Sergeant Major Johnnie M. Hughes, a Brooklyn, N.Y.
native, completed recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris
Island, S.C., in February 1989. Following recruit training; Private Hughes
attended his MOS school of Supply Administration at Camp Johnson, Camp Lejeune,
N.C. Upon completion, he was assigned
the MOS 3043, Supply Administration Clerk.
In
April 1989, Private Hughes reported to Supply Company, 2nd Supply Battalion as
a supply administration clerk. Private
Hughes was promoted to the rank of private first class in May 1989. Private
First Class Hughes was promoted to the rank of lance corporal in November
1989. In April 1990, Lance Corporal
Hughes was assigned to 8th Engineer Support Battalion for Temporary Assigned
Duty. During this assignment, he deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, until
September 1990. Upon return back to Camp
Lejeune, N.C., he was reassigned back to 2nd Supply Battalion.
In
August 1991, Lance Corporal Hughes received orders to 3rd Marine Division,
Okinawa, Japan. He assumed duties as a
supply administration clerk with 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion. He was promoted to the rank of corporal in
July 1992. In February 1993, he transferred to Parris Island, S.C., as a supply
administration clerk within the Recruit Training Regiment, at 2nd Recruit
Training Battalion S-4. Promoted to the
rank of sergeant in July 1994, he assumed the duties as the supply
administration chief. In October 1995, Sergeant
Hughes attended the Enlisted Supply Intermediate Course for his MOS.
In
February 1996, Sergeant Hughes transferred to Inspector-Instructor Staff 2nd
Battalion, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division, Garden City, N.Y., as the supply
administration chief and color sergeant.
In September 1996, Sergeant Hughes attended Airborne School at Ft.
Benning, Ga. In July 1999, he reported
to MCRD Parris Island, S.C., for Drill Instructor School. He was promoted to the rank of staff sergeant
in October 1999. He held the billets as
a drill instructor, senior drill instructor and operations chief for Company H,
2nd Recruit Training Battalion.
In
October 2002, Staff Sergeant Hughes then transferred to 3rd Battalion, 2nd
Marines, 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, N.C., as the Supply Chief. He was reassigned to 2nd Tank Battalion as
the supply fiscal chief. While there, in
February 2003, he participated in Operation Enduring/Iraqi Freedom I. He was
promoted to the rank of gunnery sergeant in December 2003. In June 2004, he was reassigned
to Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, 24th Marine
Expeditionary Unit as the supply chief, where he participated in Operation
Iraqi Freedom II. Gunnery Sergeant
Hughes, in November 2005, also participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom 4-06
with the Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, 22nd Marine
Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable). Gunnery Sergeant Hughes then
transferred to the United States Naval Academy in June 2006, as the 10th
Company Senior Enlisted Leader.
In
February 2007, Gunnery Sergeant Hughes was frocked to the rank of first sergeant
and transferred to Inspector-Instructor Staff, Company D., 4th Light Armored
Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Quantico, Va., in April 2009,
First Sergeant Hughes reported to 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion as
Company D First Sergeant, December 2009 First Sergeant Hughes transferred to
Company A, where he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring
Freedom 10.1, from May 2010 until November 2010. First Sergeant Hughes transferred to
Headquarters and Service Company in January 2011 where he deployed to
Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom 12.1, from October 2011
until May 2012.
In
July 2012, Sergeant Major Hughes was promoted to his present rank and reported
to Recruiting Station Kansas City as the sergeant major. In April 2015,
Sergeant Major Hughes transferred to 3d Marine Special Operation Support
Battalion.
Sergeant
Major Hughes personal decorations include: Meritorious Service Medal (gold star
in lieu of second award), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal(gold star in
lieu of third award), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (silver star in
lieu of sixth award), and the Combat
Action Ribbon(gold star in lieu of second award).