Major Odjimer enlisted in the Marine Corps in January 1997 out of Morton Grove, IL. Assigned the 6154 (H-1 Airframes/Hydraulics) military occupational specialty (MOS) after completion of “A” school at NAS Pensacola and “C” school at Camp Pendleton, he reported to HMLA-773 “Red Dogs” aboard NAS Marietta in November 1997. After participating in several exercises at MCAGCC Twentynine Palms and MCAS Yuma over the next four years, then Sergeant Odjimer, decided to end his enlistment, January 2002, and returned to the Chicago area to pursue higher education.
Upon earning his Bachelor of Arts Degree in criminal justice from the University of Illinois at Chicago, Major Odjimer accepted his commission and reported to The Basic School in the fall of 2006. After completing the Aviation Maintenance Officer Course at NAS Whiting Field, he reported to MALS-31 aboard MCAS Beaufort and became the airframes division officer, July 2008.
After spending nearly a year at the “I” level, Major Odjimer was assigned to VMFA-115, June 2009, as the assistant aviation maintenance officer. During his time with the squadron, he accompanied the “Silver Eagles” on two Enhanced Mojave Viper exercises and two deployments to MCAS Iwakuni in support of the Unit Deployment Program.
Major Odjimer checked into CNATT MARDET Camp Pendleton in June 2012 and performed the duties of assistant officer-in-charge and operations officer for the staff and students of the aviation maintenance training schoolhouse for the H-1helicopter platform.
In 2015, Major Odjimer was selected by the Commandants Career-Level Education Board to attend the Naval Postgraduate School and the Defense Language Institute in pursuit of a Master of Arts Degree in security studies and assignment of the Northeast Asia Foreign Area Officer MOS. Following graduation from the Defense Language Institute, Major Odjimer performed one year of in-region training while attached to the U.S. Defense Attaché Office in Tokyo, Japan.
Major Odjimer checked into COMNAVAIRPAC onboard NAS North Island as the AIRSpeed Officer in February 2019, then executed orders to MALS-11 to perform duties as the executive officer in April 2019.
Major Odjimer’s personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (gold star in lieu of second award).