Sergeant MajorGary Buck
Depot Sergeant Major
Eastern Recruiting Region
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C.


SgtMaj. Buck enlisted in the Marine Corps in July of 1985 and entered the Delayed Entry Program.  He attended recruit training aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C., in March of 1986 and was assigned to Alpha Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion.  After completing recruit training he attended Infantry Training School at Camp Geiger, N.C., where he was assigned the MOS of 0341.  Upon completing training as a mortarman he was meritoriously promoted to private first class and received orders to Marine Barracks Guam, Mariana Islands for security force duty where he served from June 1986 until May of 1988. 

Then Lance Cpl. Buck was transferred to Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division where he served as a fire team leader and squad leader from May 1988 until January 1989.  Then Cpl. Buck was reassigned to Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division where he served as a squad leader and platoon sergeant from January 1989 until June 1990. 

Upon reenlisting then Sgt. Buck was transferred to Fleet Anti-Terrorist Security Team (FAST) Company, Marine Corps Security Force Battalion in Norfolk, Va.  The billets he was assigned to during his tour were section leader, platoon guide, rifle platoon sergeant, and rifle platoon commander.  While assigned to FAST Company he participated in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia, and Operation Safe Return in Haiti.  Upon completion of his tour in August of 1993 Staff Sgt. Buck received orders to Drill Instructor School, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C. 

After graduation he was assigned to Delta Company, 1st Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment where he served as drill instructor, senior drill instructor and series gunnery sergeant until May of 1996.  Upon completion of drill instructor duty he was reassigned to Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division.  The billets he held during his tour were rifle platoon sergeant, weapons platoon sergeant, rifle platoon commander, assistant operations chief, and company gunnery sergeant.  While assigned to 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment he participated in Operations Guardian Retrieval and Noble Obelisk, and conducted noncombatant evacuation operations in Kinshasa, Zaire, Freetown and Sierra Leone. During this tour of duty he was promoted to the rank of gunnery sergeant on Dec. 1, 1998. 

Upon completion of his duties at 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment Gunnery Sgt. Buck was assigned to the Staff Noncommissioned Officers Academy, Camp Geiger, N.C., from January of 2000 until May of 2002 where he served as a faculty advisor and chief faculty advisor of the Advanced Course.
                           
In May of 2002 he was promoted to first sergeant and transferred to Charlie Company, 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division. During this tour he participated in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Iraqi Freedom 2-2. In June of 2005 he was promoted to his current rank and transferred to Recruiting Station Harrisburg to serve as the recruiting station sergeant major. In April of 2008 Sgt. Maj. Buck transferred to Headquarters, First Marine Corps District and assumed the duties as the district sergeant major. In July of 2010 Sgt. Maj. Buck transferred to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, SC where he assumed the his current position as the Sergeant Major of Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island/Eastern Recruiting Region.

Sgt. Maj. Buck’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star in lieu of third award, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold stars in lieu of fifth award, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with gold star in lieu of second award, and Combat Action Ribbon.