Sergeant Major Robert S. Turek, a native of Reno, Nevada, enlisted in the Marine Corps in October of 2003 and currently serves as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader for 1st Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, Marine Air Control Group - 18.
Throughout his career, Sergeant Major Turek has been assigned as a Point Man, Assistant Team Leader, Team Leader, Platoon Sergeant, and Assistant Company Operations Chief with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion; Mountain Warfare Instructor with the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center; Detachment Staff Noncommissioned Officer in Charge and Team Leader with Force Reconnaissance Company, III Marine Expeditionary Force; Company Gunnery Sergeant and Company Operations Chief with 3d Reconnaissance Battalion; Team Leader and Platoon Sergeant with the Force Reconnaissance Company, I Marine Expeditionary Force; Exercise Chief and Planner with the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa G-37 directorate; Company First Sergeant, 3d Marine Raider Battalion; and Company First Sergeant, Marine Raider Regiment.
He has deployed with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 5-7 from 2005 to 2006; 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 6-8 in 2007; Joint Special Operations Task Force – Philippines in support of Operation Enduring Freedom – Philippines from 2011 to 2012; 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit in 2015; and 3d Marine Raider Battalion in support of operations in East Africa in 2020 and the Pacific theater in 2022.
Sergeant Major Turek’s personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star in lieu of second award, the Navy Commendation Medal with gold star in lieu of second award, Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal with gold star in lieu of second award, Philippine Bronze Cross Medal (Foreign Award), Philippine Military Civic Action Medal (Foreign Award), and the Combat Action Ribbon.
Sergeant Major Turek is a graduate of the Joint Special Operations Forces Senior Enlisted Academy and holds a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership from the University of Charleston – West Virginia.