Sergeant Major Painter enlisted in the Marine Corps on 10 August 1997.  He reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina for recruit training on 23 March 1998.

After graduating from recruit training, he was assigned to Infantry Training Battalion (ITB) at Camp Geiger, North Carolina for basic infantry training as a 0331 Machine Gunner.

After completing ITB, in August of 1998, Sergeant Major Painter was assigned to Company L, 3d Battalion 8th Marines.  He served as a Machine Gunner, Team Leader, Squad Leader, Section Leader, and Weapons Platoon Commander.  Sergeant Major Painter was promoted to Lance Corporal, Corporal, and Sergeant during this tour of duty, and was deployed to the Mediterranean Sea from April 1999 to October 1999 with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Special Operations Capable.  While deployed, he participated in Operations ALLIED FORCE, SHINING HOPE, and JOINT GUARDIAN in Kosovo and Albania and Operation AVID RESPONSE in Turkey.  He also deployed in December of 2000 to Okinawa, Japan as part of the Unit Deployment Program.

Sergeant Major Painter reported to the Basic Recruiter’s Course at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California in October of 2001. Upon completing the Basic Recruiter Course, he was assigned to Recruiting Station Louisville, Kentucky.  Sergeant Major Painter was promoted to Staff Sergeant during this tour.

After completing a successful tour on recruiting duty, Sergeant Major Painter was assigned to Company K, 3d Battalion, 6th Marines in January of 2005.  During this tour, he served as a Rifle Platoon Sergeant deploying to the Al Qaim, Habbannyia, and Karmah areas of Iraq participating in Operations IRON FIST and STEEL CURTAIN in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.

Sergeant Major Painter reported to the School of Infantry-East in January of 2008 and attended the Marine Combat Instructors Course.  After graduating as the Class 2-08 Honor Graduate, Sergeant Major Painter was assigned as a Marine Combat Instructor and Platoon Commander in Company B, Infantry Training Battalion.  Sergeant Major Painter was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant in November of 2008 and assumed the duties of the Company Gunnery Sergeant for Company B.  In August of 2009, he was assigned as the Company Gunnery Sergeant of Headquarters and Instructor Company.  He was reassigned in January of 2010 as the Company First Sergeant for Company C until the end of his tour in March of 2011.

After completing a successful tour as a Marine Combat Instructor, Sergeant Major Painter was assigned to Company L, 3d Battalion 6th Marines as the Company Gunnery Sergeant.  During this tour, he deployed to Marjah, Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.

Upon returning from Afghanistan in December of 2011, Sergeant Major Painter was selected for First Sergeant and reported to 3d Maintenance Battalion, Camp Kinser, Okinawa, Japan in June of 2012 where he served as the Company First Sergeant for Electronics Maintenance Company, Intermediate Maintenance Company and as the Battalion Sergeant Major.

Sergeant Major Painter was reassigned to 3d Reconnaissance Battalion, Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan in January of 2014 as the Company First Sergeant for Company B.

Sergeant Major Painter transferred in June 2015 and was assigned as the Battery First Sergeant, Battery C, 1st Battalion, 10th Marines.  He was reassigned in December of 2015 as the Battery First Sergeant, Headquarters Battery, 10th Marines.

In December of 2016, Sergeant Major Painter was frocked to his present rank and was assigned as the Battalion Sergeant Major for 3d Battalion, 2d Marines where he deployed to the Indo-Pacific Area of Operations as part of Unit Deployment Program.

In April of 2019, Sergeant Major Painter transferred to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 14 where he served as the Squadron Sergeant Major until assuming his current post as the Sergeant Major of the School of Infantry-East in January of 2021.

Sergeant Major Painter holds a Master of Arts in International Relations, a Bachelor of Science in Management Studies, Cum Laude, is a distinguished graduate of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College Distance Education Program, and a graduate of the Marine Corps Expeditionary Warfare School Distance Education Program.

Sergeant Major Painter’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (gold star in lieu of third award), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (gold star in lieu of second award), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device (gold star in lieu of fifth award), Air Force Achievement Medal, and Combat Action Ribbon (gold star in lieu of second award).