MOS 81 Security
MOS 8152 Marine Corps Security Force Guard
MERITORIOUS SERVICE WHILE SERVING AS TRAINING CHIEF, MARINE CORPS SECURITY FORCE COMPANY GUANTANAMO BAY, MARINE CORPS SECURITY FORCE REGIMENT FROM MARCH 2020 TO AUGUST 2022. SERGEANT LAWSON'S EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE RESULTED IN THE SUCCESSFUL DEPLOYMENT, INTEGRATION, AND REDEPLOYMENT OF 19 FLEET ANTITERRORISM SECURITY PLATOONS. HIS UNDERSTANDING OF THE UNIT'S ROLE WITHIN THE COMPLEX OPERATING ENVIRONMENT ALLOWED HIM TO EXCEL AS THE COMPANY OPERATIONS CHIEF FOR NINE MONTHS AND RESULTED IN OVER 40 JOINT TRAINING EVOLUTIONS, FOUR AMPHIBIOUS INSERTIONS, AND THE VALIDATION OF A CASUALTY EVACUATION AND FORCE PROTECTION PLAN. ADDITIONALLY, AS THE FACILITIES MANAGER, HE PROCESSED MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED MAINTENANCE TICKETS AND WAS VITAL TO THE COMPLETION OF A 12 MILLION DOLLAR FENCE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT. HIS EFFORTS STRENGTHENED NAVY REGION SOUTHEAST AND CUBAN RELATIONS AND ENSURED THE SUCCESS OF TWO NATURAL DISASTER BILATERAL EXERCISES, NINE CUBAN REPATRIATIONS, 26 CUBAN FRONTIER BRIGADE MEETINGS AND 29 CUBAN PENSION TRANSFERS. SERGEANT LAWSON'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.
Developed and instructed the first Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) course at Marine Corps Security Force Regiment, Naval Weapons Station Yorktown. Facilitated six JLTV courses without any vehicle damage, accidents, or injury to personnel. Training spanned 3,500 miles driven, 340 training hours, and licensed 73 Marines. Evaluated and approved 57 JLTV licensing packages to ensure all students met the requirements for attending the JLTV course and receiving an OF-346.
Safely and efficiently received, offloaded, and maintained accountability of four JLTVs worth over $2,000,000 at Kings Bay.
Instructed and certified 13 reservists from 4th Law Enforcement Battalion in order for them to qualify for deployment to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Trained and licensed 12 Marines from Marine Corps Security Force Battalion to qualify them for their mission in Kings Bay, Georgia.
Trained and certified five licensed Marines within motor transport section to instruct the JLTV course, boosting training productivity by 50%.
Maintained accountability of six JLTVs and supporting equipment valued at $2,500,000 at Marine Corps Security Force Regiment.
MOS 8156 Marine Corps Security Guard
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN THE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES WHILE SERVING AS SQUAD LEADER, COMPANY B, MARINE CORPS SECURITY FORCE BATTALION FROM 9 TO 16 JANUARY 2026. CORPORAL GERBASIO DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF THROUGH EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP AND SUPERIOR TACTICAL PROFICIENCY DURING A MULTINATIONAL EMBASSY ENGAGEMENT EXERCISE AT UNITED STATES EMBASSY PHNOM PENH. WHEN A VIOLENT RIOT THREATENED EMBASSY ACCESS, HE DECISIVELY ORGANIZED HIS SQUAD AND EMPLOYED LESS-THAN-LETHAL CAPABILITIES TO REPEL HOSTILE CROWDS, RESTORING SECURITY AND ENABLING THE SAFE ENTRY OF AMERICAN PERSONNEL. HIS SWIFT AND AGGRESSIVE ACTIONS DIRECTLY PREVENTED FURTHER ESCALATION AND ENSURED THE INTEGRITY OF THE EMBASSY PERIMETER. FOLLOWING AN INTELLIGENCE UPDATE, HE RAPIDLY IDENTIFIED AND COUNTERED AN UNMANNED AERIAL THREAT, DIRECTING ITS NEUTRALIZATION, AND SAFEGUARDING CRITICAL PERSONNEL. UPON EVACUATION, HE ESTABLISHED A SECURE LANDING ZONE AND COORDINATED EXTRACTION OPERATIONS, ENSURING THE SAFE WITHDRAWAL OF PERSONNEL. BY HIS BOLD LEADERSHIP, WISE JUDGEMENT, AND COMPLETE DEDICATION TO DUTY, CORPORAL GERBASIO REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND UPHELD THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
MOS 8156 Marine Corps Security Guard
