Staff Sergeant Devon T. Van
Drum Major

Staff Sergeant Devon T. Van graduated from Francis Howell North High School in St. Charles, MO, in 1992. He enlisted in the Marine Corps and reported for Recruit Training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, CA, on 11 September 1995. Private First Class Van graduated from Recruit Training on 1 Dec 1995 and attended Marine Combat Training at School of Infantry West, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA. PFC Van then reported to the Armed Forces School of Music in Norfolk, VA, for further instruction in the Basic Musicians course.

Upon completion of the Basic Musicians course in July 1996, Lance Corporal Van reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, SC, for service as a Tuba instrumentalist. While assigned to the Parris Island Marine Band, he was promoted to the rank of Corporal in December 1996, and again to the rank of Sergeant in April 1998.

In August 1998, Sergeant Van was transferred to Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan, for service with the III Marine Expeditionary Force Band. Sergeant Van then left Active Duty service in September 1999 and attended Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, IL, until February 2003, where he studied Music Education.

Sergeant Van then returned to Active Duty in February 2003 and was assigned to Marine Corps Logistics Base, Albany, GA, for service with the Albany Marine Band. Sergeant Van would then be transferred to the Armed Forces School of Music for further instruction in the Unit Leaders Course in September 2005.

Upon Completion of the Unit Leaders Course in May 2006, Sergeant Van reported to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA, for service with the 1st Marine Division Band. While at the 1st Marine Division Band, he was promoted to his present rank of Staff Sergeant in July 2006 and deployed to Trebil, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from September 2007 to April 2008, where he served as 1st Platoon Sergeant, Military Police Company, 1st Marine Division.

Staff Sergeant Van was selected for the Military Occupational Specialty of Drum Major in February 2008 and reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, SC, for service as the Drum Major of the Parris Island Marine Band in August 2008.

Staff Sergeant Van’s personal decorations include: Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3d Award), Marine Corps Good Conduct (2nd Award), Iraq Campaign Medal with 1 Campaign Star, and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (2nd Award).