Commanding Officer,
LtCol Ferdinand F. Llantero
Lieutenant Colonel Ferdinand F. Llantero was born in Zambales, Republic of the Philippines. He graduated from the University of the East, Republic of the Philippines with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. In 2008, Llantero received his Masters of Military Studies from the Marine Corps University.
In 1989, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. Upon graduation in February 1990 he reported to follow on schools and was assigned the Combat Engineer Military Occupational Specialty and reported to 3d Combat Engineer Battalion, 3d Marine Division. In 1991 while with 3d Combat Engineer Battalion he was augmented to 2d Combat Engineer Battalion and deployed in support of Operation DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM as a member of a Minefield Breaching Team. Operation RESTORE HOPE, Somalia, commenced in 1992 and Lieutenant Colonel Llantero deployed in support as a Security Team Leader with 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Force Service Support Group.
In 1994, Lieutenant Colonel Llantero was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and upon completion of The Basic School he was assigned the Engineer Officer Military Occupational Specialty. His company grade assignments include: Platoon Commander and Assistant Training Officer, 2d Combat Engineer Battalion; Assistant Division Engineer, 2d Marine Division; Inspector-Instructor Company Commander and Site Commander, 4th Force Service Support Group; Operations Officer, Company Commander, and Military Adviser, 1st Naval Construction Division, Port Hueneme.
While overseas from 2004 to 2007 Lieutenant Colonel Llantero served as 1st Marine Aircraft Wing Engineer and Operations Officer, Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Okinawa, Japan, in support of several Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief missions. In 2005, Lieutenant Colonel Llantero was assigned to the Iraq National Reconstruction initiative as Electrical Sector Project Manager with the Project and Contracting Office in Baghdad in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.
Lieutenant Colonel Llantero was selected for the Marine Corps Command and Staff College in 2007 and upon completion was transferred to the Joint Military Attaché School in 2008. He then reported to the United States Defense Attaché Office, Manila, Republic of the Philippines, in 2009 as the Marine Attaché (MARA).
In 2010, Lieutenant Colonel Llantero was promoted to his current rank. Upon successfully completing his tenure as the Marine Attaché, he was selected for command and reported to 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2d Marine Logistics Group, in December 2011 and is currently the Battalion Commanding Officer.
His awards and decorations include: A Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Maine Corps Commendation Medal with 2 gold stars, a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Joint Meritorious Unit Citation with 2 bronze stars, Navy Unit Commendation with 2 bronze stars, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, a Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Military Outstanding Service Medal, and the Seabee Combat Warfare Qualification Insignia.
Battalion Sergeant Major, 
SgtMaj John E. Bankus
Sergeant Major Bankus was born in 1974 and graduated from Central Columbia High School in June of 1992. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on 1 October 1992 and underwent recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina graduating on 23 December 1992. He then reported for Basic Armor Crewman Course training at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
Upon completion of MOS School, he reported to Camp Lejeune NC, where he was assigned to Bravo Company, 2nd Tank Battalion. During his time with Bravo Company, He served as Tank Commander, Section Leader, and Platoon Sergeant. He supported several Combined Arms Exercises, a Fleet week, a Cooperative Osprey Exercise, and an MPF offload.
In September of 1996, he reported for duty to Marine Corps Security Force Training Company, Chesapeake Virginia for school. Upon graduation Sergeant Bankus was assigned to Marine Corps Security Force Company Kings Bay, Georgia.
While assigned to MCSFCO Kings Bay, Sergeant Bankus was put in charge of the Recapture Tactics Teams. As the RTT platoon sergeant, Sgt Bankus was responsible for training all Marines selected from Kings Bay to train at the Close Quarters Battle School. In June 1999, He was promoted to the rank of SSgt and ordered to report to 2nd Tank Battalion Camp Lejeune, NC.
SSgt Bankus was assigned to Bravo Company. He went to Master Gunner School in 2001 and became the companies Master Gunner upon his return. SSgt Bankus conducted numerous gunnery packages and mentored a crew that came in second place for the annual Marine Corps tank gunnery competition held at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
SSgt Bankus was selected for promotion to GySgt in June of 2002. In January 2003 he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served as Platoon Sergeant and was in support of 3rd Battalion 5th Marines until June 2003. GySgt Bankus returned to Camp Lejeune and received orders to 1st Tank Battalion 1st Marine Division at 29 Palms, California.
GySgt Bankus arrived in November of 2003 and was assigned to Charlie Company as a Platoon Sergeant. In March of 2004, GySgt Bankus deployed in support of OIF. Upon his return in October 2004 he was assigned as the Company Gunny of Headquarters and Service Company 1st Tanks.
In December 2006 GySgt Bankus was promoted and given orders to report to 2nd Marine Logistics Group, Camp Lejeune NC. Once there 1stSgt Bankus was assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 8 as the Company First Sergeant of Truck Company. In August of 2007 First Sergeant Bankus deployed to support OIF. On 23 April 2008, 1stSgt Bankus deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom with Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as their Battalion Sergeant Major.
1stSgt Bankus was posted as the CLB 26 SgtMaj in June of 2009. In April of 2010, 1stSgt Bankus received orders to HQSPTBN, MCB Camp Lejeune and assigned to Alpha Company as the Company 1stSgt.
SgtMaj Bankus was assigned as the Battalion SgtMaj for 8th Engineer Support Battalion on 26 September 2011.
Sergeant Major Bankus’ personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal w/ Gold star, Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal with “V” and two Gold Stars, the Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal and the Combat Action Ribbon.