Colonel R. L. Grabowski
Chief of Staff
Eastern Recruiting Region
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C.

Colonel R. L. Grabowski is a native of Shreveport, Louisiana. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in December 1975 and after graduating from High School in Southeast Iowa, he attended recruit training at MCRD San Diego, California in the summer of 1976.

Completing recruit training, PFC Grabowski was directed to report to the Infantry Training School at Camp Pendleton, California for instruction as an antitank assault man for the 106mm recoilless rifle. Upon completion of his MOS training he was promoted to Lance Corporal and directed to report for duty with Company “K,” 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan.

In August 1978, Corporal Grabowski was reassigned to MCRD San Diego, for Drill Instructor duty. During this tour he served as both Assistant Drill Instructor and Senior Drill Instructor for several training platoons.

In August of 1980, Sergeant Grabowski left the Marine Corps to pursue a college education. From the summer of 1980 to 1982 he worked as a correctional officer at the Iowa Maximum Security Prison in Fort Madison.

In June 1983, Grabowski was selected to participate in the Combined Platoon Leaders Course in Quantico, Virginia. In May 1984, he graduated from Northeast Missouri State University with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Marines.

In the summer of 1984, Second Lieutenant Grabowski reported for duty to The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia. After graduation he attended the Infantry Officer’s Course and was designated an Infantry Platoon Commander.

Lieutenant Grabowski’s first infantry assignment was with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, were he served in billets ranging from Weapons Platoon Commander, Rifle Company Executive Officer, Weapons Company Executive Officer and Headquarters’ and Service Company Commander.

In August 1989, Captain Grabowski was assigned to the School of Infantry at Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina where he served as a training company commander in both Marine Combat Training Battalion and Infantry Training Battalion. He also served as the Schools Chief Instructor and eventually as Company Commander for the Advanced Infantry Training Course which trained both infantry platoon sergeant’s and squad leader’s.

In August 1992, Captain Grabowski attended the U.S. Army Advanced Infantry Officer’s Course in Fort Benning, Georgia.

In March 1993, he was reassigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines at Camp Lejeune, were he served in various billets ranging from Weapons Company Commander, Battalion Fire Support Coordinator and Battalion Operations Officer. During his tour as the operations officer Captain Grabowski participated in Operation Uphold Democracy as a member of Special Purpose MAGTF Caribbean in and around Cape Haitian, Haiti.

In July 1995, Captain Grabowski was reassigned as the Operations Officer for the 2nd Marine Regiment.

In August of 1996, Major Grabowski attended the Marine Corps Command and Staff College in Quantico.

In August 1997, Major Grabowski was screened and selected to command Recruiting Station Cleveland, Ohio.

In September 2000, Lieutenant Colonel Grabowski was reassigned to Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division where he served as the Deputy AC/S for Readiness and as an Assistant Operations Officer for the Division.

In December 2001, Lieutenant Colonel Grabowski was assigned to the 2d Marine Regiment where he took command of 1st Battalion, 2d Marines and participated in combat operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Upon completion of his command tour, Lieutenant Colonel Grabowski was directed to attend top-level school at the United States Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

In September 2004, Lieutenant Colonel Grabowski was assigned to U.S. Joint Forces Command, J-7, Joint Warfighting Center, in Suffolk, Virginia were he served as the Accreditation and Certification Group Chief.

Promoted in January 2006, Colonel Grabowski was screened and selected to command the 1st Marine Corps Recruiting District, in Garden City, New York.