Captain Gary L. Cobb enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in January 1993 and served as an Infantry Rifleman, Fire Team Leader, and Squad Leader with the 3d Battalion, 2d Marines, 2d Marine Division until his discharge in 1997. During this tour, he completed deployments to the Mediterranean Sea / Indian Ocean, Norway, Cuba, and Okinawa, Japan. He was commissioned upon graduation from Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, Alabama in May 2000. Upon completion of The Basic School and Infantry Officer’s Course, he served as a rifle platoon commander, CAAT platoon commander, and company executive officer in the 2d Battalion, 6th Marines, 2d Marine Division, at Camp Lejeune, NC from 2001 to 2004. During this tour he completed a deployment to the Mediterranean Sea / Indian Ocean, participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom I, and deployed to Okinawa, Japan as a part of the Unit Deployment Program.
In June 2004, Captain Cobb checked aboard MCB Quantico, Virginia for duty with The Basic School. From 2004 to 2005, he served as Primary Instructor for squad tactics for the Basic Officer Course. In May 2005 he was assigned as a Staff Platoon Commander for Company D Class 4-05. In January 2006, Captain Cobb reported to the Infantry Officer Course and was Primary Instructor for basic skills, night offensive operations, and defensive operations.
Captain Cobb attended the Expeditionary Warfare School during academic year 2007-08, at Quantico, Virginia. While at EWS, he also attended the Ground Officer’s Course, Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI), MCAS Yuma, Arizona. Following graduation he reported for duty with the 2d Battalion, 9th Marines, 2d Marine Division where he was assigned as the company commander for Company G. In September 2008, Captain Cobb deployed to Ramadi, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 08.2.
Captain Cobb’s personal decorations include the Navy Commendation Medal (with gold star in lieu of 2d award), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (with Combat “V”) and Combat Action Ribbon.