First Sergeant Backus is a native of Mexico, New York, and enlisted in the Marine Corps in August 2004. Upon completion of recruit training, Private First Class Backus reported to the School of Infantry, Camp Geiger, North Carolina where he would attain the MOS of 0351, Infantry Assaultman. Private First Class Backus would then report to E Company, 2D Battalion 2D Marine Regiment. He served with the battalion from February 2005 through December 2008. Lance Corporal Backus deployed during this time in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III/IV and aboard the USS Bataan as part of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit. While Deployed with the 26th MEU Lance Corporal Backus was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Corporal.
Corporal Backus reported to Instructor Battalion, The Basic School (TBS), for duty as a Combat Instructor from December 2008 through December 2009. In February of 2009, Corporal Backus graduated from Marine Security Guard School and was subsequently promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Sergeant Backus served as a watch stander at U.S. Embassies Accra, Ghana, Beijing, China, and U.S. Consulate Dubai, UAE. While serving at U.S. Embassy Beijing, Sgt Backus was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant and hand selected to be the assistant detachment commander for the newly activated Marine Detachment at U.S. Consulate Dubai.
Staff Sergeant Backus reported to Lima Company, 3D Battalion 6th Marine Regiment, for duty as an Infantry Unit Leader from April 2012 through August 2014. During this time Staff Sergeant Backus served as Mortar Section Leader, and Machine Gun Section Leader and deployed as part of the Unit Deployment Program to Okinawa, Japan.
In August 2014 Staff Sergeant Backus transitioned to the SMCR and reported to Bravo Company, 4th LAR from August 2014 until February 2017. SSgt Backus reported to H&S Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps for duty as the Reserve Liaison Office, Operations Chief from February 2017 to April 2019. Staff Sergeant Backus was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant in May of 2018. Gunnery Sergeant Backus reported to Weapons Company, 1st Battalion 25th Marine Regiment for duty as Combined Anti-Armor Team Platoon Sergeant, from April 2019 through August 2020. During this time, Gunnery Sergeant Backus again deployed as part of the Unit Deployment Program to Okinawa, Japan and served as the SNCOIC for the Marksmanship Training Unit at Camp Hansen, training Combat Marksmanship Coaches and Combat Marksmanship Trainers.
Gunnery Sergeant Backus reported to Marine Corps Security Cooperation Group from August 2020 through October 2021, for duty as a Foreign Weapons Instructor at the Marine Advisor Course. Gunnery Sergeant Backus reported to II Marine Expeditionary Force G3 for duty as an Assistant Operations Chief from October 2021 until April 2022. Gunnery Sergeant Backus was promoted to his current rank in May of 2022 and reported to G Battery 3D Battalion 14th Marine Regiment for duty as the Battery First Sergeant.
First Sergeant Backus's personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat "V", and the Combat Action Ribbon. First Sergeant Backus is a Maryland State Trooper and has a Masters in Homeland Security from American Military University.