First Sergeant Jose M. Tress enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in January 2007. He completed recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California, in April 2007, followed by Marine Combat Training at Camp Pendleton, California.
In May 2007, Private First Class Tress reported to the Expeditionary Firefighting and Rescue School at Goodfellow Air Force Base, San Angelo, Texas. Upon completion of the four-month course of instruction, he graduated in September 2007 as an Expeditionary Firefighting and Rescue (EFR) Technician (MOS 7051).
In September 2007, Lance Corporal Tress received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, where he served as an Expeditionary Rescue and Firefighting Technician. During this tour, he provided aviation ground support while deploying to Okinawa, Japan, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
In September 2008, Corporal Tress reported to Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 372 at Camp Pendleton, California. In June 2009, he executed a permanent change of assignment to Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Camp Pendleton, California, where he served as a Senior Firefighting Technician and Senior Rescue Man.
In January 2011, Corporal Tress was honorably discharged from the active-duty component and transferred to the Individual Ready Reserve. Later that month, Sergeant Tress affiliated with the Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) program and was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Camp Pendleton, where he served as a Firefighter and Training Noncommissioned Officer.
In January 2012, Sergeant Tress mobilized with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, serving as a Firefighter and Training Noncommissioned Officer. He was demobilized in October 2012 and continued serving with the command in a reserve capacity.
In October 2014, Sergeant Tress was assigned to Camp Pendleton, California, where he served as a Patrol Supervisor with the Provost Marshal’s Office, Military Police Department.
In May 2016, Staff Sergeant Tress transferred to the Selected Marine Corps Reserve and was assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 473, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California. During this tour, he served as the Expeditionary Firefighting and Rescue Staff Noncommissioned Officer in Charge and Senior Enlisted Advisor.
In September 2017, Staff Sergeant Tress mobilized in support of Hurricane Harvey relief operations.
In January 2019, Gunnery Sergeant Tress mobilized in support of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force–Crisis Response–Central Command (SPMAGTF-CR-CC) 19.2, Operation Inherent Resolve, serving as both the EFR Staff Noncommissioned Officer in Charge and Engineer Staff Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, where he provided airfield damage repair operations in Iraq.
In September 2020, Gunnery Sergeant Tress mobilized in support of the National Emergency COVID-19 Pandemic Response aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California.
In August 2023, Gunnery Sergeant Tress was selected for promotion to First Sergeant and assigned to Headquarters and Service Company, 6th Engineer Support Battalion, Portland, Oregon. He served as the Unit Senior Enlisted Leader from August 2023 to February 2026.
In February 2026, First Sergeant Tress reported to Oscar Battery, 5th Battalion, 14th Marines, 4th Marine Division, aboard Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, California, where he currently serves as the Unit Senior Enlisted Leader.
First Sergeant Tress’ personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with one Gold Star and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one Gold Star.