Biography
Recruiting Station Frederick
Sergeant Major Berton D. Shepard

Sgt. Maj. Berton D. Shepard currently serves as the Sergeant Major, Recruiting Station Frederick.  A native of Lakeview Oregon, he was active in wrestling, hunting, and Future Farmers of America.  He enlisted in the Marine Corps in August 2003 and graduated from Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California.  Upon completion of the School of Infantry he received the primary Military Occupational Specialty of 0311, Infantry Rifleman and received orders to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3d Marine Division. 

In July 2004, Sgt. Maj. Shepard deployed on the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.  During this deployment he participated in various training exercises for the Maritime Special Purpose Force in Guam, Okinawa, and Kuwait prior to supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom as a part of Operation Phantom Fury in Fallujah, Iraq.

In March 2005, Sergeant Major Shepard deployed to Konar Provence, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.  During this deployment he was selected as a squad leader in the Marine Corps Distributed Operations program. 

In February 2007, Sgt. Maj. Shepard deployed to Haditha, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as a squad leader.  During this deployment he was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Sgt. 
          
In March 2008, Sgt. Maj. Shepard was selected to attend Combat Instructor Course and upon graduation was assigned to Kilo Company, Marine Combat Training Battalion as a Combat instructor.  He served as a Platoon Sergeant and Platoon Commander for two years. Sgt. Maj. Shepard was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Staff Sgt. and selected to assume the position as the Tactics Section Leader for Headquarters and Instructor Company. 

In March 2011, Sgt. Maj. Shepard was assigned to 3rd Battalion 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division and served as Machine Gun Section Leader and Platoon Sergeant.  During this assignment he successfully graduated from Winter Mountain Leader Course and Infantry Unit Leader Course prior to deploying on the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.  During the deployment he was a part of numerous training missions in East Timor Leste, Djibouti, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and conducted an Embassy reinforcement mission in Bahrain. 

In September 2013, Sgt. Maj. Shepard was assigned to Marine Barracks Washington D.C. and served as a Platoon Sergeant for a ceremonial marching platoon and the Silent Drill Platoon.  Sgt. Maj. Shepard was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sgt. and upon completion of the 2015 parade season, Sgt. Maj. Shepard was transferred to Guard Company and assigned as the Guard Chief of the White House Communications Agency.  During this period, Sgt. Maj. Shepard traveled in support of the President and Vice President of the United States and National Security Council in order to provide security on classified spaces and materials. 

In September 2017, Sgt. Maj. Shepard was assigned to 2nd Battalion 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division and served as the Weapons Company Operations Chief.  In October 2017, Sgt. Maj. Shepard deployed in support of Unit Deployment Program West to Okinawa and Camp Fuji, Japan.  In November 2018, Sgt. Maj. Shepard deployed in support of SPMAGTF Peru. 

In December 2018, Sgt. Maj. Shepard was selected to 1st Sgt. and received orders to 1st intelligence Battalion to assume the position as a Company First Sergeant for Battlespace Surveillance Company and Operations Company and Direct Support Company. Sgt. Maj. Shepard was given Temporary Additional Duty to I Marine Expeditionary Force Support Battalion and served as the Combat Service Support Company First Sergeant. 

In December 2021 Sgt. Maj Shepard was frocked to Sgt. Maj. and checked into Marine Corps RS Frederick, Maryland, 4th Marine Corp District. 

4th Marine Corps District