For outstanding meritorious service while serving as Detachment Commander, Marine Security Guard Detachments Kuwait City, Kuwait and Beijing, China, Marine Corps Embassy Security Group from June 2018 to June 2021. Gunnery Sergeant Johnston's inspirational leadership was vital to the operational and administrative success of six Marine Security Guard Detachments. He supervised 145 contingency response drills that improved operational preparedness, bolstered local guard forces, and prepared antiterrorism units to combat threats to national security at our embassies and consulates worldwide. His superior technical skill and thorough understanding of embassy security regulations was instrumental in providing comprehensive protection for American citizens and classified information against any threat during a period of heightened global unrest. His exceptional leadership was crucial throughout the pandemic by serving as the senior Detachment Commander for all five Mission China detachments. He supported detachments with gapped commanders and conducted mentorship visits and evaluations for the command when international travel was restricted. He superbly managed the closure of the Chendgu Consulate and redistributed all essential equipment to fulfill critical needs across the region. His selfless actions ensured the operational readiness of each detachment and two region commands. His consistent efforts and esprit de corps enabled his Marines to successfully complete their assigned security missions at each diplomatic mission under his charge. By his noteworthy accomplishments, perseverance, and loyal devotion to duty, Gunnery Sergeant Johnston reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and United States Naval Service.
MOS 8156 Marine Security Guard Watchstander
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN THE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES WHILE SERVING AS A MARINE SECURITY GUARD WATCHSTANDER FOR MARINE SECURITY GUARD DETACHMENTS ABUJA, NIGERIA AND OSLO, NORWAY, MARINE CORPS EMBASSY SECURITY GROUP FROM SEPTEMBER 2023 TO APRIL 2025. DURING THIS PERIOD, CORPORAL AVELLANEDA PROVIDED MORE THAN 3,500 HOURS OF ARMED INTERNAL SECURITY AND ISSUED MORE THAN 30 INCIDENT REPORTS FOR SECURITY RELATED OFFENSES, THEREBY DIRECTLY IMPROVING PHYSICAL SECURITY FOR HIS DETACHMENTS. CORPORAL AVELLANEDA’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 UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
MOS 8157 Marine Corps Detachment Commander
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN THE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES WHILE SERVING AS THE DETACHMENT COMMANDER, U.S. CONSULATE SHENYANG, CHINA ON 13 OCTOBER 2023. ON THIS DATE, STAFF SERGEANT GRAY WAS RECOGNIZED AS THE REGION 3 DETACHMENT COMMANDER OF THE YEAR FOR HIS UNMATCHED LEADERSHIP AND KEEN FOCUS ON THE MORALE AND WELFARE OF THE MARINES UNDER HIS CHARGE. HIS KNOWLEDGE, EXPERTISE, AND TECHNICAL ACUMEN WERE VITAL TO THE SUCCESS OF HIS DETACHMENT AND THE SAFETY OF THE U.S. CONSULATE, SHENYANG, CHINA. HIS STEADFAST EFFORTS AND ESPRIT DE CORPS EMPOWERED HIS MARINES TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR SECURITY MISSIONS DURING PERIODS OF HEIGHTENED OPERATIONAL TEMPO. BY HIS NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENTS, PERSEVERANCE, AND DEDICATION TO DUTY, STAFF SERGEANT GRAY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND UPHELD THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
Sergeant of the Guard
FOR PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT in the superior performance of his duties while serving as Sergeant of the Guard during the training exercise at Site STA-8, Camp Grayling, from 31 July 2024 to 13 August 2024. Sergeant Meyer demonstrated exemplary leadership and initiative, ensuring the security and readiness of 218 enlisted soldiers, 52 officers, 29 Marines, and two Navy corpsmen, while safeguarding over $300 million in assets, including 10 UH-60 Blackhawks, three CH-47 helicopters, and 80,000 gallons of fuel.
