Colonel Eric M. Mellinger
Commanding Officer
Recruit Training Regiment


The commander of the Recruit Training Regiment is Colonel Eric M. Mellinger.

Colonel Mellinger is a native of New Jersey.  He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1987 and received a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps.  Upon completion of The Basic School and the Infantry Officer’s Course, he joined 1st Marine Division where he served from 1988-1991 in 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines as a Rifle and Weapons Platoon Commander, Battalion Adjutant, and Executive Officer for Weapons Company.  During this tour, First Lieutenant Mellinger served in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait during Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

Captain Mellinger served on the staff of The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia from 1991-1994.  During this tour, he served as a Staff Platoon Commander for two student officer companies and as an Instructor at the Infantry Officers Course.  Upon completion of his duties at TBS, Capt. Mellinger attended the Amphibious Warfare School during 1994-1995.

In 1995, Capt. Mellinger served in 2nd Marine Division as the Commanding Officer of Headquarters and Services Company and Co F, 2d Battalion, 2nd Marines.  During this tour, he commanded the Heliborne Company for 22nd MEU (SOC) during a six-month Landing Force Sixth Fleet deployment.  Capt. Mellinger’s company participated in Operation Joint Endeavor in the Balkans and Operation Assured Response (NEO and Embassy Reinforcement) in Monrovia, Liberia.

In 1997, Major Mellinger transferred and assumed duties as the Inspector-Instructor, Co C, 4th LAR Bn., Riverton, Utah.  During his tour with 4th Marine Division, Maj. Mellinger participated in Operation Deep Strike and a unit deployment to Norway for Exercise Battle Griffin 1999.  In 2000, Maj. Mellinger transferred to Quantico, Va. to attend the Marine Corps Command and Staff College.

Major Mellinger was stationed at Marine Corps University from 2000-2002.  He was a student at Command and Staff College and subsequently the School of Advanced Warfighting.  Upon graduation, he was assigned to the III Marine Expeditionary Force Staff, Okinawa, Japan, to serve in the G5 Plans Section as a Regional Operational Planner. 

Lieutenant Colonel Mellinger served from January to June 2003 as the J5 Plans Director for JTF-555 during Operation Enduring Freedom-Philippines.  On July 18, 2003, he assumed command of Marine Combat Training Battalion, School of Infantry-West. 

From August 2005 to June 2006, Lt. Col. Mellinger attended the National War College held at the National Defense University aboard Ft. McNair, Washington, DC.  From 2006-2008, he served at HQMC, Manpower & Reserve Affairs as the Section Head of MMOA-1 and monitor for ground Lt. Cols.  Upon promotion to his current grade, Colonel Mellinger returned to the Operating Forces and was assigned as the G-3 Operations Officer, 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, NC.  He subsequently was assigned as the G-3 Current Operations Officer for II MEF (Fwd) for deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

During January 2009, Col. Mellinger was transferred from II MEF (Fwd) to be the A/CS G-3 Operations Officer for 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade.  He recently returned from Helmand Province, Afghanistan, where he participated in Operation Enduring Freedom as a member of Task Force Leatherneck.  On August 12, 2009, Col. Mellinger assumed the duties as Commanding Officer, Recruit Training Regiment.

Colonel Mellinger holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Factors Engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy, a Master of Military Studies degree from the Marine Corps Command and Staff College and a Master of Science, National Security Strategy from National Defense University.

Colonel Mellinger’s personal awards include - Meritorious Service Medal with 3 Gold Stars, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Gold Star, Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal and Combat Action Ribbon with Gold Star.