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The Instructors

 

1st Sgt

 

FIRST SERGEANT MICHAEL EASON

USMC, RETIRED 1999-2023

SENIOR NAVAL SCIENCE INSTRUCTOR 

First Sergeant Eason was born in Hampton, Georgia and enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1999. He graduated as the honor graduate from his platoon of Second Recruit Training Battalion, MCRD Parris Island S.C.  Upon completion of recruit training, he received orders for Marine Combat Training at Camp Geiger, N.C., then proceeded to his primary schooling at Camp Johnson as an Administrator.
 
In November of 2000, First Sergeant Eason reported to First Battalion, 12th Marines, MCBH Kaneohe Bay, Hi.  He served as the battalion’s training NCO, was promoted to Corporal, and received orders to the Naval Mobile Salvage Unit’s Dive School located at Ford Island in Pearl Harbor where he graduated with honors.  First Sergeant Eason was promoted to Sergeant and received orders to Jump School at Fort Benning, Ga, and then immediately to Drill Instructing School at MCRD, Parris Island, S.C.

 In December of 2003, First Sergeant Eason graduated from Drill Instructing School and received the high PFT Award.  He then completed Swim School as a Marine Corps Water Survival Instructor and went to work as a Drill Instructor for Delta Company, First Recruit Training Battalion.  First Sergeant Eason worked 8 cycles and was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant.
 
In 2007 First Sergeant Eason reported to 2d Battalion 3d Marines as the Administrative Chief and Company Gunnery Sergeant.  While serving with the battalion, First Sergeant Eason was sent to Chinhae, Korea to assist 3d Marine Division during Operation Lummus Offload. Then in April of 2009, First Sergeant Eason was deployed to Afghanistan in Operation Enduring Freedom, and was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant.
 
In 2010 First Sergeant Eason reported to Officer Candidate School to work as a Sergeant Instructor, Platoon Sergeant, and Company Gunnery Sergeant for the future leaders of our Corps.  
 
In 2013 First Sergeant Eason reported to 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company.  He served two years as the Administrative Chief and Career Retention Specialist.

In 2015 First Sergeant Eason reported to the U.S. Embassy of Kinshasa, located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as the Operation’s Chief for the Offices of Security Cooperation.  He assisted over three hundred State Department employees and reported directly to the Defense Attaché during his time with AFRICOM.
 
In 2017 First Sergeant Eason reported to 2d Maintenance Battalion, 2d MLG as the Company First Sergeant for the Ordnance Maintenance Company.  He served the ordnance community for over 2 years before receiving orders to 4th Marine Regiment located in Okinawa, Japan. First Sergeant Eason completed 2 years at Headquarters and Service Company 4 th Marine Regiment and received orders to 3d Intelligence Battalion for one year. In May of 2022 First Sergeant Eason received orders back to First Recruit Training Battalion, where he currently serves as the Delta Company First Sergeant.

First Sergeant Eason’s personal awards include the Joint Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4th award), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2d award), Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (2d award), Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (Seventh award) and the Combat Action Ribbon.

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GySgt

 

GUNNERY SERGEANT JOSEPH BURTON

USMC, RETIRED 1984-2007

NAVAL SCIENCE INSTRUCTOR

GySgt Burton joined the Marine Corps in 1984, working in communications. He has made many deployments over his 20 years, which include; Okinawa, Japan for Jungle Warfare Training, Bridgeport, California for Cold Weather training, two tours in the Mediterranean, and one year in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He also deployed to Iraq for a year.

GySgt Burton has a degree in Psychology and is currently working on his Ph.D. in Apologetics. He is married to the former Tammy Mohney of Akron, Ohio. They have two sons, Joey and Cordell.

GySgt Burton has been an NJROTC instructor for 18 years. New Bern HS is his third school.

GySgt Burton's decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Global War On Terrorism Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Naval Arctic Service Ribbon, Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Medal, Marine Corps Recruiting Service Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, and Navy Expeditionary Medal.