Captain Robert Pleines commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps Reserve in August 2014. Upon graduation from the Logistics Officer Course in August of 2015 he reported to Engineer Detachment, Marine Wing Support Squadron 471. From 2015 to 2016, he served as the platoon commander for the motor transport platoon.
Captain Pleines earned his juris doctorate in May of 2016 and passed the Ohio bar exam in July of 2016. In August of 2016, Captain Pleines accepted orders to 2d Marine Regiment in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina to serve as the RBE S-4 officer. While at 2d Marine Regiment, Capt Pleines also served as the H&S Company Executive Officer.
In August of 2017, Captain Pleines returned to Engineer Detachment, Marine Wing Support Squadron 471, as the Executive Officer. While with MWSS 471, Captain Pleines supported Innovative Readiness Training in Old Harbor, Alaska, and Sentinel Edge in Cold Lake, Canada.
Capt Pleines joined 2d Battalion 24th Marines in October of 2019 to deploy with the Georgian Liaison Team, Rotation 11. In March of 2020, Captain Pleines deployed to the Republic of Georgian and then to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. In October of 2020, the Georgian Liasion Team was redeployed to Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base in Kuwait to support SPMAGTF-CR-CC.
Captain Pleines resumed service with 2d Battalion 24th Marines in April 2021 as the H&S Company Executive Officer.