Marines

 

 

 

 

Sergeant Major, Weapons and Field Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot
Sergeant Major Francisco W. Ortega

Sergeant Major Ortega reported to MCRD San Diego in January of 2000. Graduating from recruit training in April, he then reported to
the School of Infantry, Camp Pendleton, CA, for Marine Combat Training. After completing the Marine Combat Training in July of
2000, Sergeant Major Ortega was meritoriously promoted to Private First Class.

Sergeant Major Ortega then reported to Marine Air Ground Combat Center, where he attended Field Radio Operators course as well as
Multi-Channel operator’s course. Sergeant Major Ortega later reported to Fort Gordon Georgia, to attend Ground Mobile Forces
communicator school.

Sergeant Major Ortega then reported to 7th Communications Battalion, Okinawa Japan, in October of 2000, where he served as 93/85
van operator for Satellite Platoon. In April of 2001, Sergeant Major Ortega deployed in support of Tandem Thrust Training Exercise
Rock Hampton, Queensland, Australia. Sergeant Major Ortega was promoted to Lance Corporal upon his return from deployment.
In August of 2001, Sergeant Major Ortega reported to 9th Communications Battalion and was meritoriously promoted to Corporal as a
93/85 van team leader. Sergeant Major Ortega deployed with 9th Communications Battalion in support of Operation Enduring Freedom
and Operation Iraqi Freedom from October 2002 to August 2003. During this deployment Sergeant Major Ortega was meritoriously
promoted to Sergeant. Upon his return from deployment, he assumed the duties as Satellite Platoon’s platoon sergeant.

In January of 2004, Sergeant Major Ortega requested and received orders for Drill Instructor Duty in San Diego, California. After
completing Drill Instructor School where he received the Peer Leadership Award, he was assigned to Echo Company, 2nd Recruit
Training Battalion, where he served as a Drill Instructor, Senior Drill Instructor, and Chief Drill Instructor. He also held the billet of the
2nd Battalion Drill Master. During this tour Sergeant Major Ortega was meritoriously promoted to Staff Sergeant.

In July of 2007, Sergeant Major Ortega received orders to 1st Battalion, 11th Marines, in Camp Pendleton, California, as India
Battery’s Radio Chief. During his time with Battery I, Sergeant Major Ortega deployed with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit from
May to October of 2008. In 2009 Sergeant Major Ortega was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant and transferred to Headquarters Battery,
where he was assigned as the Battalion Radio Chief. As the 1st Battalion 11th Marines Radio Chief, Sergeant Major Ortega deployed to
Afghanistan to support Operation Enduring Freedom from April to November of 2010.

In August of 2011, Sergeant Major Ortega reported to 1st Tank Battalion in Twenty-nine Palms, California, as the Battalion Radio
Chief. In February of 2013, Sergeant Major Ortega was promoted to First Sergeant. He served in 1st Tank Battalion, Bravo and Delta
Companies as their Company First Sergeant.

In June of 2014, Sergeant Major Ortega reported to 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, Company B, where he deployed as there company First
Sergeant in support of Marine Rotational Force Darwin. In January Sergeant Major Ortega transferred to Weapons Company and
deployed as their Company First Sergeant in support of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Sergeant Major Ortega also held the billet
of Headquarters and Service Company, First Sergeant. In March 2016, Sergeant Major Ortega attended U.S Navy Senior Enlisted
Academy, Naval War College in Newport, RI where he was recognized as Top Ten Percent, Distinguished Graduate, and Honor
Graduate for Orange Group.

In August 2018, Sergeant Major Ortega reported to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461, where his unit had successful
detachments. Such as the 26th MEU, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Southern Command, Exercise Raven, three
Weapons and Tactics instructor courses, a training detachment to Brunswick, Maine and two cold-weather detachments to Colorado
Springs, Colorado.

In June 2020, Sergeant Major Ortega reported to Third Battalion Eight Marines where he successfully deployed the battalion on UDP to
Okinawa Japan, and deactivated the unit in July of 2021.

In August 2021, Sergeant Major Ortega reported to Major for Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 11 (MALS11). During his time with
time with MALS 11 the unit provided support to all squadrons within Marine Aviation Group 11.

In December 2022, Sergeant Major Ortega assumed his current post serving as the Sergeant Major for Weapons and Field Training
Battalion. His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (2 Gold Star in lieu of second award), Navy and Marine Corps
Commendation Medal (3 Gold Stars in lieu of the fourth award) and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (Gold Star in lieu
of the second award).