In addition to his security responsibilities, Sergeant Meyer skillfully deescalated several minor security incidents involving civilians, maintaining the uninterrupted operation of the exercise. His logistical coordination with Army personnel ensured the timely provision of housing, chow, and other necessities for the Marines, significantly enhancing unit morale and operational efficiency.
Sergeant Meyer also took the initiative to organize cross-training opportunities for his junior Marines with Army personnel, exposing them to various Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) and broadening their skill sets. He further motivated his Marines by arranging incentive flights with CH-47 pilots, fostering inter-service cooperation and providing a unique training experience.
Demonstrating his commitment to training and readiness, Sergeant Meyer conducted multiple classes on patrolling, 9-line medevac procedures, weapon safety, and movement under fire. His leadership resulted in the successful execution of movement under fire ranges, drills, and dead gunner exercises, utilizing over 4,800 rounds of 5.56 blank ammunition to enhance the tactical proficiency of his Marines.
Sergeant Meyer's efforts culminated in the successful tear-down of the camp and retrograde to the main camp, completing the operation with precision and professionalism. His exceptional performance, leadership, and dedication to duty reflect great credit upon himself and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
Marine Security Guard
MERITORIOUS SERVICE WHILE SERVING AS A MARINE SECURITY GUARD AT DETACHMENTS ADANA TURKEY, BRASILIA BRAZIL, AND CAPE TOWN SOUTH AFRICA FROM 1 OCTOBER 2017 TO 14 OCTOBER 2020. DURING THIS PERIOD, SERGEANT GLADWELL CONDUCTED TWO SEMI ANNUAL INSPECTIONS FOR DETACHMENT ADANA TURKEY WITH MINIMAL TO NO DISCREPANCIES. HE GENERATED DUTY SCHEDULES FOR A 24/7 SECURITY POSTURE WITH A TEAM OF FOUR PERSONAL DRIVERS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TRANSPORTATION NEEDED IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. HE ALSO MANAGED INVENTORY FOR OVER $400,000 WORTH OF GEAR USED FOR OPERATIONAL SECURITY. IN ADDITION, HE IMPLEMENTED HEIGHTENED SECURITY PROTOCOLS FOR 72 HOURS WHILE FOUR HUNDRED TURKISH CIVILIANS PROTESTED THE MOVE OF THE JERUSALEM EMBASSY. DURING HIS TIME IN BRAZIL, HE CONDUCTED TWO MORE SEMI ANNUAL INSPECTIONS WITH MINIMAL TO NO DISCREPANCIES. HE MANAGED AN ADDITIONAL $400,000 WORTH OF GEAR FOR OPERATIONAL SECURITY AS THE SUPPLY NCO. HE ALSO MANAGED TRAINING AND FAMILIARIZATION OF ALL OPERATION PROCEDURES FOR INCOMING SECURITY GUARDS. HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ISSUE OF FORTY-EIGHT INCIDENT REPORTS, DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE OVERALL SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE EMBASSY AND PERSONNEL ASSIGNED. IN ADDITION, HE WAS DESIGNATED BY HIGHER HEADQUARTERS TO COORDINATE SECURITY WITH THE SECRET SERVICE FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP'S VISIT TO THE ROYAL FAMILY IN LONDON. DURING HIS TIME IN SOUTH AFRICA, HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SCHEDULING, DOCUMENTING, AND REPORTING OF ALL REQUIRED TEAM TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION TO ENSURE OPERATIONAL PROFICIENCY. SERGEANT GLADWELL'S EXCEPTIONAL PROFESSIONALISM, UNRELENTING PERSEVERANCE, AND LOYAL 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.