MOS 0369 Infantry Unit Leader
0369 Platoon Sergeant
FOR PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF DUTIES WHILE SERVING AS THE PLATOON SERGEANT FOR HEADQUARTERS AND SUPPORT PLATOON, DELTA COMPANY, 4TH RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION, 4TH MARINE DIVISION, FROM 1 JANUARY 2019 TO 26 JUNE 2019. CORPORAL SERRANO DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF WITH HIS MATURITY, INITIATIVE AND CONTAGIOUS CAN-DO ATTITUDE. VOLUNTEERING TO RESPONSIBILITY, HE SUCCESSFULLY ORGANIZED, TRAINED AND LED A PLATOON OF 33 MARINES FROM A DIVERSE ARRAY OF MILITARY DISCIPLINES INCLUDING COMMUNICATIONS, SUPPLY, LOGISTICS AND ADMINISTRATIVE MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES. IN DOING SO, HE DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF WITH EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE NORMALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THAT OF A STAFF NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER MUCH SENIOR IN RANK AND GRADE. UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, THE PLATOON PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN ENABLING 4TH RECONNAISSANCE BATTALIONS ANNUAL TRAINING. HE HAS SERVED AS A PEERLESS EXAMPLE OF NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER LEADERSHIP, NOT MERELY WITHIN THE PLATOON BUT THROUGHOUT 4TH RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION. CORPORAL SERRANO'S INITIATIVE, PERSEVERANCE, AND TOTAL DEDICATION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIM AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
0369 Platoon Sergeant
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT WHILE SERVING AS PLATOON SERGEANT, COMPANY G, BATALLION LANDING TEAM 2/1, 11TH MARINE EXPEDITIONARY UNIT FROM AUGUST 2013 TO MARCH 2014. SERGEANT KITCHENS CONSISTENTLY PERFORMED HIS DEMANDING DUTIES IN AN EXEMPLARY AND HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL MANNER. DURING THIS PERIOD, SERGEANT KITCHENS MAINTAINED ACCOUNTABILITY OF OVER 35 MARINES, SAILORS, AND 193 SERIALIZED ITEMS. SERGEANT KITCHENS PROVIDED DETAILED INSTRUCTION IN HELICOPTER ROPE SUSPENSION TECHNIQUES, CERTIFYING OVER 138 MARINES AND SAILORS IN SUPPORT OF COMPANY G'S VERTICAL ASSAULT MISSION. AS PLATOON SERGEANT, HIS CREATIVITY, TECHNICAL ACUMEN, AND DEVOTION TO TRAINING MARINES WAS PARAMOUNT IN THE SUCCESS OF COMPANY G'S MISSION ACCOMPLISHMENT OF A NON-ILLUMINATED VERTICAL ASSAULT RAID DURING REALISTIC URBAN TRAINING CONDUCTED ON 27 MARCH 2014. HIS ABILITY TO LEAD AND INSPIRE JUNIOR MARINES AND PEERS HELPED IMPROVE THE OVERALL PROFICIENCY OF COMPANY G AND MADE HIM A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL FOR ALL TO EMULATE. SERGEANT KITCHENS' INITIATIVE, PERSERVERENCE AND TOTAL DEVOTION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIM AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
0369 Operations Chief
For outstanding meritorious service while serving as Individual Mobilization Augmentee Detachment Team Lead, Current Operations Division, G-3/5, Marine Corps Installations Command and Marine Corps National Capital Region Command, from September 2022 to August 2025. As Team Lead, a billet typically reserved for a Lieutenant Colonel, Major Reese's sound judgment and initiative were instrumental in leading senior staff non-commissioned officers and field-grade officers alike. Through his foresight and industry, he directed Reserve augmentation to 14 exercises and real-world operations. Most notably, he played an integral role as a watch officer during National Special Security Events such as the 75th North Atlantic Treaty Organization Summit, OPERATION DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN, the 60th Presidential Inauguration, and others. He initiated vital cross-joint team collaboration, which led to the identification of several critical execution gaps. His efforts resulted in additional planning and rehearsals with Joint Team Procession to establish best practices, which proved essential during OPERATION DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN. As Liaison Officer to Joint Task Force-National Capital Region during exercises and operations, Major Reese's exceptional service and diligence ensured unified action through coherent information sharing as he fostered interservice relationships for years to come. Major Reese's distinctive contributions, determination and unwavering dedication to duty reflected great credit on him and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
Expeditionary Rescue Tactical Recovery Team Leader
FOR HEROIC ACHIEVEMENT WHILE SERVING AS THE EXPEDITIONARY RESCUE TACTICAL RECOVERY TEAM LEADER WITH 2ND PLATOON, FOX COMPONY, 2ND BATTLION, 5TH MARINE REGIMENT SUPPORTING OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE IN THE AFRICOM THEATER. SERGEANT NORKIEWICZ LED A FIRETEAM OF FOUR MARINES INTO A HIGH THREAT ENVIRONMENT IN ORDER TO EXTRACT TWO PARTNER NATION SOLDIERS THAT HAD BEEN WOUNDED BY A LARGE IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE. SERGEANT NORKIEWICZ PLACED HIMSELF BETWEEN ENEMY FIRE AND THE EXTRACTION LZ, EXPOSING HIMSELF TO ENEMY FIRE IN ORDER TO DRAW FIRE AWAY FROM FRIENDLY FORCES ON THE GROUND AND QUICKLY ESTABLISHED A FIGHTING POSTION, KILLING MUTIPLE ENEMY COMBANTANTS, AND RETURNING TO PARTNER FORCES TO RENDER IMMEDIATE LIFE SAVING CARE. DUE TO HIS ACTIONS, THE TWO PARTNER NATION SOLDIERS LIVES WERE SAVED. SERGEANT NORKIEWICZ' COURAGE, COMMITMENT, PERSERVENCE, AND DEDICATION DUTY TO THE MISSION REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIM AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE. THE V DEVICE FOR VALOR IS AUTHORIZED.