First Sergeant Mark K. Morton
1stSgt Morton enlisted in the Marine Corps in August 1999. After graduation of recruit training at MCRD Parris Island, SC, Private First Class Morton proceeded to Camp Geiger, N.C, for Marine Combat Training. Following MCT, he proceeded to NAS Pensacola, Fl. to attend common core and intermediate level Aviation Electronics Technician training, as well as follow-on MOS training at NAS Oceana, VA, on the IATS test set, earning the MOS of 6462. From there, LCpl Morton received orders to MALS-31, MCAS Beaufort, SC. He was assigned to work center 650, the IATS, CASS and ATS work center, receiving OJT on the two additional test sets.
In 2002, Cpl Morton was assigned to the S-3 operations and training office of MALS-31, where he served as the Training and Operations NCO. In mid-2003, Sgt Morton was re-assigned to work center 650 as the day crew supervisor and CDI.
In September 2004, Sgt Morton applied for and was accepted to Drill Instructor school, MCRD Parris Island, SC. He was assigned to Company E, Second Recruit Training Battalion, where he served as a Drill Instructor and Senior Drill Instructor.
In December of 2007, SSgt Morton returned to MALS-31 at MCAS, Beaufort. He was assigned as the assistant work center supervisor of work center 63A, RADAR. He deployed in support of the Unit Deployment Program to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan in 2009, serving as an Avionics work center supervisor. Upon returning to MALS-31 in July of 2009, he received PCS orders to MALS-13, MCAS Yuma.
In February 2010, SSgt Morton reported for duty with MALS-13. Upon his arrival, SSgt Morton was assigned to work center 63D, RADAR. He served as the assistant work center supervisor and work center supervisor. In May 2011, GySgt Morton was assigned as the MALS-13 Squadron GySgt.
In July of 2012, GySgt Morton deployed as an augment for MALS-16 (FWD) in support of OEF 12.1 and 12.2. While deployed, he applied for and was selected to Assistant Marine Officer Instructor duty.
Upon returning to MCAS Yuma in January, 2013, GySgt Morton received orders to the Naval Chaplaincy School and Center, Fort Jackson, SC, where he served as the Company Commander. He also served as a platoon sergeant at Officer Candidate School for two cycles in 2015. While on AMOI duty, he was selected to the rank of 1stSgt.
1stSgt Morton was assigned to 3d Battalion, 2d Marines as the Kilo Company 1stSgt in September of 2015. He deployed with Kilo Company to Okinawa, Japan for FDB-E 16.2 in August of 2016. Upon returning to Camp Lejeune, he was assigned to H&S Company as the Company 1stSgt. Shortly thereafter, 1stSgt Morton volunteered to replace a 1stSgt from Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 2d Marines, and was forward deployed to Camp Shorab, Afghanistan. While deployed, he requested and received orders to School of Infantry-East, reporting in January of 2018.
After serving for one year as the SOI-E H&S Company 1stSgt, he assumed his current billet as the Director of Combat Instructor School in January of 2019.
1stSgt Morton’s personal decorations include the Navy Commendation Medal with two gold stars, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medal with three gold stars and the Good Conduct Medal with one Silver Star.