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Marines


Biography

 

Sergeant Major Preston D. Silverstein
Command Senior Enlisted Leader
3rd Force Reconnaissance Company

Sergeant Major Preston Silverstein was raised in Long Beach, California and graduated from high school in Los Alamitos, California, May 2003. He enlisted and reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot for recruit training two months later. Upon graduation from Recruit Training in San Diego, Marine Combat Training in Camp Pendleton, and Field Radio Operator Course in Twentynine Palms, CA, Private First Class Silverstein reported to his first duty station, VMU-1, 3rd Marine Air Wing.

Upon arrival, Private First Class Silverstein began pre-deployment training as a Field Radio Operator. In September 2004, Silverstein began his first deployment with VMU-1 in the Al-Anbar province of Iraq. Newly promoted Lance Corporal Silverstein was chosen to operate a Man-packed Receiving Station to deliver live footage from the Unmanned Arial System (UAS) to ground force commanders. Silverstein supported Regimental Combat Team 7 in Fallujah for operation Al- Fajr. During his second deployment to Iraq in 2005, Corporal Silverstein was sent to Al-Qaim to support 3rd Battalion 6th Marines with UAS video downlink. In 2006, Sergeant Silverstein attached to a Military Transition Team and was sent to Ramadi, Iraq, as an advisor to an Iraqi Army Platoon.

In 2010 Sergeant Silverstein joined the Selected Marine Corps Reserve and was assigned to 3d Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO). Shortly thereafter, he was promoted to Staff Sergeant and was made the 2nd Brigade Platoon Sergeant. In 2012, Staff Sergeant Silverstein was selected to be the Senior Enlisted Advisor for Detachment K, a Supporting Arms Liaison Team ordered to Afghanistan. In June 2013, he activated and began pre-deployment training with his 18 Marine Detachment. In September 2013, Detachment K deployed in support of the Batumi Battalion, Georgian Infantry, in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. During this deployment, Staff Sergeant Silverstein controlled close air support as a qualified Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC).

Staff Sergeant Silverstein was made 3d ANGLICO Company Gunnery Sergeant upon returning from Afghanistan. In addition, Staff Sergeant Silverstein trained prospective JTACs and parachutists as primary jumpmaster. As a newly promoted Gunnery Sergeant, Silverstein was made Firepower Control Team Leader.

In May 2018, Gunnery Sergeant Silverstein was selected for First Sergeant and reported to Motor Transport Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 453, to be Company First Sergeant. During his tenure at Motor Transport Company supervised multiple annual training events including Mountain Warfare Training Center Exercise 3-19 and Exercise Steele Horse. After his initial three-year First Sergeant tour, Silverstein was assigned to Headquarters and Services Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 453, as Company First Sergeant.

In April 2022, First Sergeant Silverstein was selected for Sergeant Major and assigned to 3rd Force Reconnaissance Company, 4th Marine Division. Sergeant Major Silverstein graduated with a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from California State University Long Beach, in 2019 and 2021, respectively.