Carlton W. Kent

Carlton W. Kent
Kent in January 2007
Born	(1957-11-05) November 5, 1957 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1976–2011
Rank	Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
Unit	United States Marine Corps
Awards	Navy Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit with gold award star Bronze Star

Carlton Wayne Kent (born November 5, 1957)^[1] is a retired United States Marine who served as the 16th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, assuming the post on April 25, 2007, until June 9, 2011.^[2][3][4][5] He succeeded John L. Estrada, who had been serving in that capacity since June 2003. He was succeeded by Micheal Barrett on June 9, 2011.

Early life and education

Kent was born in Memphis, Tennessee on November 5, 1957. He graduated from the South Side High School in Memphis.^[6]

Career

Kent completed recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, in March 1976 and was assigned to the 1st Marine Brigade.

In May 1978, Kent was transferred to Marine Security Guard Battalion where he served as a Marine Security Guard at Embassies in Kinshasa, Zaire and Panama.

In June 1981, Kent transferred to Fort Benning for Airborne School and Parachute Riggers School at Fort Lee, Virginia. In June 1982, he was assigned as 2nd Air Delivery Platoon Commander, and parachute rigger billets in various commands at Camp Lejeune.

In February 1983, Kent was transferred to Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California, for duty as a drill instructor, senior drill instructor, and battalion drill master with First Battalion. In January 1985, Kent was meritoriously promoted to Gunnery Sergeant.

In May 1985, Kent transferred to the 3rd Air Delivery Platoon as platoon sergeant. In June 1986, he transferred to Engineer Company, BSSG-1 1st Marine Brigade, Hawaii, as company gunnery sergeant. In March 1988, Kent was assigned to Noncommissioned Officers School, 1st Marine Brigade, as the NCOIC.

In February 1989, Kent transferred to Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, as a student at Drill Instructor School. After completion of Drill Instructor School, Kent was assigned to Naval Aviation Officers Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida, as a drill instructor, chief drill instructor, and first sergeant. In February 1990, Kent was promoted to first sergeant and assigned as first sergeant, Marine Aviation and Training Support Group, Pensacola, Florida.

In June 1992, he transferred to 4th Marine Regiment for duty. In June 1993, he transferred to the Army Sergeants Major Academy, Fort Bliss, Texas. After graduation, in February 1994 he was transferred and assigned as first sergeant, Battery L, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines. In December 1994, he assumed the duties as the sergeant major of the 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines.

Kent salutes the grave of Sergeant Major Wilbur Bestwick in February 2009.

In August 1997, Kent was transferred to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California, where he was assigned duties as Sergeant Major Second Recruit Training Battalion, and, in September 1999, as Sergeant Major Recruit Training Regiment.

In May 2001, he was transferred to Marine Forces Europe/Fleet Marine Force Europe, Stuttgart, Germany, where he was assigned the duties as the sergeant major of Marine Forces Europe/FMF Europe.

In April 2004, he was transferred to I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California, where he served as the sergeant major of the I Marine Expeditionary Force.

On January 19, 2007, General James Conway, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, announced that Kent would become the 16th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, succeeding John L. Estrada.^[7] On April 25, 2007, in a ceremony at the Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., Kent assumed the top Marine Corps enlisted post.^[2] He was succeeded by Micheal Barrett on June 9, 2011, at Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.^[8]

Personal life

Kent is the recipient of the General Gerald C. Thomas Award for inspirational leadership.

Awards and decorations

Kent holds the rifle expert (3rd award) and pistol sharpshooter marksmanship badges and eight service stripes.

Medals and ribbons

Notes

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Carlton W. Kent.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

• "CARLTON W. KENT". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps History Division. Retrieved 2009-06-10. 
• Hoellwarth, John (January 19, 2007). "Kent named next sergeant major of the Marine Corps". Marine Corps Times. Retrieved 2007-01-20. 
• "Sergeant Major Carlton W. Kent, Sergeant Major, I Marine Expeditionary Force". I MEF Sergeant Major Biography. I MEF, United States Marine Corps. August 17, 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-02-16. Retrieved 2007-01-20. 
• "U.S. Marine Corps - 16th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps: Carlton W. Kent". United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2007-04-10. Retrieved 2007-04-26. 
• Lloyd, Crystal (December 8, 2006). "Marine: Take life seriously". Memphis Online. CommercialAppeal.com. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved 2007-01-20.  Message from SgtMaj Kent to high school students.
• "Portrait and Profile: Sgt Maj Carlton W. Kent". Marines Magazine. United States Marine Corps. March 25, 2010. Retrieved 31 March 2010. 
• Purvis, Mearl (May 3, 2010). "Local Marine Rises High". WHBQ-TV. Retrieved 5 May 2010. 

Leadership of the United States Marine Corps
Commandants	Nicholas Burrows Wharton Gale Henderson Harris Zeilin McCawley Heywood Elliott Biddle Barnett Lejeune Neville Fuller Russell Holcomb Vandegrift Cates Shepherd Pate Shoup Greene Chapman Cushman Wilson Barrow Kelley Gray Mundy Krulak Jones Hagee Conway Amos Dunford Neller
Assistant Commandants	Cole Lejeune Long Neville Feland Williams Fuller Myers Russell McDougal Little H. Smith Vandegrift Barrett Keyser Schmidt Rockey Peck Turnage Shepherd O. Smith Silverthorn Thomas Pate Megee McCaul Munn Hayes Mangrum Chapman Walt McCutcheon R. Davis Anderson Jaskilka Barrow McLennan Kelley J. Davis Morgan Went J. R. Dailey Boomer Hearney Neal Dake Williams Nyland Magnus Amos Dunford Paxton Walters
Sergeants Major	Bestwick Rauber McHugh Sweet J. W. Daily Puckett Black Massaro Crawford Cleary Sommers Overstreet Lee McMichael Estrada Kent Barrett Green
Secretary of the Navy (navbox) Four-star generals Headquarters Marine Corps Category