SiteData
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

 

Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

"The West Coast's Premiere Expeditionary Training Base"
Sergeant Major, Security and Emergency Services Battalion

  Sergeant Major William R. Shaw, USMC 



Sergeant Major Shaw graduated from Winslow High School in 1989 and attended recruit training at MCRD, San Diego in August of 1989.


After attending Marine Combat Training and AAV Crewman Course, Sergeant Major Shaw was assigned the MOS 1833 (Assault Amphibian Vehicle Crewman) and ordered to Company “D” 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion 29 Palms, California where he was deployed to Saudi Arabia and participated in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.


In December of 1991, Sergeant Major Shaw received orders to Marine Security Guard Battalion. He served with MSG Detachment Madrid, Spain where he was promoted to Corporal in April of 1992 and MSG Detachment Quito, Ecuador and was promoted to Sergeant in July of 1993.


Sergeant Major Shaw was then ordered to Camp Pendleton, California in 1994 to serve with AAV Battalion as part of a Mobility Counter Mobility Platoon. Between 1994 and 1997 Sergeant Major Shaw participated in over 15 combined arms exercises and various firing exercises in 29 Palms. Sergeant Major Shaw was promoted to Staff Sergeant in June of 1997 and reassigned to Assault Amphibian School Battalion Camp Pendleton, California until April 2001 when he was ordered to Drill Instructor School MCRD San Diego.


Sergeant Major Shaw was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant in October 2001 and served as a Drill Instructor, Senior Drill Instructor and Series Gunnery Sergeant during his 3 year tour at MCRD San Diego.


Upon completion of Drill Instructor Duty, Sergeant Major Shaw was ordered back to 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion and immediately deployed to Iraq in support of OIF II. While in Iraq, Sergeant Major Shaw was selected for promotion to First Sergeant and reassigned to Weapons Company 3rd Battalion 1st Marines in Fallujah, Iraq. Immediately following OIF II, Sergeant Major Shaw deployed once more with Weapons Company in support of OIF III, serving in the Haditha Triad. Sergeant Major Shaw then served with India 3/1 until his transfer to Headquarters Company 1st Marine Regiment in August 2007, where he served as the HQ Company 1st Sgt.


Sergeant Major Shaw was promoted and assigned to Marine Attack Squadron 311 in March 2009.  During his three year tour with the “Tomcats” he participated in two deployments to Japan in support of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.


In July 2012 Sergeant Major Shaw was assigned as the Sergeant Major of Wounded Warrior Battalion West and served there until September 2014 when he was assigned to Security and Emergency Services Battalion.


Sergeant Major Shaw’s personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal w/ gold star, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal w/ gold star and the Combat Action Ribbon.