, Beaufort, South Carolina for duty as 6042 IMRL Asset Manager. In January 1997 he was transferred to Commander Naval Air Forces Atlantic in Norfolk, Virginia for duty as the Marine Fixed Wing IMRL Asset Manager Atlantic Fleet. In February 1997 he was promoted to Staff Sergeant. In December 1998 he transferred to MATSG Meridian, Meridian Mississippi to develop an 8-week course of instruction for initial accession marines into the 6042 MOS. He was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant in December 2000.
In May 2002 he was assigned to the University of Washington, Seattle, Washington as the Assistant Marine Officer Instructor for Naval ROTC. He was the primary advisor to the Rifle Pistol Team, Drill Cadre, and Physical training for all students. As the AMOI to the Marine Cadre he served as the assistant instructor for academics, Bulldog Prep, and he organized field operations for the students’ preparation to attend OCS.
He was selected for promotion to First Sergeant in December 2004 and in February 2005 was transferred to 2D Battalion 7th Marines for duty as the First Sergeant for Echo Company. In July 2005 he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom with Company E, serving in Fallujah and the Zaidon Region of Iraq. Upon return, in January 2006, he was assigned as the First Sergeant to Headquarters and Service Company. He redeployed in support of OIF as the Fox Company First Sergeant in January 2007 serving in Saqlawiyah, Iraq.
Upon selection to Sergeant Major posted as the MTACS-28 Sergeant Major in Feb 2008 and deployed to OIF in support of combat operations from January 2009 until the start of the retrograde in November. In March 2010 Sergeant Major Sweet posted as the MACS-2 SgtMaj and was selected as the MAGTF Sergeant Major for SPMAGTF CP-10 in May and deployed in support of CP-10 to South and Central America from July to November 2010. In December of 2010 SgtMaj Sweet posted as the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Marine Unit Cherry Point SgtMaj.
SgtMaj Sweet’s personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Commendation Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device and 3 Gold Stars, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with 2 Gold Stars, and the Combat Action Ribbon.