Master Gunnery Sergeant Butenas serves as the Battalion Sergeant Major, Mobilization Training Battalion (SOI-West), located in Camp Pendleton, California.
The command focuses on Pre-Deployment Training during mobilization and teaches Combat Hunter to both active and reserve units.
Master Guns has served with all four Divisions in the Marine Corps. He served in the infantry as a Dragon gunner with 7th Marines until 1990 when he was honorably discharged from active duty and joined the Select Marine Corps Reserve. There he was assigned to the 24th Marine Regiment’s TOW platoon in Kansas City, Missouri.
As a Sergeant, he mobilized and was assigned to a CAAT with 1st Battalion 8th Marines, one of Task Force Ripper's assault battalions in Operation Desert Storm. After De-Mobilization from the 2nd Marine Division he returned to Missouri and began his civilian career with FedEx Corporation while continuing his career in the SMCR.
As a Staff Sergeant, he served as a TOW Platoon Sergeant. As a Gunnery Sergeant he served as the Company Gunny until 2001 when he left the SMCR to pursue his career with FedEx and transferred to the Inactive Ready Reserve.
In 2003 he received Involuntary Presidential Recall Orders in support of OEF and was assigned as the Co 1stSgt for the Mobilization Support Battalion. He extended his mobilization orders to support OIF and in 2007 he De-Mobilized and returned back to the IRR as a Master Sergeant.
In 2008 he was again mobilized and reported to H&S Battalion, Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, as the Operations Chief. In 2009 he was promoted to the rank of Master Gunnery Sergeant and subsequently selected for his current billet as the Sergeant Major of Mobilization Training Battalion.
His personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (one gold star in lieu of second award); Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two gold stars in lieu of third award) with the combat distinguishing device (V); and the Combat Action Ribbon.
Master Gunnery Sergeant Butenas is married to the former Katherine Jean Kehoe of Harrisonville, Missouri. Their children are Elijah age 8, Jonah age 3 and the eldest Danielle age 19.