Master Chief Hospital Corpsman Dante T. Cooley
Command Master Chief, Field Medical Training Battalion West
Camp Pendleton, CA
Master Chief Hospital Corpsman (HMCM) Dante T. Cooley, an Arizona native enlisted in the Navy in October 1998. He reported to recruit training at Recruit Training Center, Great Lakes, and after graduating attended Hospital Corpsman (HM) A school at Hospital Corps School, Great Lakes. Upon completing Corps School, HMCM Cooley reported to Field Medical Service School (FMSS), Camp Pendleton, CA, where he graduated with the Fleet Marine Force 8404 enlisted classification and in July 1999 reported to 3D Medical Battalion.
In November 1999 HMCM Cooley was attached to Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Service Support Group-31 where he completed preparatory training with Special Operations Training Group in order to deploy with the 31st MEU. While deployed he participated in Joint Training Exercises Cobra Gold and Foal Eagle.
In August 2001 HMCM Cooley reported to Naval Hospital Cherry Point, NC where he attended Fleet Hospital Training Center in preparation for deployment and in January 2002 deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba with Joint Task Force 150 in support of detainee operations. Upon completion of deployment HMCM Cooley returned to Naval Hospital Cherry Point and was assigned as staff Emergency Medical Technician and later as Leading Petty Officer of Emergency Services.
In September 2004 HMCM Cooley reported to Fleet Surgical Team (FST) TWO as the Intensive Care Unit Leading Petty Officer. While attached to FST TWO he attended Naval Trauma Training Center course at University of Southern California - Los Angeles County Hospital and completed deployed to 4th Fleet AOR and 6th Fleet AOR ISO Operation IRAQI FREEDOM aboard the USS NASSAU and the USS CAPE ST GEORGE.
In October 2006 HMCM Cooley reported to Naval Health Clinic Quantico and was assigned as the Pharmacy Leading Petty Officer. Later he was selected to serve as the Command Career Counselor which encompassed Naval Health Clinics Quantico, The Basic School, and Officer Candidate School. Here he was selected for Chief Petty Officer and in December 2009 reported to Expeditionary Combat Readiness Center (ECRC), San Diego.
Immediately upon reporting to ECRC, HMCM Cooley attended training at Naval Expeditionary Medical Training Institute, Camp Pendleton, CA and deployed with Expeditionary Medical Facility-Kuwait, Juliet Detachment as the Senior Enlisted Leader (SEL) of the Clinical Support, Clinical, and Nursing Services Directorates. After completing the deployment, HMCM Cooley reported to 1st Marine Division in September 2010. While attached to 1st Marine Division he deployed to Musa Qala, Helmand Province ISO Operation ENDURING FREEDOM with 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines as Leading Chief Petty Officer (LCPO) and was assigned to the Division Surgeons Office (DSO) as LCPO of Naval Personnel and Administrative Services Departments upon return. While at DSO, HMCM Cooley was selected for Senior Chief Petty Officer and later reported to Naval Personnel Command in November 2013.
As Lead Placement Coordinator for Specialized Placement, he led a team responsible for the manpower management of 64,000 billets within the HM, SPECWAR, Seabee, and MA communities. In October 2016 HMCM Cooley reported to the USS NEW YORK as the Health Services Department LCPO and deployed ISO Hurricane disaster relief and 6th Fleet AOR ISO Operation ODYSSEY RESOLVE. In November 2018 HMCM Cooley reported to Bureau of Medicine and Surgery Inspector General (MEDIG) as SEL and staff inspector.
Upon completion of his tour at MEDIG he was selected to serve in his current billet as Field Medical Training Battalion - West Command Master Chief.
His personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (Sixth award), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (Sixth award), and various other unit service and campaign awards.