Sergeant Major
William C. Rice
Sergeant Major, United States Marine Corps
Sergeant Major Rice was born on 31 March 1964 in Graham, North Carolina. He graduated from Graham High School, Graham, North Carolina in June 1982. Sergeant Major Rice enlisted in the Marine Corps in October of 1981, and underwent recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina in July of 1982.
After graduating recruit training, he attended Crash, Fire, and Rescue school in Millington, Tennessee. Upon completion of the school, he was assigned to Marine Corps Air Facility, Quantico, Virginia in March 1983. While serving at the Marine Corps Air Facility, he was selected numerous times as Marine of the Quarter, meritoriously promoted to Corporal and further selected as Noncommissioned Officer of the Month and year.
In 1986, Sergeant Major Rice was assigned to Marine Security Guard Battalion, Quantico, Virginia. After completion of MSG school, he was assigned to the American Embassies in Cyprus, China, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, and Malta. While serving on MSG duty, he was promoted to Sergeant and meritoriously promoted to Staff Sergeant. While serving at American Embassy Malta, then Staff Sergeant Rice was responsible for the security for the last Cold War summit between Russia and the United States. For his efforts, he was awarded the State Department Meritorious Service Award. After returning from MSG duty in December 1990, Sergeant Major Rice was assigned to MCAF/HMX-1 Training/Operations section. Additionally, he instructed Small Arms Weapons at SAWIC, Weapons Training Battalion, Quantico.
In 1994, Sergeant Major Rice was knighted in Malta.
In 1994, Sergeant Major Rice was reassigned to MWSS 171 in Okinawa, Japan. While serving in Okinawa, he was assigned as training SNCOIC and Detachment SNCOIC on the 31st MEU. While with MWSS 171, Sergeant Major Rice participated in numerous exercises in Thailand, and Korea. After completing this tour, he was reassigned back to MCAF/HMX-1 where he served as Training/Operations Chief, Force Protection Officer, and Audit and Verification Officer, unit SACO, Safety Officer, and small arms weapons and high-risk personnel protection instructor.
In 1999, Sergeant Major Rice was selected to First Sergeant and in March, was reassigned to Companies A and E, Officer Candidate School, Quantico, Virginia. In November, he was reassigned to Rifle Security Company Leeward, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
In December 2000, Sergeant Major Rice was reassigned to Battery A, 2d Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, Cherry Point, North Carolina. While serving as the Battery 1stSgt, Sergeant Major Rice participated in numerous exercises and deployments to include Dynamic Mix, Greece; Combined Arms Exercises; Weapons and Tactics Instruction; Winter Mountain Training, Bridgeport. 1stSgt Rice also served as the ACE SgtMaj while deployed to Battle Griffin. In June 2004, Sergeant Major Rice was reassigned as the Battalion Sergeant Major.
In February 2005, Sergeant Major Rice deployed as the Provisional Security Battalion Sergeant Major in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 04-06.
In December 2006, Sergeant Major Rice was assigned to Marine Transport Squadron One, MCAS Cherry Point.
In June 2008, Sergeant Major Rice was reassigned as the Base Sergeant Major, Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Sergeant Major's personal awards are: Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation with one gold star, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Volunteer Service Medal.