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Marines


Biography

 

Sergeant Major John F. Tacopino Jr.
Command Senior Enlisted Leader
Marine Aircraft Group 41

Sergeant Major Tacopino is a native of Manhasset, NY and spent part of his childhood in Queens, NY before moving to Freehold, NJ. Before graduating Freehold Township High School, Sergeant Major Tacopino enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He attended recruit training at 1st Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC. 

Upon completion of basic training, Private Tacopino attended the School of Infantry at Camp Geiger, NC.

In July 1997, Private First Class Tacopino was transferred off active duty to the Selective Marine Corps Reserve and reported to Company G, 2D Battalion, 25TH Marine Regiment, 4TH Marine Division, Dover, NJ. During the next 16 years at Company G 2/25, he held the billets of Team Leader, Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant, Platoon Commander and Company Gunnery Sergeant.

While at Company G 2/25, Sergeant Major Tacopino attended numerous multi-national Annual Training events outside the continental United States to include Baltic Challenge 1998 (Lithuania), Operation: Battle Griffin 1999 (Norway), Operation: Rescue Eagle 2000 (Romania), Camp Fuji 2004 (Japan), Operation: Battle Griffin - 2006 (Norway), UN Operation: Khaan Quest 2007 (Mongolia) and Operation: Cold Response 2009 (Norway).

Also, while at Company G 2/25, Corporal Tacopino activated in January 2002 and attached to the 2D Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, NC. Company G was than further deployed forward to Kosovo and was attached to the US Army, Task Force 1-35, 1ST Infantry Division at Camp Bondsteel to conduct mounted and dismounted patrols along the Kosovo/Macedonia border. In March 2003 Corporal Tacopino was again activated and deployed to An-Nasiriyah, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Just before demobilization, Corporal Tacopino was combat meritoriously promoted to the rank of Sergeant. In the summer of 2005, Sergeant Tacopino volunteered to be redeployed to Hit, Iraq as a combat casualty replacement for 3D Battalion, 25TH Marine Regiment. In 2008 2D Battalion, 25TH Marine Regiment was activated in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Staff Sergeant Tacopino was deployed to the area of Akashat, Iraq near the Iraqi/Syrian border for support, stabilization, and border patrol operations.

In 2013 Gunnery Sergeant Tacopino transferred over to an Individual Mobilization Augmentee billet and helped develop the newly formed reserve detachment of the Marines Corps' Chemical Biological Incident Response (CBIRF). While at CBIRF, Gunnery Sergeant Tacopino held the billet of Watch Chief.

In April 2015, Gunnery Sergeant Tacopino was selected to the rank of First Sergeant and assigned to Company F, 2D Battalion, 25TH Marine Regiment, 4TH Marine Division. In 2019 First Sergeant Tacopino deployed with Company F to Helmand Province, Afghanistan with Task Force Southwest 19.2 in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel and the Resolute Support Mission.

Sergeant Major Tacopino was selected for promotion to his current rank in March 2020 and was assigned to MWSS-472 out of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ in July 2020.

In October 2023, Sergeant Major Tacopino assumed duties as the Group Sergeant Major/Senior Enlisted Leader for MAG-41 out of Fort Worth, TX.

Sergeant Major Tacopino is a seventeen year veteran of law enforcement for the Freehold Township Police Department in Freehold Township, NJ.

Collateral duties include Field Training Officer, Drug Recognition Expert, Department Color Sergeant, and Drill Instructor at the Monmouth County Police Academy.

Personal Decorations: Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with 2 gold stars in lieu of third award and Combat Conditions “C” device, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with 2 gold stars in lieu of third award, Army Achievement Medal, and Combat Action Ribbon.