Sergeant Major Robert L. Caldwell
Command Sergeant Major
3D Marine Expeditionary Brigade
Sergeant Major Caldwell was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina on April 30, 1965. He graduated from Spartanburg High School in June 1983. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on the Delayed Entry Program in September 1982. On August 23, 1983 he began the odyssey of becoming a Marine at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon graduating recruit training as a Private First Class (Meritoriously), he was assigned to Marine Corps Service Support Schools, Camp Johnson, North Carolina, for training in his Military Occupational Specialty as a food service specialist. Upon graduating from MCSSS, he was assigned to 3rd Force Service Support Group, Okinawa, Japan in January 1984. He was promoted to Lance Corporal in July 1984 and then promoted to Corporal (meritoriously) in October 1984.
Sergeant Major Caldwell was reassigned to 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division as a chief cook on watch in March 1985. He deployed with Alpha Company, 2nd TKBN on numerous occasions to: Fort Picket, Virginia, CAX 29 Palms, California and Mount Fuji, Mainland Japan. He then received orders to Marine Barracks, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in October 1987, as a chief cook on watch. He was promoted to Sergeant in July of 1988.
Sergeant Major Caldwell received orders to Drill Instructor School, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Paris Island, South Carolina in May 1991. Upon graduating, he was assigned to Company M, Third Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment. During his tour Sergeant Caldwell served as Drill instructor, Senior Drill Instructor, in which he trained over 400 recruits, and processed over 3000 recruits as the Senior Drill Instructor at Receiving, Support Training Battalion. Upon completion of a successful tour at Paris Island he was promoted to Staff Sergeant (Meritoriously).
In July 1993, Sergeant Major Caldwell received orders to 3rd Force Service Support Group, Okinawa, Japan, as the Assistant Dining Facility Manager at Camp Kinser. In May 1994 he received orders to Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany Georgia, as the Dining Facility Manager. In May of 1996 he was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant.
Sergeant Major Caldwell received orders in July 1997, to the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the 19th Company. He was frocked to the rank of First Sergeant in May 1999, and subsequently received orders to Officer Candidate School, Quantico, Virginia as the Company First Sergeant for Golf Company.
In November of 1999, Sergeant Major Caldwell returned to Okinawa to assume the duties as the Company First Sergeant for Headquarters and Service Company, III MEF Headquarters Group, III Marine Epeditionary Force. He reported to 3rd Intelligence Battalion in November 2000 and assumed the duties as the Battalion Sergeant Major.
In May 2001, Sergeant Major Caldwell was reassigned to the Duty as the Company First Sergeant for Support Company, 7th Communication Battalion, III MEF Headquarter Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan. He deployed with Support Company on numerous occasions To: The United kingdom of Thailand in support of operation Cobra Gold (2002 – 2003), Korea in support of operation UFL (2002 – 2003). He served as the Acting Sergeant Major of 7th Communication Battalion from April 2003 until December 2003. He was frocked to the rank of Sergeant Major on December 1, 2003.
In December 2003, Sergeant Major Caldwell was reassigned to assume duty as the Battalion Sergeant Major for Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan. He deployed with Combat Assault Battalion on numerous occasions To: Korea, United Kingdom of Thailand, and MT Fuji, Japan through out his tour at Combat Assault Battalion.
In June 2006, Sergeant Major Caldwell was assigned to 3rd Battalion, Eleventh Marine, 1st Marine Division. Subsequently, in December 2007, he was assigned as the 11th Marines Regiment Sergeant Major.
In February 2009, Sergeant Major Caldwell was reassigned back to his present duty as Third Battalion, Eleventh Marines, Battalion Sergeant Major to deploy in support of OEF 09.1, Afghanistan in support of Operation Khanjari and Operation Azadi, Helmand Province, Afghanistan from May to November 2009.
Sergeant Major Caldwell’s decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (gold star in lieu of 2nd award), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (gold star in lieu of 2nd award), Navy Achievement Medal (gold star in lieu of 2nd award), Good Conduct Medal (8th award), Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Nato Medal- ISAF Afghaistan, and National Defense Service Medal (2nd award).