Sergeant Major Amina T. Saracay was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She enlisted in the Marine Corps in September 1998 and attended recruit training with Oscar Company, 4th Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina. She graduated and was meritoriously promoted to Private First Class in December 1998. In January 1999, she reported to the School of Infantry East, Camp Geiger, North Carolina for Marine Combat Training. She was then transferred to Motor Transport Operator School, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, where she earned the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) of 3533, Motor Transport Logistic Vehicle Operator.
In March 2000, upon completion of school, Sergeant Major Saracay reported for duty to 7th Engineer Support Battalion (ESB), 1st Force Service Support Group (FSSG), Camp Pendleton, California. She was assigned to Support Company, Heavy Section, where she worked as a Logistic Vehicle Operator. She was promoted to Lance Corporal in June 2000. While at 7th ESB, Sergeant Major Saracay attended Motor Transport Recovery Operator School in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, where she earned an additional MOS of 3536. She was promoted to Corporal in July 2001. In September 2001, Sergeant Major Saracay was assigned to Communications Company, 3rd Marine Division, where she served as a Recovery Vehicle Operator, Chief Dispatcher, and Refueler Operator. While in 3rd Marine Division, First Sergeant Saracay participated in many training exercises, including Cobra Gold located in Pattaya, Thailand. In October 2002, she also attended Corporals Course at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan.
In September 2004, Sergeant Major Saracay was assigned to Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st FSSG, which later became 1st Marine Logistics Group (MLG), Camp Pendleton, CA, where she served as the Motor Transport Licensing Medium Vehicle Instructor and Recovery Operator. Sergeant Major Saracay was promoted to Sergeant in November 2004. In August 2006, she deployed as the Recovery Chief for Combat Logistics Regiment 5, Camp Fallujah, Iraq. In March 2007, she returned from deployment and served as a Motor Transport Licensing Chief Instructor for 1st MLG G-3 Training. Sergeant Major Saracay attended the Basic and Advanced Motor Transport Licensing Trainer Courses on the Logistic Vehicle System Replacement, Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle, and Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All-Terrain Vehicle. She also attended Sergeants Course while stationed at Camp Pendleton. She was promoted to Staff Sergeant in December 2008.
Sergeant Major Saracay deployed again in August 2010 as the Motor Transport Licensing Director for 1st MLG and 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. Upon her return in March 2011, she attended Career Course at the Staff Non-Commissioned Officer Academy aboard Camp Pendleton and the Motor Transport Chief Course in Camp Johnson, North Carolina.
In January 2013, Sergeant Major Saracay reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, for Drill Instructor Duty with class 2-13. Upon graduation in April 2013, she was assigned to Oscar Company, 4th Recruit Training Battalion, where she served as a Drill Instructor, Senior Drill Instructor, and Chief Drill Instructor. She was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant in July 2015. After successfully completing Drill Instructor Duty, she was assigned to Marine Air Support Squadron 3, where she served as the Motor Transport Chief and Company First Sergeant. She was promoted to First Sergeant in July 2019.
Following her promotion, she was assigned to Alpha Company, 1st Law Enforcement Battalion, I MEF, until its deactivation in October 2020. She then served as Inspector-Instructor (I&I) First Sergeant for H&S and Alpha Companies, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion. In December 2022, she reported to MCRD San Diego, where she served as the 3rd Recruit Training Battalion Sergeant Major and Golf Company First Sergeant.
Sergeant Major Saracay was frocked to her current rank in November 2023. She served as the 2nd Recruit Training Battalion Sergeant Major until her transfer in May 2025 to Marine Wing Support Squadron 372, where she currently serves as the Squadron Sergeant Major. She has one daughter, Nautica, and one son, Jonh Jr.