Melvin Chestnut:  

Life SERGEANT MAJOR MELVIN O'NEAL CHESTNUT UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS Sergeant Major Chestnut was born in Sumter, South Carolina on May 25, 1960 to Joseph and Mable Chestnut. He have six sisters (Mildred, Helen, Mary, Thomasena, Rebecca and Delphine), and three brothers (Joseph Jr, Walter and Alphonso). He entered the Marine Corps on June 16, 1978 and attended recruit training at Paris Island South Carolina. Upon completion of recruit training, he attended the Infantry Training School (ITS) at Camp Pendleton where he was designated the MOS of 0311. Upon completion of Infantry Training School, he was assigned to Marine Barracks, Hawaii. After completion of his tour in 1980, he was assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Marines Camp Pendleton where he served as a Fire-team and Squad leader. During this tour he completed a six month deployment to Okinawa, Japan. In 1982, after re-enlisting, he was assigned to Weapons Training Battalion, Paris Island South Carolina. During this time he served a Range Coach, Block NCO, Tower NCO and assistant Line NCO. After again re-enlisting in 1984, he returned to Camp Pendleton, where he was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines as a Squad Leader and Platoon Sergeant. During this tour he completed six month Westpac deployment aboard the USS Cayuga. In August 1986, he volunteered and received orders to Drill Instructor School, San Diego, California. Upon completion of Drill Instructor School, he was assigned to Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, where he served as Drill Instructor and then later as a Field Instructor as part of the new Basic Warrior Training Program. Upon completion of this tour and being promoted to SSgt, he transferred to 1st Battalion 8th Marines, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. During this time he served as a Platoon Sergeant, Platoon Commander, Assistant Operations Chief and Company Gunnery Sergeant. While with 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, he completed two six months Mediterranean deployments aboard the USS Iwo Jima and USS Saipan; and participated in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. In 1992 he again requested and received orders to Drill Instructor School, San Diego, California. After five weeks of school, he was assigned to Charlie Company, 1st Battalion where he served as a Drill Instructor, Senior Drill Instructor and Series Gunnery Sergeant. In September 1994, he was assigned to the Drill Instructor School Staff as the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Instructor and a Squad Instructor. In July 1995, after completion of his Drill Instructor tour, he was assigned to the Recruit Training Regimental Staff as the Regimental Trai...Expand for more