Sergeant Major Marc A. Courtney is a native of New York City, NY and enlisted at the Recruiting Station located in Times Square in New York City. Recruit Courtney was sent to Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina in May 1994 and assigned to Platoon 2186, Fox Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion. After graduation, Private Courtney attended Marine Combat Training (MCT) in December 1994. After graduating MCT, Private First Class Courtney attended Personnel Administration School next door aboard Camp Johnson and obtained the primary Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) 0131, Unit Diary Clerk (Discontinued).
Private First Class Courtney reported to H&S Co., 2nd Battalion, 25th Marines, 25th Marine Regiment in April 1995 for duty as the Unit Diary Clerk in the Company S-1. After obtaining the rank of Corporal (Meritoriously) and completing obligated service, Corporal Courtney continued to affiliate with the SMCR and maintain a good drill status. During this period, Corporal Courtney obtained the additional MOS of 3531. On 11 September, 2001, Corporal Courtney was at his civilian employment working at the World Trade Center in New York City. For the first three days to include the hours immediately following the collapse of the World Trade Center, Corporal Courtney remained for working party to search and was subsequently awarded a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his actions during 9/11 in 2004. On 21 November, 2001, Corporal Courtney received Presidential Recall Orders and reported to Camp Lejeune, NC for duty with 2nd Marine Division in January 2002.
In 2003, Sergeant Courtney reported to the Reserve Support Unit and assisted in activating the Deployment Processing Command (DPC), assigned as the Unit Diary Chief and Platoon Sergeant. In June 2004, Sergeant Courtney was deployed for his first combat tour, assigned to Coalition Military Assistance Training Team as a Military Advisor. Sergeant Courtney was awarded the Joint Commendation Medal and Combat Action Ribbon. Sergeant Courtney returned to Camp Lejeune in February 2005 for assignment as the Motor Transport section Platoon Sergeant for the DPC. Sergeant Courtney attended several schools while aboard Camp Lejeune to include Convoy Commanders Course, Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT), and Basic Urban Sustainment Training (BUST) Instructors course in preparation for follow on combat deployments.
In August 2006, Sergeant Courtney deployed again to Iraq with Multi National Forces - Iraq (MNF-I). Sergeant Courtney was assigned to the Protective Services Detail (PSD) Team for the MNF-I Chief of Staff, and was promoted to Staff Sergeant in September 2006. Staff Sergeant Courtney was the acting PSD Chief until his redeployment in September 2007 back to the DPC, Camp Lejeune. Upon return, Central Command (CENTCOM) requested Staff Sergeant Courtney for their PSD detail and provided Permanent Change of Station orders. In November 2008, Staff Sergeant Courtney attended required Department of Defense, PSD School located in Fort Leonardwood, MO before reporting into CENTCOM HQ for assignment as a PSD Agent to the CENTCOM Commander. Staff Sergeant Courtney completed multiple deployments in this role to the CENTCOM Area of Responsibility to include a tour as a PSD Lead and Police Mentor Training Team Advisor to consult and train Kabul City Police Command in Kabul from December 2009 to June 2010. Agent Courtney coordinated the security and convoy movements for the State Department visit in Kabul for three days during this deployment and was duly recognized. Staff Sergeant Courtney was reassigned to the Marine Forces Central Command (MARCENT) G-3 in July 2010, where he held the billet of Antiterrorism Chief until his departure in September 2014.
Staff Sergeant Courtney was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant in November 2011 and supported several Exercises and conducted many more vulnerability assessments and training events in the CENTCOM AOR with various CENTCOM training teams. This also included a tour in Afghanistan from October 2013 to August 2014 as the Company Gunnery Sergeant working for the MARCENT Coordination Element - Afghanistan, Bagram AFB, Afghanistan. Upon completion of combat tour and return to the United States, Gunnery Sergeant Courtney was dropped to the IRR and assigned to the IMA DET at MARCENT in the same billet.
Gunnery Sergeant Courtney attended the Advance Course and was promoted to the rank of First Sergeant in June 2016. First Sergeant Courtney was assigned as the Company First Sergeant for Bravo Company, 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion, 4th Marine Division. After completing first assignment, First Sergeant Courtney conducted an Inter Unit Transfer and assigned as the Company First Sergeant to H&S Co., 4th Assault Amphibious Battalion, 4th Marine Division. First Sergeant Courtney was selected for promotion in February, 2021 and currently assigned as the Battalion Sergeant Major for 6th Communications Battalion, Brooklyn, NY.
Sergeant Major Courtney completed and obtained a Bachelors in Business Administration from Strayer University in spring 2011. Personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two Gold Stars and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with four Gold Stars.