An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Marines

Photo Information

Sgt. Trenton Hammonds is a Red Springs, North Carolina native and Reserve Marine with Company F, 4th Tank Battalion, 4th Marine Division. A natural leader, Hammonds is mentoring junior Marines during exercise Winter Break 2018 at Camp Grayling, Michigan, Feb. 4-17, 2018. When he's not training Marines in his capacity as a tank commander, Hammonds works as a maintenance supervisor for an apartment complex at the University of North Carolina, Pembroke.

Photo by Cpl. Dallas Johnson

Hometown Heroes of Winter Break 2018

8 Feb 2018 | Cpl. Dallas Johnson U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve

Sgt. Trenton Hammonds is a Red Springs, North Carolina native and Reserve Marine with Company F, 4th Tank Battalion, 4th Marine Division. A natural leader, Hammonds is mentoring junior Marines during exercise Winter Break 2018 at Camp Grayling, Michigan, Feb. 4-17, 2018. When he's not training Marines in his capacity as a tank commander, Hammonds works as a maintenance supervisor for an apartment complex at the University of North Carolina, Pembroke.

“Being here for Winter Break is definitely a new type of experience that none of us are used to,” said Hammonds. “Operating in the snow and ice really makes me excited, since it's going to push us all to a new limit. And, like they say, 'what doesn't kill you definitely makes you stronger'.”

Reserve Marines spend two weeks each year building their capabilities at an Annual Training exercise. This year, the Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, based tank company is taking advantage of Camp Grayling’s rugged training areas to test their offensive, defensive and maneuver capabilities in a cold weather environment.

The Reserve force regularly augments active duty operations across the globe. Last year, Fox Co., 4th Tank Bn., sent detachments to South Korea in support of the Korean Marine Exchange Program, Norway in support of the Personnel Temporary Augmentee Program, and Georgia in support of exercise Agile Spirit. Hammonds was one of the Marines who traveled to South Korea to participate in the KMEP.

“This is going to be my first real opportunity to work as a tank commander,” Hammonds said. “My goal is to make sure my crew functions properly. Being able to work with a new crew and give them the knowledge I have, and ensuring they're taken care of, especially in this cold environment, is extremely important.”