Sergeant Major Joshua W. Combs was born in Cincinnati, OH. He graduated from Village Christian High School located in Pleasant Plain, Oh. Sergeant Major Combs enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, Reserve, in January 2003 and reported to MCRD Parris Island, South Carolina, March 2003, for recruit training. Private Combs successfully completed recruit training with 1st Battalion, Delta Co, in June 2003.
Private Combs reported to Camp Lejeune, NC for Marine Combat Training (MCT), in June 2003. In July, 2003 Private Combs was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Private First Class. Upon completion of MCT, he reported to Marine Corps Communications and Electronics School 29 Palms, California for MOS Training. Private First Class Combs obtained the MOS of Defense Message Systems Specialist, upon graduating in November 2003.
In November 2003, Private First Class Combs reported to Headquarters Battalion, Communications Company, 4th Marine Division, Cincinnati, OH with Data Platoon, and served as a Data Network Systems Specialist and was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal February, 2004.
Lance Corporal Combs received orders to deploy with Communications Company, June 2004, and was attached to Headquarters Battalion, Communications Company, 1st Marine Division as a Combat Replacement. In August 2004, Lance Corporal Combs deployed to Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Lance Corporal Combs served with Communications Company as a Data Network Specialist and was attached for two months to 2nd Battalion 11th Marines Artillery Battery in support of Operation Phantom Fury.
In March 2005, Lance Corporal Combs returned from Iraq and was reassigned to 4th Marine Division, Communications Company, Data Platoon, where he served as a Data Networks Systems Specialist and the Platoon Maintenance Management Specialist NCO. April 2006, He was promoted, to the rank of Corporal, and served as the Data Platoon Sergeant. September 2007, Corporal Combs attended
the Marine Corps Martial Arts Instructor Course with the Martial Arts Center of Excellence and became a Green Belt Instructor. In October 2007, Corporal Combs was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and continued to serve as the Data Platoon Sergeant and Company Martial Arts Instructor.
Sergeant Combs was activated to deploy with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion 24th Marines in Support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, June 2009. In September 2009, he was deployed to Al Waleed, Iraq with Kilo Company to support Task Force MP tasked with border security at the Port of Entry Waleed. He served as the Kilo Company Radio Chief and Headquarters Platoon Squad Leader.
In March 2010, Sergeant Combs returned from Iraq and was reassigned back to Communications Company, Cincinnati as the Data Platoon Sergeant. July 2011, He was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant and assigned as the Company training Chief. August 2015, Staff Sergeant Combs was promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant and was assigned the billets of Platoon Sergeant of Data,
Transmissions and Headquarters and Supply Platoon Commander.
In April of 2018, Gunnery Sergeant Combs was frocked, First Sergeant, and reassigned to Charlie Company MP, 4th Law Enforcement Battalion, Force Headquarters Group.
In May of 2021, First Sergeant Combs was transferred to be the Company First Sergeant of Lima Company, 3rd Bn, 25th Marine Regiment, Fourth Marine Division.
In May of 2023, Sergeant Major Combs was frocked, to his current rank of Sergeant Major, and reassigned to H&S Company 3rd Bn 23rd Marines, 4th Marine Division.
Sergeant Major Combs' personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal and Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal with silver star in lieu of sixth award.