Chief Warrant Officer 3 Cripe enlisted in the Marine Corps in March 1999 and attended recruit training at MCRD Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon completion of recruit training he reported to School of Infantry East, Camp Geiger, North Carolina for Marine Combat Training and then to Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas where he attended the Basic Corrections Course.
Upon graduation from the Basic Corrections Course, Private Cripe was assigned the 5831 Correctional Specialist MOS and received orders to the Base Brig, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina in August 1999 for duty. While assigned to the Base Brig, he served as a Security Sentry, Prisoner Escort, and Unit Supervisor until selected for duty at Correctional Custody Unit (CCU). While assigned to CCU, Corporal Cripe served as a Watch Stander, Receiving and Release NCO, and Legal NCO.
In January 2003, Sergeant Cripe re-enlisted and received orders to Naval Consolidated Brig Charleston, South Carolina for duty. While assigned to Naval Consolidated Brig Charleston, he served as a Watch Section Supervisor, Command Duty Officer, and Command Armorer. He was instrumental in several high profile escort missions involving enemy combatants and assisted in the development of an armed escort program when transferring high-risk and maximum custody prisoners onboard civilian aircraft. In May 2005, he was recognized as the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce Marine of the Year for demonstrated service to the community.
In February 2006, Sergeant Cripe re-enlisted and received orders to Training Company, Marine Corps Security Force Regiment, Chesapeake, Virginia for MOS training. After graduating with honors, Sergeant Cripe was assigned the 8152 Marine Corps Security Force Guard MOS and reported to First Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team (FAST) Company, Norfolk, Virginia for duty and was subsequently promoted to Staff Sergeant. While assigned to FAST, his platoon deployed to Manama, Bahrain for seven months under the FAST Deployment Program where they provided a quick reaction force for Naval Support Activity Bahrain, the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), and the President of the United States. In December 2008, his platoon deployed to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for three months to conduct external security operations.
In May 2009, Staff Sergeant Cripe received orders to the Base Brig, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina for duty. While assigned to the Base Brig, he served as a Watch Section Supervisor, Duty Brig Supervisor and Operations Chief. In October 2010, he deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan for six months in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM 10.2 and 11.1 augmenting I MEF (FWD) and II MEF (FWD) as the Camp Leatherneck Detainee Facility SNCOIC. Staff Sergeant Cripe was instrumental in collecting and evacuating captured insurgents during Operation MOSHTARAK II in the Taliban stronghold of Marjah and during the Battle of Sangin. After his return, he was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant and subsequently selected to Warrant Officer in the 5804 Corrections Officer MOS.
In January 2012, Gunnery Sergeant Cripe received orders to the Warrant Officer Basic Course (WOBC), The Basic School, Quantico, Virginia and accepted his appointment. After completion of WOBC in May 2012, Warrant Officer Cripe received orders to Naval Consolidated Brig Charleston, South Carolina for duty where he served as Deputy Director of the Parole and Release Department and later as the Operations Officer and Marine Detachment Commander.
In July 2015, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Cripe received orders and reported to 1st Law Enforcement Battalion, I MEF, Camp Pendleton, California where he served as the Detention Operations Officer, Non-lethal Weapons Program Manager, and Battalion Antiterrorism Officer. During his tenure, he supported numerous MEF, division, and battalion level training exercises in addition to several Special Purpose MAGTF operations as a planner and subject matter expert in law enforcement operations. He was promoted to his current rank in August 2016.
In June 2018, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Cripe received orders and reported to the Base Brig, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California for duty where he served as the Brig Officer-in-Charge and Brig Company Executive Officer. During this assignment, he supervised the operational expansion of the brig's post-trial mission to a level II confinement mission, which presently services the entire Marine Corps.
In May 2019, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Cripe received orders and reported to Marine Corps Detachment, Joint Base San Antonio Lackand, TX where he currently serves as the detachment’s Commanding Officer.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Cripe's personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (gold star in lieu of second award), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (silver star in lieu of sixth award) as well as numerous campaign and service medals.