Gunnery Sergeant Nicholas A. Cohill is a proud native of Marietta, Georgia. Following graduation from high school in 2001, he attended classes at Fort Valley State University, in Fort Valley, Georgia. After the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, he answered the nations call and reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina in January of 2003. Upon graduation from Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, Private First Class Cohill attended Marine Combat Training, at Camp Geiger, North Carolina. After the completion of MCT, he attended Avionics Technician Common Core at NAS Pensacola, Florida. PFC Cohill was then sent to Camp Pendleton, CA to complete his training as a (6324) Aircraft Communications/ Navigation/ Electrical/ Weapon Systems Technician, U/AH-1.
In April of 2004, Lance Corporal Cohill reported to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773 (HMLA-773) in Marietta, GA as a reservist. On July 18 2004 LCpl Cohill was activated and began training for his upcoming deployment to Bagram Air Base in Parvan Province, Afghanistan. During this tour LCpl Cohill earned the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/”M” device.
In September of 2006 Cpl Cohill volunteered to assess to the Active Reserve Program. During this period Cpl Cohill served as an Avionics Technician in the HMLA 773 Avionics work center and as a maintainer at the Weapons and Tactics Instructors Course at MCAS Yuma. HMLA-773 was called to active status in 2007 and was subsequently deployed to Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During this tour Cpl Cohill earned the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and the Armed Forces Reserve Meal.
In July 2010, Sgt Cohill reported to HMLA-773 Det A at NAS Belle Chasse, Louisiana where he served as Avionics Division Chief and the Avionics Quality Assurance Representative. On December 01 of 2012 Sergeant Cohill was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant. During this tour, then, Staff Sergeant Cohill earned his Naval Air Crew Wings and qualified on the UH-1N Huey Helicopter as an Aerial Observer.
In October of 2012 SSgt Cohill was transferred to Marine Transport Detachment Andrews to serve with Fleet Logistics Support Squadron One (VR-1) as the Operations Chief for the Commandant of the Marine Corps Flight Detachment. VR-1 is the Department of the Navy’s Executive Transport Squadron charged with transporting the Secretary of the Navy, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, the Chief of Naval Operations and several other dignitaries using the Gulfstream G550 (C-37B) aircraft.
In July of 2017 SSgt Cohill was transferred to HMLA-775 at Camp Pendleton, California. During his tour he served as the Avionics SNCOIC, Maintenance Control SNCOIC, and the Avionics Division Chief. SSgt Cohill was promoted to GySgt on April 1st of 2018. As the Maintenance Control SNCOIC Gunnery Sergeant Cohill lead the maintenance effort for HMLA-775 during Sentinel Edge 19. During this exercise HMLA-775 deployed 4 aircraft to Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada for a live fire exercise with Canadian Military.
In October 2020 Gunnery Sergeant Cohill took over his current role as the Senior Enlisted Leader at VMR Det Andrews. He holds an Associate’s degree in Management, from Georgia Highlands College. His personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with 2 stars in lieu of third award and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.