7th Communication Battalion

MAJOR JAY B. DURHAM

Major Durham attended Marine Corps Recruit Training at Parris Island SC in October of 1992.  Private Durham reported to the Marine Corps Communications Electronics School in January of 1993. 

Graduating MOS School as a 2841, Private First Class Durham received orders to 7^th Communications Battalion.  Upon checking in he was promoted to Lance Corporal and assigned to the Comm-Elect Maintenance (CEM) Platoon for service as a Ground Radio Repairman.  While assigned to 7^th Comm, Lance Corporal Durham deployed to Thailand in support of Exercise Cobra Gold. 

In December of 1994 Lance Corporal Durham was transferred to The School of Infantry (SOI) East, Camp Geiger, NC where he served as a Ground Radio Repairman in the schools communication platoon.  In February of 1996 he was promoted to Corporal and worked as a Troop Handler at Marine Combat Training Battalion, SOI East. 

In March of 1998 he was promoted to Sergeant and received orders to attend his Career Progression School in 29 Palms to receive the MOS 2861, Electronics Technician. 

April of 1999 Sergeant Durham checked into Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 to serve as the Squadron’s Comm-Elect Maint Chief. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant February 1^st, 2001 while participating in a double CAX in 29 Palms CA.  Staff Sergeant Durham also deployed to Thessaloniki Greece and Zaragoza Spain during Exercises Dynamic Mix 99 and 2000 while serving with MWSS-272.  In February of 2003, Staff Sergeant Durham deployed with MWSS-272 during OIF-1. 

In February of 2004 Staff Sergeant Durham was transferred to MCRD Parris Island for service as the Base Telephone Chief.  There he played a huge role in transitioning the depot’s computer network over to NMCI.  In November of 2004 he was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant.

Upon being selected on the Enlisted to Warrant Officer Selection Board, Gunnery Sergeant Durham was promoted to Warrant Officer 1 on February 1^st 2005.  He was promoted standing in the MCRD Parris Island Recruit Chapel; the same place he stood while graduating Boot Camp 13 years earlier.  He then attended Warrant Officer Basic Course in Quantico VA, and the Electronics Maintenance Supervisors Course in 29 Palms CA. 

Warrant Officer Durham was then sent to Combat Assault Battalion (CAB), 3^rd Marine Division, III MEF where he served as the S-6 Officer, Comm-Elec Maint Officer, and H&S Company Commander.  While serving with CAB, he deployed to South Korea to participate in KITP on two occasions.  In August of 2006, he was promoted to Chief Warrant Officer 2. 

In May of 2007 CWO2 Durham was transferred to 7^th Comm Battalion where he served in the CEM platoon as the Platoon Commander and as the battalion CEMO.

During the summer of 2008, CWO2 Durham was transferred to 8^th Communication for service as the Electronics Maintenance Platoon Commander.  He deployed to OIF with 8^th Comm in 2009 serving as the Service Company Det OIC.  He was promoted to CWO3 August 1^st 2009, and served as the Battalion CEMO.  CWO3 Durham was selected as a Limited Duty Officer and promoted to Captain on February 1^st, 2010.  Captain Durham remained at 8^th Comm Battalion and served as the Service Company Commander until February 2011.

In February of 2011 Captain Durham moved up to the II MEF G-6 where he assumed duties as the Assistant Electronics Maintenance Officer.  He deployed with the II MEF Staff to OEF in January of 2013 and served as the RC S/W Electronics Maintenance Officer.  In June of 2014, Capt Durham was assigned to serve as the II MEF G-6 Comm-Elec Maint Officer, filling a LtCol billet.  Promoted to his current rank of Major April 1^st of 2015, he continued to serve as the II MEF Comm-Elec Maintenance Officer until July 2015 when he PCS’d back to 7th Comm Battalion, once again, where he currently serves as the Service Company Commander.