Sergeant Major Luis E. Hernandez, USMC
Sergeant Major of 3d Law Enforcement Battalion
Sergeant Major Hernandez graduated from Thomas J. Corcoran High School in Syracuse, New York in 1990. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on 25 March 1991and underwent Marine Corps Recruit Training at Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon graduation, he was assigned to Marine Combat Training at Camp Geiger, Camp Lejuene, North Carolina. Following graduation he was then assigned to Marine Corps Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma where he attained the MOS 0811 Artillery Cannoneer.
His first permanent assignment was Romeo Battery 5th Battalion, 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division, Twentynine Palms, California serving as a cannoneer. While in Twentynine Palms, he deployed to numerous field exercises and participated in the Experimentation and Testing of the Royal Ordnance Light Towed Howitzer at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Upon his return from Fort Sill the Battalion was ordered to move from Twentynine Palms to Camp Pendleton, California for re-tasking into the Unit Deployment Program. He deployed with Romeo Battery to Okinawa, Japan and was attached to BLT 1/5 with the 31st MEU.
Upon return from deployment he was deployed to Port Heuneme, California for Counter-Narcotics operations under JTF-6 in June of 1994. In August 1994 he was then deployed to Washington State for Operation Wild Fires. He was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Corporal September 1994. In October 1994 he was detached and assigned to Offload Preparation Party in support of Operation Vigilant Warrior in the Persian Gulf.
Upon return from the Persian Gulf he was re-assigned to Charlie Battery 1st Battalion, 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division serving as an Assistant Section Chief in January 1995. In June 1995 he attended the 11th Marine Section Chief School and was assigned as Gun #4’s Section Chief. He attended the Division Corporals course at Camp Del Mar, Camp Pendleton, California September 1995. He re-enlisted October 1995 and was then re-assigned to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Range Operations Division Range Control, “Long Rifle”, where he served as a range inspector. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant June 1996. In August 1996 he received orders to Marine Corps Security Force Training Company in Chesapeake, Virginia. Upon completion of Security Force School he was assigned to Marine Corps Security Force Company Naples, Italy as a Platoon Sergeant.
While assigned to MCSF Company Naples, Italy he was deployed to Tirana, Albania in support of “Operation Silver Wake”. Upon his return he was awarded the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal for his actions in re-establishing the security of the U.S. Embassy Tirana, Albania after the governments collapse in March 1997. In August 1997 he was deployed to Senegal, Africa to participate in Joint Exercise Guidaimaka with French Marines and British Fusiliers. He was then sent to Rota, Spain to establish security for the USS Bobo offload in January 1998. He was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant in May 1999. In June 1999 he was tasked with establishing and standing up the security for the Head Quarters Joint Task Force Noble Anvil. For his achievements and conduct He was awarded the Joint Service Achievement Medal.
Upon completion of this assignment he received orders to Lima Battery 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines, 1st Marine Division Reinforced Twentynine Palms, California serving as the acting Battery Gunnery Sergeant November 1999. During his time with Lima Battery he participated in numerous Combined Arms Exercises and the Weapons Training Instructor Exercise in Chocolate Mountains, California. Upon his return from WTI he deployed to Okinawa, Japan attached to 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division from August 2001 to February 2002. In February 2003 he deployed to Kuwait in support of “Operation Iraqi Freedom” with Lima Battery 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines serving as the Guns Platoon, Platoon Sergeant/Battery Local Security Chief. Upon his return he was awarded the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal second award with combat “V” for his actions as well as bestowed with the Saint Barbara’s medal for his contribution to the artillery community. He was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant in November 2003.
In December 2003 he was reassigned to Kilo Battery 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division Reinforced serving first as the Battery First Sergeant then as Battery Gunnery Sergeant. February 2004 he was deployed once again to Camp Ar Ramadi, Iraq for Security and Stability Operations in support of “Operation Iraqi Freedom II”. Upon his return he was awarded the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal third award with combat “V” for his actions.
He was then reassigned to Lima Battery 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines, 1st Marine Division Reinforced serving as the Battery Gunnery Sergeant in July 2005. August 2005 he deployed with Lima Battery to Okinawa, Japan attached to 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine division as part of the Unit Deployment Program from August 2005 to February 2006.
Upon his return Gunnery Sergeant Hernandez was assigned to Marine Corps Security Forces Training Company at Naval Support Activity, Northwest Annex, Chesapeake, Virginia for duty as the Assistant Operations Chief. He was awarded the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal fourth award.
While at Security Forces Training Company he was selected and frocked to the rank of First Sergeant March 2006. He was then assigned to Headquarters Company, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Center, Marine Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California in April 2006. During his tour with 7th Marines he participated in numerous exercises to prepare the Regimental Headquarters for deployment to Operation Enduring Freedom 10.1 and 10.2.
First Sergeant Hernandez deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan with Regimental Combat Team-7 from September 2009 to October 2010 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Upon his return, he was reassigned in January 2011 to Ordnance Maintenance Company, 3d Maintenance Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment-35, 3d Marine Logistics Group, Okinawa, Japan.
During his time at Ordnance Maintenance Company, 3d Maintenance Battalion, he was selected and frocked to the rank of Sergeant Major in March of 2012. He was then reassigned to his current billet as the Battalion Sergeant Major of the newly activated 3D Law Enforcement Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force Head Quarters Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force.
Sergeant Major Hernandez’s decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal with combat “V” 4
th Award, Joint Service Achievement Medal, and Combat Action Ribbon.