Sergeant Major James Roberts
31st Marine Expeditionary Unit Sergeant Major
Sergeant Major Roberts was born in 1968 in Jennings, Louisiana. He graduated from Willowridge High School in Houston, Texas in June of 1985. Sergeant Major Roberts enlisted into the Marine Corps and attended basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego in January 1986.
Upon graduation, then Private Roberts was assigned to Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, where he held the MOS of 0351. Shortly aft er his arrival, he was promoted to Private First Class. In June of 1986, he deployed with 8th Marines to Okinawa, Japan and while on deployment was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal.
Lance Corporal Roberts served two deployments with 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, and was then reassigned to 2d Battalion, 8th Marines in order to support their unit deployment program. Lance Corporal Roberts was promoted to Corporal while deployed with Fox Company, 2d Battalion, 8th Marines in support of OPERATION DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM.
Upon returning to Camp Lejeune, he was reassigned back to 1st Battalion, 8th Marines where he served with Bravo Company and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. In June of 1993, Sergeant Roberts received orders to Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii and served with Regimental Tow Platoon. Once Regimental Tow Platoon was disbanded, Sergeant Roberts received orders to Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines as a Tow Section Leader. Sergeant Roberts deployed once with Weapons Company to Okinawa.
In January 1996, Sergeant Roberts received orders to Drill Instructor School at Parris Island, South Carolina. While at Parris Island, he served with Kilo Company, Third Recruit Training Battalion. Sergeant Roberts did five cycles with Kilo Company, two of which he served as a Sergeant Senior Drill Instructor.
In May of 1998, he was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant and received orders to Camp Pendleton to serve with 1st Battalion, 1st Marines. Upon his arrival, he was assigned to Weapons Company, 81 Millimeter Mortar platoon as a section leader. While with 1st Marines, Staff Sergeant Roberts completed Scout Sniper School and was also assigned as the Platoon Sergeant for the Scout Sniper Platoon.
During his tour with 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, he deployed to East Timor in support of OPERATION STABILIZE and to Afghanistan with Task Force Rhino in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM.
In June of 2002, Staff Sergeant Roberts received orders to Louisiana State University to serve as the AMOI (Assistant Marine Officer Instructor). While there, he was promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant and also received a degree in Criminal Justice.
In June of 2005, Gunnery Sergeant Roberts received orders to serve with 3rd Intel Battalion in Okinawa, Japan. While there, he was promoted to First Sergeant and was reassigned to III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) Headquarters Group and was assigned as the Company First Sergeant for Headquarters Company. In June of 2006, First Sergeant Roberts was reassigned to 3rd Recon Battalion to serve as the Company First Sergeant for Bravo Company. During his tour with 3rd Recon Battalion, he deployed to Iraq in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM.
In June of 2008, First Sergeant Roberts received orders to Inspector and Instructor (I&I) duty with 4th Maintenance Battalion aboard Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas.
In January of 2010, he was frocked to his current rank of Sergeant Major, and received orders to I&I duty with 2d Battalion, 14th Marines. In June of 2013, Sergeant Major Roberts received orders to Marine Air Support Squadron 2 in Okinawa, Japan where he served as Squadron Sergeant Major until 06 June, 2014.
Sergeant Major Roberts assumed duties as the 31st MEU’s sergeant major June 6, 2014.