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Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps

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Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps
Incumbent
Daniel V. Colon
since Premier January 3, 2025
StyleColor Sergeant/Rank
Member ofUnited States Marine Corps Color Guard Platoon
Term lengthTwo years straight
FormationJanuary 1, 1965
First holderGunnery Sgt. Shelton 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

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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 January 1, 1965 and first held by Shelton L. Eakin, who was killed in action the following year during the Vietnam War.[1]

List of the New Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps (Premier: January 1, 2025)

1st. Gunnery Sgt. Shelton L. Eakin (January 1965 - December 1965)

2nd. Staff Sgt. J.D. Coco (January 1966 - August 1966)

3rd. Sgt. L.C. Pittman (September 1966 - January 1967)

4th. Sgt. R.E. Brothers (February 1967 - June 1967)

5th. Sgt. M.T. Kane (July 1967 - December 1967)

6th. Sgt. W.J. Monahan (January 1968 - June 1968)

7th. Sgt. J.C. McCord (July 1968 - September 1968)

8th. Cpl. E.W. Williams (October 1968 - February 1969)

9th. Cpl. C.A. Kern (March 1969 - June 1969)

10th. Sgt. D.G. Thorpe (July 1969 - December 1969)

11th. Sgt. T.A. Strasberg (January 1970 - December 1970)

12th. Sgt. Tim W. Hughes (January 1971 - December 1972)

13th. Sgt. J.E. Brown (January 1973 - December 1974)

14th. Sgt. L.M. Baade (January 1975 - September 1976)

15th. Sgt. E.A. Chavez (October 1976 - December 1978)

16th. Sgt. J.W. Walters (January 1979 - December 1979)

17th. Set. M.J. Watkins (January 1980 - December 1982)

18th. Sgt. P.L. Peironello (January 1983 - December 1983)

19th. Sgt. J.E. Capua (January 1984 - December 1985)

20th. Sgt. T.H. McMahon (January 1986 - December 1987)

21st. Sgt. D.R. Boyd (January 1988 - September 1989)

22nd. Sgt. Dean R. Keck (October 1989 - April 1993)

23rd. Sgt. Daniel J. Charlier (May 1993 - December 1994)

24th. Sgt. Thomas W. Rollinson (January 1995 - June 1996)

25th. Sgt. R.R. Robinson (June 1996 - May 1997)

26th. Sgt. Heath F. Kuhlmann (May 1997 - August 1998)

27th. Sgt. James D. Reed (August 1998 - December 1999)

28th. Sgt. Blake L. Richardson (January 2000 - August 2001)

29th. Sgt. Trevor H. Johnson (September 2001 - December 2003)

30th. Sgt. Brian T. Strickland (December 2003 - November 2005)

31st. Sgt. Andrel C. Rutherford (November 2005 - December 2006)

32nd. Sgt. Scott A. Jewel (January 2007 - August 2008)

33rd. Sgt. Corey R. Wünderlich (September 2008 - December 2009)

34th. Sgt. Eric A. Humer (January 2010 - December 2011)

35th. Sgt. Timothy A. Spreder (January 2012 - September 2013)

36th. Sgt. Allen J. Banks Jr. (October 2013 - January 2016)

37th. Sgt. Kenneth P. Newton (February 2016 - December 2017)

38th. Sgt. Francis S. Frazier (January 2018 - December 2019)

39th. Sgt. Franklin D. Taft (January 2020 - June 2021)

40th. Sgt. Cameron L. Williams (May 2021 - June 2023)

41st. Sgt. Stephen A. Sexton (April 2023 - December 2024)

42nd. Sgt. Daniel V. Colon (January 2025 - Release)

Duties

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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

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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

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No. Image Name Term start Term end
1st Shelton L. Eakin January 1965 December 1965
35th Timothy A. Spreder[5] January 2012 September 2013
36th Allen J. Banks Jr.[6] October 2013 January 2016
37th Kenneth Newton[7] February 2016 December 2017
38th Francis S. Frazier[citation needed] January 2018 December 2019
39th Franklin D. Taft January 2020 June 2021
40th Cameron L. Williams[8] May 2021 June 2023
41st Stephen A. Sexton April 2023 Early December 31st
42nd Daniel V. Colon Premier January 1st Release

See also

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References

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  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 (5 April 2018). "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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