Joseph Alvarez was born on February 14. He enlisted in the Marine Corps and attended Recruit Training at Marine
Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California in May 1999. Upon graduating as the Company Honor man from Recruit
Training he was meritoriously promoted to Lance Corporal (LCpl). After graduating he attended the School of Infantry and
was assigned the MOS of (0311) Infantry Rifleman.
In August of 1999, LCpl Alvarez reported to 2nd Battalion 4th Marines (V 2/4) at Camp Pendleton, CA for duty as an
Infantryman. Upon discovery by the Battalion's Sniper Platoon, LCpl Alvarez was screened and selected to join the highly
skilled platoon, where later he would acquire the MOS of 8541, later changed to 0317. During his time with 2/4 he
deployed twice with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit-Special Operations Capable (MEU-SOC) out of Okinawa Japan
where he also took part in Operation Cobra Gold 1999. While at 2/4, he was promoted to Corporal and later to the rank
of Sergeant. While stationed at 2/4 he held the billets Scout Sniper and Team Leader.
In November of 2004, Sgt Alvarez was assigned to 2nd Battalion 1st Marines (V2/1), where he served as a Battalion
Scout Sniper. While assigned to 2/1 Sgt Alvarez deployed to Iraq two separate times to Fallujah, Hit, and the Syrian border
along Al-Anbar Province, taking part in Operation Bright Star and Operation Steele Curtain in support of Operation Iraqi
Freedom (OIF).
After a Successful tour of duty with 2/1 Sgt Alvarez then volunteered for Drill Instructor Duty in January 2008, at
Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD), San Diego California where he was promoted to Staff Sergeant and later
meritoriously to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant (GySgt). While at the Depot, GySgt Alvarez served as a Senior Drill
Instructor and a Chief Instructor for the water survival section as a Marine Combat Instructor Trainer of Water Survival
(MCITWS). He along with four other subject matter experts revamped the Marine Corp's water survival program that is
currently in use today.
After a successful tour at MCRD San Diego, GySgt Alvarez checked into 1st Battalion 2nd Marines (V1/2), Camp
Lejeune, North Carolina. While assigned to V1/2 he served as an Infantry Platoon Commander with Company B and
deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) to South West Asia, he executed exercise African Lion alongside
multinational forces. GySgt Alvarez then returned and shortly thereafter volunteered to execute Temporary Additional
Duty (TAD) to Security Forces Afghanistan Advisor Team (SFAAT) 2-15 Corps Advisor team, where he served as the
Operations Chief.
On 01 August 2014, First Sergeant Alvarez was assigned as the Inspector and Instructor First Sergeant in Vienna, Ohio
Detachment 3, Maintenance Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 453, where he transformed a Landing Support
Battalion into a Motor Transportation Detachment through the guidance set forth by Marine Forces Reserve Force
Structure Review Group.
In August 2017 First Sergeant Alvarez executed his duty at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego as Company M First
Sergeant. With his supervision, Company M was tasked to execute a four phase training matrix for Recruit Training. He
was to supervise, revise and report to Recruit Training Regiment after actions to have follow-on Companies execute more
refined Period of Instruction. On June 01 2020 he was promoted to his current rank of Sergeant Major.
As of 2020 July Sergeant Major Alvarez has been assigned as the Marine Air Control Squadron Sergeant Major, where
he was charged with implementing future force design changes, including squadron growth from 463 to 663
Marines/Sailors, from 4 to 6 Companies, in geographically separate locations throughout Japan and Hawaii, and providing
IIIMEF unique capabilities throughout the INDOPACOM AOR for exercises and contingency operations.
On 2022 June, Sergeant Major Alvarez was assigned to HMLA-169, MAG39, 3D MAW.
Sergeant Major Alvarez's personal awards include Navy and Marine Corps Medal, Purple Heart, Navy and Marine Corps
Commendation Medal with gold star, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with "V" distinguishing device and gold
star, Army Achievement Medal and various other service and campaign medals.