2d Battalion 23d Marines 

1stSgt Nguyen, Chuong

First Sergeant Nguyen was born in Saigon, Viet Nam in August 1976.  He arrived in America as a refugee in 1988.  In 1993, he enlisted in the Marine Corps through the Delay Entry Program and subsequently attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Deport San Diego with Bravo Company, First Recruit Training Battalion in August 1994.  Upon graduation from Recruit Training, Private Nguyen was meritoriously promoted to Private First Class and reported to School of Infantry, Camp Pendleton, California for training as a rifleman.

In 1995, Private First Class Nguyen reported to 3d Battalion, 3d Marines in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii for duty with Kilo Company.  He deployed to Okinawa, Japan in the summer of 1995 and during this time attended the Infantry Squad Leader Course where he graduated as a Distinguished Graduate.  Upon returning from his first deployment, Lance Corporal Nguyen was meritoriously promoted to Corporal in 1996.  During the remaining of his tour with 3d Battalion, 3d Marines, Corporal Nguyen deployed to Australia in support of Exercise Gold Eagle and again deployed to Okinawa, Japan in the winter of 1996.

Upon returning from deployment in 1997, Corporal Nguyen volunteer to “cross deck” to 1^st Battalion, 3d Marines for duty with Charlie Company as a rifle platoon’s guide.  Promoted to Sergeant in 1997, he attended the Sergeant Course at MCB Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii and graduated as the Honor Graduate.  In early 1998, Sergeant Nguyen again deployed to Okinawa, Japan for the Unit Deployment Program.  This time, his platoon was choose to be the Ship’s Security Platoon for the USS Independence and deployed to the Arabian Sea in support of Operation Southern Watch. 

After the deployment with 1^st Battalion, 3d Marines, Sergeant Nguyen was nominated and selected to be an Instructor and Advisor for the Corporal’s Course at MCB Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii from January 1999 to February 2000.  During his time at the Corporal Course, Sergeant Nguyen was responsible for mentoring and training over 900 Corporals.  In early 2003, Sergeant Nguyen volunteered and received orders for Drill Instructor duty at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California. 

Upon graduating from Drill Instructor School as the Honor Graduate and also was the recipient for the Leadership Award, Sergeant Nguyen reported to First Recruit Training Battalion for duty with Bravo Company as a Drill Instructor.  As a new Drill Instructor, he was the recipient of the Gunnery Sergeant Nichol’s Award as a resulted of his intense work ethic from his 1^st cycle.   Sergeant Nguyen was promoted to Staff Sergeant in 2001 and was selected to serve as a Senior Drill Instructor.  During this time, he was selected to be the Senior Drill Instructor of the Quarter for the Recruit Training Regiment.  In the winter of 2002, he was selected to serve as a Series Gunnery Sergeant and was subsequently meritoriously promoted to Gunnery Sergeant in January 2003.

After a successful tour of duty with training recruits, Gunnery Sergeant Nguyen again reported to 3d Battalion, 3d Marines in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii for duty with Kilo Company; this time as the Weapons Platoon Sergeant.  He deployed with Kilo Company from August 2003 to January 2004 and was attached to the 31^st MEU.  Upon returning to Hawaii, he was selected to be the Company Gunnery Sergeant for Kilo Company. From June to July 2005, Gunner Sergeant Nguyen deployed to Australia a second time for Exercise Gold Eagle.  Returning from Australia and with a short training cycle, he then deployed to Gardez, Afghanistan in the winter of 2004 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Upon returning from deployment in June 2005, Gunnery Sergeant Nguyen attended the Advance Course at Camp Pendleton, California and graduated as a Distinguished Graduate.  He was selected to First Sergeant in November 2005 and subsequently frocked to his current rank before reporting to India Company for duty as the Company First Sergeant in January 2006.  From March to October 2006, First Sergeant Nguyen deployed with India Company to Haditha, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

After another successful and challenging tour with 3d Battalion 3d Marines, First Sergeant Nguyen received order to Combat Service Support Group 3 (CSSG 3), 3d Marine Logistics Group in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. 

From March 2007 to October 2008, First Sergeant Nguyen served as the Company First Sergeant for Maintenance Company, Support Company, and Headquarters Company.  During this time, CSSG 3 was re-designated to Combat Logistics Battalion 3.  First Sergeant Nguyen received order for duty with Golf Company, 2d Battalion, 23d Marines Regiment in Los Alamitos, California. 

From November 2008 until present, First Sergeant Nguyen served as the Inspector Instructor First Sergeant.

First Sergeant Nguyen’s personal decoration and awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device and two gold star in lieu of third award, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with 2 gold stars in lieu of third award, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal with four bronze stars in lieu of fifth award; and various other unit and service award.  He is married to Phuong Nguyen.  They have three children, Cody, Caterina, and Camilla.   

Contact information
chuong.t.nguyen@usmc.mil
562-795-2389 (office) 

Previous two assignments
Company First Sergeant HQ Co, Support Co, Maintenance Co, CSSG-3, 3d MLG, MCB Hawaii (Jan 2007-Oct 2008)

Company First Sergeant India Co, 3d Battalion, 3d Marines, 3d MarDiv, MCB Hawaii (Jan 2006-Jan 2007) 

Significant Resident PMEs
E-8 Seminar (2007), 1stSgt Symposium (2007), SNCO Advance Course (2005) 

Civilian post High School education
Business Management/Occupational Education.  Currently is a Senior at Wayland Baptist University. 

Personal interests/hobbies
Weight lifting and “casual” running 

Hometown
Westminster, California