Sergeant Major McHale is from Highland Mills N.Y. and enlisted in the Marine Corps July 23, 1990. Sergeant Major McHale completed recruit training a Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C. in October of 1990 and attended Marine Combat Training at Camp Geiger Camp Lejeune N.C. Upon completion of Marine Combat Training Sergeant Major McHale report to Utilities Instructional Company at Courthouse Bay Camp Lejeune N.C and was promoted to the rank of PFC. In January 1991 and after completing the Basic Electricians Course, he reported to Marine Corps Base Okinawa and was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal in September 1991.
In February 1992 Sergeant Major McHale was transferred to 2d Radio Battalion Camp Lejeune N.C. and participated in exercises Display Determination ’92 in Turkey and Battle Griffin ’93 in Norway. In August 1993 he was promoted to the rank of Corporal at the end of his first enlistment in July of 1994 Sergeant Major McHale got out of the Marine Corps.
In June of 1995 Sergeant Major McHale reenlisted in the Marine Corps and was assigned to Marine Corps Base Parris Island S.C. Sergeant Major McHale was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in November 1996. In March of 1998 he attended Drill Instructor School. He was assigned to Fox Company, Second Recruit Training Battalion as a Drill Instructor and Marine Combat Instructor Trainer of Water Survival. He was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant in November 2000.
After successfully completing Drill Instructor Duty in July 2001 Sergeant Major McHale was transferred to 2d Combat Engineer Battalion, 2d Marine Division, Camp Lejeune N.C. where he was assigned as the Utilities Chief and Engineer Support Company, Company Gunnery Sergeant. Sergeant Major McHale participated in exercise Dynamic Mix ’02 in Spain and deployed to Iraq in January in 2003.
In April 2004 Sergeant Major McHale was transferred to Marine Wing Support Group 171 Iwakuni, Japan. Sergeant Major McHale was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant in October 2005. He held the billets of Utilities Chief, Company Gunnery Sergeant, and Company First Sergeant and participated in Foul Eagle ’05 and ‘06 during his tour.
In July of 2007 Sergeant Major McHale reported to Marine Wing Communications Squadron 28. He deployed as the Police Transition Team Leader to Hit, Iraq in July of 2008 and to Afghanistan in November 2009 as the Squadron’s Utilities Chief.
On May 17, 2010 Sergeant Major McHale reported to the School of Infantry and was the Company First Sergeant for Company “E” and then Company “A”. On May 10, 2012, Sergeant Major McHale reported to 1st Battalion 9th Marines and was the Company First Sergeant for Weapons Company and then Headquarters and Service Company. After the deactivation of the Battalion, Sergeant Major McHale reported to 8th Marine Regiment as the Headquarters Company First Sergeant. He was promoted to his current rank on May 22, 2015 and assumed his responsibilities as the 2D Marine Raider Support Battalion Sergeant Major on June 3, 2015.
His personal awards include the Navy Commendation Medal with 3 gold stars, Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal with 3 gold stars and the Combat Action Ribbon.