United States Marine Corps

Sergeant Major
Howard K. Long

Training and Education Command

          Sergeant Major Howard K. Long assumed the duties at Training and Education Command on 3 March 2011. He was born in Brooklyn, NY, raised in Asheville, NC and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1983. From October to December 1983, he attended Recruit Training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC. Upon graduation, he received orders to Camp Lejeune, NC and reported for duty to Battery R, 5th Battalion, 10th Marines, where he attended Artillery Training School.

          In July 1986, he received orders to Battery L, 4th Battalion, 12th Marines, 3d Marine Division, Okinawa, Japan as a Section Chief. Upon reenlistment in August 1987, he received orders to Battery C, 1st Battalion, 12th Marines, 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Kaneohe Bay, HI as a Section Chief, Platoon Sergeant and Platoon Commander, deploying in support of OPERATIONS DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM from August 1990 to April 1991.

          Upon returning from the Persian Gulf, he received orders to Parris Island, SC in December 1991 and was assigned to Company B, 1st Recruit Training Battalion and Support Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, serving as a Drill Instructor, Senior Drill Instructor, Close Combat Instructor and Senior Close Combat Instructor.

          In June 1994, he received orders to Battery L, 3d Battalion, 12th Marines, 3d Marine Division, Okinawa, Japan and served as a Section Chief, Platoon Sergeant and Battery Gunnery Sergeant. In 1997, he was reassigned to Headquarters Battery, 3d Battalion, 12th Marines and served as the Battery Gunnery Sergeant, the Battalion Assistant Logistics Officer and the Battalion Logistics Chief.

          In July 1998, Sergeant Major Long reported to Marine Security Guard School, Quantico, VA for Detachment Commanders. Upon graduating in September 1998 he reported to the Company F, Marine Security Guard Battalion at the American Embassy, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, East Africa for duty as the Detachment Commander. In May 2000, he received orders to Company D, Marine Security Guard Battalion at the American Embassy, Montevideo, Uruguay, South America.

          In October 2001, Sergeant Major Long reported to the Inspector-Instructor Staff, 2d Battalion, 14th Marines, 4th Marine Division, in Grand Prairie, TX for duty as the Battalion Field Artillery Chief. In May 2002, he received orders and reported to the Inspector-Instructor Staff, Ordnance Maintenance Company(-), 4th Maintenance Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, Waco, TX, as the Inspector-Instructor First Sergeant.

          Upon selection to his current rank of Sergeant Major, he reported for duty with the 2d Battalion, 2d Marines, 2d Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, NC from June 2006 to March 2009 where his unit deployed as a Battalion Landing Team with the 26th MEU in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, and as a Task Force with 5th Marines, in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM.

          In April 2009, Sergeant Major Long reported for duty to 3d Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, San Diego, CA, as the Marine Air Control Group, Sergeant Major. In March 2011, Sergeant Major Long reported to Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Quantico, VA where he currently serves as the Training and Education Command, Sergeant Major.

          His diverse 27-year career includes assignments in the Infantry, Artillery, Marine Logistics Group, Air Wing, the Reserve establishment, Drill Instructor Duty, and the diplomatic arena. Sergeant Major Long has participated in operations, exercises and deployments throughout the United States, the Far East, the South Pacific, and the Middle East, serving in various capacities. He also has three combat tours in the Middle East working jointly with coalition forces.

          Sergeant Major Long's military education includes completion of Keystone Command Senior Enlisted Leader Course at National Defense University, First Sergeant's Course, Drill Instructor School, Marine Security Guard School for Detachment Commanders, Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy Career Course, Noncommissioned Officer's School, Artillery Training School, Airborne School, Section Chief School, Senior Enlisted Leader Course in Military Justice and Civil Law, DEOMI Senior Enlisted Leaders Seminar, Hazardous Materials Incident Commanders Course, Family Readiness Training Officer's Course, Casualty Assistance Calls Officer Course, Public Affairs Officer Course, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training Course, Critical Incident Stress Management Training Course, Senior Seminars and numerous Nonresident Courses.

          Sergeant Major Long earned a Bachelors of Science in Business and Religion with an emphasis in Christian Leadership from Liberty University. He also received a Masters of Arts in Religion with an emphasis in Christian Leadership from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary and Graduate School, Liberty University. He is currently pursuing a Masters of Divinity degree.

          Sergeant Major Long's personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with 2 gold stars in lieu of third award, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with 1 gold star in lieu of second award, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with 2 gold stars in lieu of third award, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon and numerous unit and service awards. .