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Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps

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Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps
Incumbent
Stephen A. Sexton
since 2024
StyleColor Sergeant/Rank
Member ofUnited States Marine Corps Color Guard Platoon
Term lengthTwo years
Formation1965
First holderShelton L. Eakin

The Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps is a billet in the United States Marine Corps held by a non-commissioned officer posted at Marine Barracks Washington. He is responsible for carrying the official Colors of The United States Marine Corps while leading "The Commandant's Four", members of which are part of the United States Marine Corps Color Guard Platoon.

History[edit]

Kenneth Newton, 37th Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps, is pictured holding the national ensign of the United States during annual memorial observances at the tomb of John Philip Sousa in 2017

The post of Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps was created in 1965 and first held by Shelton L. Eakin, who was killed in action the following year during the Vietnam War.[1]

Duties[edit]

The Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps is considered the senior-most sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps and serves as the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of "Parade Four", the U.S. Marine Corps' principal color guard.[1] During state events, he is responsible for carrying the flag of the president of the United States.[1] The Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps is also expected to serve as an example of correct appearance to all Marines.[2]

Qualifications[edit]

The Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps is appointed by the commanding officer of Marine Barracks Washington and applicants from throughout the Marine Corps are considered.[3][4] He must be a sergeant between 6-foot 2-inches and 6-foot 6-inches in height, meet Marine Corps weight standards, and be eligible for clearance to the Top Secret Sensitive Compartmented Information level.[3] The appointment to Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps is for a two-year, non-renewable term.[3]

List of Color Sergeants[edit]

No. Image Name Term start Term end
1st Shelton L. Eakin January 1965 December 1965
35th Timothy A. Spreder[5] January 2012 December 2013
36th Allen J. Banks Jr.[6] January 2014 December 2015
37th Kenneth Newton[7] January 2016 December 2017
38th Francis S. Frazier[citation needed] January 2018 December 2019
39th Franklin D. Taft January 2020 May 2021
40th Cameron L. Williams[8] May 2021 June 2023
41st Stephen A. Sexton July 2023 2025

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "United States Marine Corps Color Guard". marines.mil. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  2. ^ Peck, Tony (April 5, 2018). "Colorado Springs native completes tour as Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps". The Gazette. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c Schehl, Matthew (August 26, 2015). "Next color sergeant of the Marine Corps billet opened". Marine Corps Times. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  4. ^ Oliver, Keith (2014). Command Attention: Promoting Your Organization the Marine Corps Way. Naval Institute Press. p. 41. ISBN 978-1612519005.
  5. ^ "Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps to play integral role in 57th Presidential Inauguration". Marine Barracks. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  6. ^ "Next color sergeant of the Marine Corps billet opened". 26 August 2015.
  7. ^ Peck, Tony. "Colorado Springs native completes tour as Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  8. ^ "Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps". DVIDS. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
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