Biography

Sergeant Major, Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303
Sergeant Major Justin T. Berg

Sergeant Major Berg was born on 18 November 1980 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in September 2002 after earning his Bachelor's Degree in Business Management from the University of Houston.  Upon completion of Recruit Training with Company B, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California he attended the School of Infantry-West, Camp Pendleton, California where he earned the Primary MOS of 0311 Rifleman.

 

In December, 2004, Sergeant Major Berg received orders to Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines in Twenty-Nine Palms, California where he served as a Rifleman. He deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in May 2003 and while deployed was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal before returning to Twenty-Nine Palms in October of 2003.   He deployed again in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 2-2 in August 2004 as part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit to Husaybah, Iraq in the Al-Anbar Province.  Sergeant Major Berg returned from deployment in February of 2005 and was promoted to the rank of Corporal in August.  He deployed a third time with RCT-7 for Operation Iraqi Freedom 5-7, serving in Husaybah, Iraq from February until August of 2006.  Upon returning from deployment, Sergeant Major Berg was promoted in December of 2006 to the rank of Sergeant.

 

Sergeant Major Berg received orders to Recruiter School, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California in January of 2007.  Upon successful completion of the course, he was assigned as a Canvassing Recruiter with Recruiting Sub-Station College Station, Recruiting Station Houston, Texas.  Sergeant Major Berg served in this billet for 18 months before attending the SNCOIC Course in October of 2008.  He was then selected to serve as the SNCOIC of Recruiting Sub-Station College Station.  He was promoted meritoriously to the rank of Staff Sergeant on 2 January 2009.

 

In March 2010, Sergeant Major Berg received orders to Weapons Company, 2d Battalion, 4th Marines to serve as the Platoon Sergeant for the 81mm Mortar Platoon.  While there, he deployed in September 2011 to Now Zad, Helmand Province, Afghanistan in Support of Operation Enduring Freedom 1-1 and returned in February of 2012.

              

In April 2013, Sergeant Major Berg received orders to 81mm Mortar Platoon, Weapons Company, 2d Battalion, 5th Marines, where he served as a Platoon Sergeant before being selected to attend the Marine Advisor Course, Marine Corps Security Cooperation Group, Virginia Beach, Virginia.  Upon completion of the course in September of 2013, Sergeant Major Berg deployed to Tbilisi, Georgia as part of the Georgia Deployment Program, ROTO-1.  Upon his return to Camp Pendleton, California in March of 2015, Sergeant Major Berg joined the Remain Behind Element of 2d Battalion 5th Marines while awaiting orders to Drill Instructor School.  He was promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant in August 2015.

 

In January 2016, Sergeant Major Berg received orders to Drill Instructor School, Class 2-16, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. Upon completion of Drill Instructor School he was assigned to 2d Recruit Training Battalion where he served in the billet of Drill Instructor.  In December of 2016, Sergeant Major Berg was transferred to Instructional Training Company, Support Battalion to serve as a Marine Corps Instructor of Water Survival.  After two months in the Water Survival Section, Sergeant Major Berg was selected to fill the billet of Company Gunnery Sergeant, Instructional Training Company.  Upon receiving orders in February 2019, he was Frocked to the rank of First Sergeant.

 

Sergeant Major Berg reported to 4th Force Reconnaissance Company, Alameda, California in March 2019, to serve as the Inspector & Instructor First Sergeant.  In February 2020, he was assigned to serve as the Sergeant Major for 4th Force Reconnaissance Company after properly relieving the outgoing Sergeant Major.  Upon the deactivation of 4th Force Reconnaissance Company in February 2021, Sergeant Major Berg assumed the duties as the Inspector & Instructor First Sergeant for Company A, 4th Reconnaissance Battalion.

 

In June 20222, Sergeant Major Berg reported to Marine Air Support Squadron-3 aboard Camp Pendleton, California where he served as the Company First Sergeant for Air Control Company Charlie until March 2023, when he was transferred to Headquarters and Service Company.  He served in that billet until December 2023, when he was selected for his current rank, and received orders to HMLAT-303.

 

Sergeant Major Berg has a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management and his personal decorations include the Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal with three Gold Stars in Lieu of 4th award, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with three Gold Stars in Lieu of 4th award, and the Combat Action ribbon with Gold Star in Lieu of 2d award.

 

He is married to the former Sarah L. Lipski of Houston, Texas and they have one son, Owen James Berg.