Gunnery Sergeant Devon Van
Bandmaster
Marine Band San Diego
Gunnery Sergeant Devon Van was born, in Highland, Illinois, and graduated from Francis Howell North High School in St. Charles, Missouri, in 1992. He enlisted in the Marine Corps and reported for Recruit Training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California, on 11 September 1995. Private First Class Van graduated from Recruit Training on 1 Dec 1995 and attended Marine Combat Training at School oInfantry West, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA. Private First Class Van then reported to the Navy School of Music in Norfolk, Virginia, for further instruction in the Basic Musicians course.
Upon completion of the Basic Musicians Course in July 1996, Lance Corporal Van reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, for service as a tuba instrumentalist. While assigned to the Parris Island Marine Band, he was promoted to the rank of Corporal in December 1996, and again to the rank of Sergeant in April 1998.
In August 1998, Sergeant Van was transferred to Camp Foster, the III Marine Expeditionary Force Band. Sergeant Van then left active duty service in September 1999 and attended Southern Illinois University Edwardsville until February 2003, where he studied music education.
While at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville he signed up as a Staff Sergeant and reported to duty with the Missouri Air National Guard out of St. Louis, Missouri, where he served as a tuba instrumentalist with the Air National Guard Band of the Central States.
Sergeant Van then returned to active duty in February 2003 and was assigned to Marine Corps Logistics Base, Albany, Georgia, for service with the Albany Marine Band. Sergeant Van would then be transferred to the Navy School of Music for further instruction in the Unit Leaders Course in September 2005.
Upon completion of the Unit Leaders Course in May 2006, Sergeant Van reported to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, for service with the 1st Marine Division Band. While at the 1st Marine Division Band, he was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant in July 2006. Staff Sergeant Van deployed to Trebil, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from September 2007 to April 2008, where he served as 1st Platoon Sergeant, Military Police Company, 1st Marine Division.
Staff Sergeant Van was selected for the military occupational specialty of Drum Major in February 2008 and reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, for service as the Drum Major of the Parris Island Marine Band in August 2008.
In June 2011, Staff Sergeant Van arrived at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego for service as the Drum Major of Marine Band San Diego. During the same month, Staff Sergeant Van was selected for promotion to Gunnery Sergeant and was promoted in September 2011.
Gunnery Sergeant Van's awards include the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal(3rd award), Marine Corps Good Conduct (3rd award), Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation (3rd award), National Defense Medal (2nd award), Iraqi Campaign Medal with 1 campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (2nd Award).Gunnery Sergeant Devon Van was born, in Highland, Illinois, and graduated from Francis Howell North High School in St. Charles, Missouri, in 1992. He enlisted in the Marine Corps and reported for Recruit Training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California, on 11 September 1995. Private First Class Van graduated from Recruit Training on 1 Dec 1995 and attended Marine Combat Training at School oInfantry West, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA. Private First Class Van then reported to the Navy School of Music in Norfolk, Virginia, for further instruction in the Basic Musicians course.
Upon completion of the Basic Musicians Course in July 1996, Lance Corporal Van reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, for service as a tuba instrumentalist. While assigned to the Parris Island Marine Band, he was promoted to the rank of Corporal in December 1996, and again to the rank of Sergeant in April 1998.
In August 1998, Sergeant Van was transferred to Camp Foster, the III Marine Expeditionary Force Band. Sergeant Van then left active duty service in September 1999 and attended Southern Illinois University Edwardsville until February 2003, where he studied music education.
While at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville he signed up as a Staff Sergeant and reported to duty with the Missouri Air National Guard out of St. Louis, Missouri, where he served as a tuba instrumentalist with the Air National Guard Band of the Central States.
Sergeant Van then returned to active duty in February 2003 and was assigned to Marine Corps Logistics Base, Albany, Georgia, for service with the Albany Marine Band. Sergeant Van would then be transferred to the Navy School of Music for further instruction in the Unit Leaders Course in September 2005.
Upon completion of the Unit Leaders Course in May 2006, Sergeant Van reported to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, for service with the 1st Marine Division Band. While at the 1st Marine Division Band, he was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant in July 2006. Staff Sergeant Van deployed to Trebil, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from September 2007 to April 2008, where he served as 1st Platoon Sergeant, Military Police Company, 1st Marine Division.
Staff Sergeant Van was selected for the military occupational specialty of Drum Major in February 2008 and reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, for service as the Drum Major of the Parris Island Marine Band in August 2008.
In June 2011, Staff Sergeant Van arrived at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego for service as the Drum Major of Marine Band San Diego. During the same month, Staff Sergeant Van was selected for promotion to Gunnery Sergeant and was promoted in September 2011.
Gunnery Sergeant Van's awards include the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal(3rd award), Marine Corps Good Conduct (3rd award), Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation (3rd award), National Defense Medal (2nd award), Iraqi Campaign Medal with 1 campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (2nd Award).