Photo By Cpl. Savannah Norris | U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Kaleb G. Butts, the 2025 Marine Corps Engineer Association...... read more read more
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CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – For Marines who are familiar with Sgt. Kaleb G. Butts, it is no surprise he was named the 2025 Marine Corps Engineer Association Combat Engineer Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. Butts exemplifies the qualities every Marine Corps NCO should embody: dependability, dedication, and expertise in his craft as a combat engineer.
“It’s rare to see a sergeant or NCO who has the level of care for his craft and the individual Marines under their charge,” said Gunnery Sgt. Matthew Nygaard, the 2025 Marine Corps Engineer Association Combat Engineer Staff Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, and one of Butts’ leaders.
A native of Warner Robins, Georgia, Butts always aspired to work with explosives. For him, the Marine Corps was a steppingstone toward that goal. In 2019, Butts enlisted and began his journey.
Butts’ career began with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, where he gained extensive hands-on experience with explosives, demolition, and infantry tactics. Early in his career, Butts distinguished himself as the lead rocket-gunner for his squad.
“I became a rocket-gunner at a really young age in the Marine Corps. So, that was my bread and butter,” said Butts. “I taught a lot of classes with 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, and a lot of grunt units on the new rocket systems. That’s what I did for the first three years of my career.”
Serving as a rocket-gunner and subject matter expert Butts’ quick thinking and reliability, are qualities Marines quickly came to depend on. After his time with 1st CEB, he joined Combat Logistics Battalion 15, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group, followed by an assignment with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
Butts’ expertise and rapid decision-making proved invaluable during Valiant Mark, a combined training exercise with the Singapore Armed Forces in support of Marine Rotational Force – Southeast Asia. He planned, coordinated, and liaised between MRF-SEA command element staff and SAF personnel. His persistent resolve and proficiency resulted in a three-day training event where Singaporean Guards learned counter-improvised explosive device drills, mine clearing drills, lane breaching operations, and culminated with a live-fire demolitions range.
“Having somebody like that is a force multiplier, through and through. Having him on the team meant I never had to worry about anything,” said Nygaard.
While deployed with the USS Harpers Ferry from April to August 2024, Butts was separated from his platoon and trusted as an engineer subject matter expert. As part of Archipelagic Coastal Defense Continuum 24.1, Butts led a counter-mobility training event alongside the Philippine Marine Corps. He taught Philippine Marine Corps infantrymen and demonstrated concepts to the commanding general of the 3rd Philippine Marine Brigade. Butts was essential to the training and education of the Philippine Marine Corps infantrymen in their understanding of engagement areas, as well as helping to build the Philippine Marine Corps Combat Engineer program.
“He’s an expert in his craft, and he really loves ensuring that the Marines under his charge are the best combat engineers, and they understand what their entire MOS does.” Staff Sgt. Luis Franco, a water support technician with CLB15.
During Kamandag 8, Butts was essential to the timely reconnaissance of over 140 bridges and 300 miles of road in the Southern Philippines. Butts was assigned as the NCO in charge of a reconnaissance team tasked with finding routes that could support the transport of artillery units to and from the island of Palawan. It was his responsibility to emplace organized systems for all data, collect imagery, and monitor the instrument set, reconnaissance, and surveying system. After analyzing the data, Butts calculated the load classification for 90 bridges and created 140 bridge reconnaissance reports. It was because of Butts’ prior knowledge and skills that his team was able to operate the ENFIRE system, leading to the classification of the bridges. This mission resulted in the safe transfer of artillery across the island.
Butts stands out as an NCO who prioritizes his Marines. He is not only an expert but also a leader his peers admire.
“He is the ideal sergeant that you want on your team to ensure that the Marines are taken care of and that your mission is going to get accomplished,” said Nygaard.
Butts’ dedication is also deeply personal. One of his most memorable moments involves honoring a fallen friend. Early in his career, Butts and Pfc. Aaron T. Bosley were roommates and classmates through boot camp, Marine Combat Training, and combat engineer school. Bosley, a class ahead, introduced Butts to the antipersonnel obstacle breaching system (APOBS) – a powerful tool involving grenades and a rocket system to breach wire obstacles.
Before reaching the fleet, Bosley passed away. To honor his memory, Butts conducted an APOBS breach at the earliest opportunity.
“When I was a lance corporal, I got the opportunity to put one on my back and go to the 400 series ranges at ITX and conduct an APOBS breach on a triple strand wire, and it flew right in half,” said Butts. “I swept the whole thing, retained my safety, got my green shot class, and it was just the coolest moment in my career because I got to do it for him.”
Whether it's being there for his Marines, planning training exercises with other countries, creating over 140 building bridge reports, or honoring a fallen friend, Butts represents the standard of excellence every Marine NCO should strive to uphold.
| Date Taken: | 09.24.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.26.2025 18:13 |
| Story ID: | 549163 |
| Location: | CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Hometown: | WARNER ROBINS, GEORGIA, US |
| Web Views: | 131 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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