First Sergeant Orea is a native of Carrizo Springs, Texas. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on 6 February 2006. Private Orea at that time attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, in San Diego, California. After graduating from recruit training, he attended Marine Combat Training (MCT), at Camp Pendleton, California. Following completion of MCT, he attended Field Radio Operators Course, MCB Twenty-Nine Palms, California, attaining the MOS of Field Radio Operator (0621).
On 1 August 2006, Private Orea was promoted to Private First Class. After completion of the Field Radio Operator Course, Private First Class Orea received orders to 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (1st ANGLICO), Camp Pendleton, California. Private First Class Orea was assigned to Headquarters S-6 as a Radio Operator. Upon arrival, he immediately deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2 September 2006 to 24 March 2007. Private First Class Orea was promoted to Lance Corporal in April 2007. He then returned to Camp Pendleton following his deployment with 1st ANGLICO and was reassigned to 3rd Brigade Supporting Arms Liaison Team (SALT), Golf Platoon. While there he served as SALT G Radio Chief, additionally holding the billet of training NCO for the platoon.
In January 2008 Lance Corporal Orea was promoted to the rank of Corporal. At the same time, he would be assigned to 2nd Brigade SALT D, Fire Power Control Team (FCT) 9, serving as the Communications Chief. Shortly after, he deployed for the second time, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from March 2008 to October 2008. During this deployment he worked alongside Iraqi Coalition Forces at the Haditha Dam, instructing and advising. On completion of his deployment, Corporal Orea returned to 1st ANGLICO, 3rd Brigade, Salt Fox, FCT 2. Corporal Orea was augmented along with his team to deploy with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU); in support of Westpac 2-9 on board the USS Cleveland where he held both billets as FCT 2 Team Chief and FCT 2 Communications Chief. While on deployment Corporal Orea was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in January 2010. In January 2011 Sergeant Orea was attached to 1st Brigade where he served as the Radio Chief and as the 1st Brigade Platoon Sergeant. Subsequently, he would deploy once more to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom 1-1.
In September 2011, Sergeant Orea received orders to Drill Instructor School, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, Ca. Upon completion of Drill Instructor School, he was assigned to Company Fox, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, serving as a Drill Instructor, Junior Drill Instructor, and Senior Drill Instructor. In June 2015 following a successful tour of Drill Instructor Duty, Sergeant Orea reported to 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion, Communications Company, where he completed the Special Operations Capability Specialist-Communicator (SOCS-C) pipeline, obtaining the MOS of 8071 Special Operations Capability Specialist–Communicator (SOCS-C). Subsequently, Sergeant Orea was promoted to Staff Sergeant on 1 October 2015. While assigned to 1st Marine Raider Support Battalion Staff Sergeant Orea held the billet of C4ST Chief, for Company Charlie.
In February 2018 Staff Sergeant Orea deployed as the Marine Special Operations Company Charlie (MSOC C) C4ST/Radio Chief in support of Special Operations Task Force (SOTF) 511.2, Operation Pacific Eagle – Philippines (OPE-P). In October 2019 he was promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant and was assigned as the MSOC C Communications Chief. In January 2020 Gunnery Sergeant Orea deployed once again in support of SOTF 511.2, OPE-P, where he served as the SOTF 511.2 Communications Chief. In February 2021 Gunnery Sergeant Orea received orders to Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas where he served as the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps, (NROTC) Assistant Marine Officer Instructor, (AMOI). In September 2023 he was promoted to his current rank and transferred to Site Support Corpus Christi, Texas to serve as the Inspector-Instructor First Sergeant for Company C, 1st Battalion, 23d Marines, 4th Marine Division.
First Sergeant Orea’s personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (gold star in lieu of second award), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (gold star in lieu of third award), and Combat Action Ribbon.