Sergeant Major (SgtMaj) Daniel J. West enlisted into the Marine Corps and attended Recruit Training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego in January 1994.
Upon graduation from recruit training, Private West attended Marine Combat Training at Camp Pendleton, California before attending the Basic Helicopter Course (BHC) in Millington, Tennessee. Upon graduation from BHC, Private First Class (PFC) West attended Naval Aircrew Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida, and was designated as a Naval Aircrewman before transferring to Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River, North Carolina. In August of 1994, PFC West was assigned to HMMT-204 where he attended the CH-46E Mechanics' Course and Aircrewman's Course. He was designated a CH-46E crew chief in March of 1995 before graduation.
Upon graduation, Lance Corporal (LCpl) West was assigned to HMM-162 in April of 1995 to the flight line division as a CH-46E crew chief. LCpl West was promoted to Corporal (Cpl) while deployed with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) aboard the USS Guam in support of operations Joint Endeavor in former Sarajevo, Yugoslavia; Assured Response in Liberia, Africa; and Quick Response in Bangui, Africa. Upon returning from deployment, Cpl West was assigned to HMM-365 in August 1996.
During his assignment to HMM-365, Cpl West was promoted to Sergeant (Sgt) and deployed as a CH-46E crew chief with the 26th MEU aboard the USS Nassau in support of operations Joint Endeavor in former Sarajevo, Yugoslavia; Silverwake in Albania; and Guardian Retrieval in the Republic of the Congo and Zaire, Africa. Upon returning from deployment in May 1997, Sgt West supported unit training during two Combined Arms Exercises in Twentynine Palms, California; Weapons and Tactics Instruction Course (WTI) in Yuma, Arizona, and a deployment for exercise in Puerto Rico. Upon completion, in August 1998, Sgt West was assignment to Naval Aviation Depot Repair Facility (NADEP) Cherry Point, North Carolina as a CH-46 E/D test crew chief and assistant production officer.
While assigned to NADEP Cherry Point, Sgt West was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant (SSgt). SSgt West worked in the Quality Assurance Division as the assistant production line officer and CH-46E/D test crew chief. In addition to his primary role as a CH-46 E/D test crew chief, SSgt West also held collateral duties as a ISO 9000 internal auditor and Full Systems Quality Assurance Representative (QAR) for the NADEP production facility. In August of 2002, SSgt West attended Basic Recruiter Course (BRC) at MCRD San Diego, California.
Upon graduating from BRC, SSgt West was assigned to Recruiting Station Pittsburgh as a canvassing recruiter. After recruiting 89 new accessions and completing a successful tour, SSgt West was assigned to HMM-365, MCAS New River in 2005.
While assigned to HMM-365, SSgt West was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant (GySgt). As the Flight Line Division Chief, GySgt West deployed with the 24th MEU in 2006 aboard the USS Iwo Jima in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). During a subsequent 24th MEU deployment in 2008, GySgt West was the Maintenance Control Chief supporting OEF combat operations in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Upon the squadron's redeployment, HMM-365 was redesignated as VMM-365 and GySgt West was assigned to VMMT-204 in January of 2009 to be retrained as a MV-22B crew chief.
Upon redesignation as a MV-22 crew chief in June 2009, GySgt West was assigned to VMM-365 as the Flight Line Division Chief. In 2010, VMM-365 deployed on the Unit Deployment Program to Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan in support of OEF combat operations. During the deployment, GySgt West was selected for First Sergeant (1stSgt). Upon return from deployment in 2011, 1stSgt West was assigned to 2d Battalion, 14th Marines, HIMARS Battery D, Inspector-Instructor First Sergeant in El Paso, Texas.
In April 2013, 1stSgt West was reassigned to 2nd Radio Battalion to serve as Company C, Company First Sergeant. In 2014, 1stSgt West transitioned to Headquarters & Service Company, Company First Sergeant before being selected to Sergeant Major (SgtMaj) in 2015. Upon promotion in 2016, SgtMaj West was assigned to Infantry Training Battalion - East (ITB-E), Battalion Sergeant Major.
While assigned to ITB-E, SgtMaj West was an integral part of integration of female Marines into the infantry and overhauling the periods of instruction for initial infantry training. In August of 2017, SgtMaj West executed orders to Okinawa, Japan, where he served as 3d Intelligence Battalion, Battalion Sergeant Major. SgtMaj West was selected for Marine Rotational Force - Darwin 19.2, Sergeant Major in December of 2018, and deployed to Australia from April until October 2019. Upon return from deployment, SgtMaj West was posted at his current assignment as CLR-37, Regimental Sergeant Major and Camp Kinser, Sergeant Major in November 2019.
SgtMaj West's personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal with combat “V” and strike flight of 6, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold star in lieu of second award, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two gold stars in lieu of third award.