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As the new senior enlisted advisor to more than 800 Marines, U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. James I. Petty hopes to build their drive for success and instill a sense of enthusiasm for opportunity. With nearly 20 years of Marine Corps experience and leadership under his belt, Petty took command of Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron (H&HS), Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, North Carolina, on Nov. 6, 2020.
“I wanted to be a Marine since I was three years old, and this to me is the first dream that I’ve ever had that became a reality of mine,” said Petty, a native of Pinole, Calif. “I have never been the fastest, the smartest, the most proficient - but one thing that my leaders have always seen in me is a heart for the Marine Corps and the Marines.”
Petty stepped on the infamous yellow footprints in January 2000, and shortly after received the military occupational specialty (MOS) of 0311, rifleman. Since then, he has deployed five times with various units, to include three times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and once in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Petty also served as a Marine combat instructor, then as the primary instructor for weapons and tactics for Marine Combat Training Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C.
“When those opportunities presented themselves, I just happened to be the one that was ready,” said Petty. “And that’s all I would want collectively between the senior and subordinate relationships, is for those opportunities to be afforded to those Marines, but more so those Marines to endeavor with everything they have to be ready for those opportunities, because I am a product of the opportunities provided to me.”
“Because of some great mentors, noncommissioned officers, staff noncommissioned officers, along the way, when those opportunities presented themselves because of their efforts, and me being willing to jump on opportunities, knowing that I would run it with everything that I had … I just happened to be the one that was always ready,” said Petty. “They maximized opportunities to make sure I was prepared, but at the same time I did everything that would be incumbent upon any Marine.”
During his 2009 deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Petty was combat meritoriously promoted to the rank of gunnery sergeant, before returning home and receiving orders as a faculty advisor for Sergeants Course at the Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy, at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twenty-nine Palms, Calif. He would even seek additional responsibility and hold the billet of staff noncommissioned officer in charge of Sergeants Course.
Having personally impacted the careers of Marines as a Marine combat instructor and faculty advisor, Petty has been quoted as stating to Marines within his command, “You will find no one as passionate as me about taking care of you.”
“Being passionate about Marines sometimes means making sure they're well trained. Making sure they’re technically proficient, making sure they’re professional and they have the opportunities to be developed in those facets and embracing those,” said Petty. Being passionate about the Marines is that when there is an opportunity to train and educate, although it may be a lack to your own convenience as a leader, maximizing those opportunities and doing the leg work because that’s what’s going to be beneficial to them.”
“I will always do the leg work,” said Petty. “If something reaches my office where somewhere along the lines a subordinate leadership may not have the scope of authority or influence to see their Marines through that challenge or that potential issue, and it reaches my office, then I will tenaciously, with everything I have, take care of whatever that issue is. That’s why I say no one is more passionate. There may be some that are as passionate, but I’ll be hard pressed to think that there is someone more passionate in that regard.”
Petty first arrived at MCAS Cherry Point in 2017, when he received orders to serve as a battery first sergeant with 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, Marine Air Control Group 28, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. There Petty earned the rank of sergeant major.
“For me, picking the route of being a first sergeant, sergeant major, my whole purpose of picking that route and not remaining in the confines of my MOS, was to put me in a position … to be more inherently involved with managing the Marines, their personal issues, professional development to their career paths,” said Petty.
Petty hopes that through setting the example, the Marines within H&HS will aid one another in career development and success, whether that be through providing, or taking, every opportunity available to them.
“This is one of the few times in my career where I’ve gotten to come to a command that was my preference,” said Petty. “And I look at the opportunity to be here as a gift and understanding that this is a merited gift for me to come here. Every endeavor that I make day-to-day, I will do everything I can not to tarnish the gift, and the gift is the Marines.”
| Date Taken: | 12.15.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 12.23.2020 11:16 |
| Story ID: | 385019 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 182 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Meet the Marine: Sgt Maj Petty, by GySgt Caitlin Brink, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
