Marines


Leaders
Senior Enlisted Advisor, COMMSTRAT CO, II MIG
Master Gunnery Sergeant James W. McCrohan III
 

Master Gunnery Sergeant James W. McCrohan III was born on January 18, 1976 in Taunton Massachusetts. He graduated high school in 1994 with honors and attained a Bachelors of Fine Arts Degree in 1998. PFC McCrohan enlisted and graduated boot camp at the age of 28 from Parris Island, SC in 2004. PFC McCrohan then graduated MOS school from Fort Meade Maryland with honors, earning the MOS 4611 Combat Illustrator.

In 2004, PFC McCrohan arrived at the Instructional Media Center Camp Johnson, as a Graphics Illustrator. Soon PFC McCrohan was promoted to LCpl and assigned as Quality Control Non-Commissioned Officer for all print products.  In 2005 LCpl McCrohan was promoted to Cpl. After garnering honors as the Corporals Course Honor Graduate, Cpl McCrohan was placed on a meritorious Sergeant board and in 2006 was promoted to Sergeant (meritoriously).  Sergeant McCrohan was assigned as the Production Chief, Platoon Sergeant, and later SNCOIC before receiving orders in 2007.

In 2007 Sergeant McCrohan received orders to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, in Yuma Arizona to start up the new Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron one (MAWTS-1), Combat Camera unit, as the Combat Camera Chief.  In 2008 Sergeant McCrohan attended The Defense Information School, in Maryland completing a lateral move earning the 4671 Combat Videographer MOS. In 2009 Sergeant McCrohan received orders to 2nd Marine Division Camp Lejeune, NC.

In 2009 Sergeant McCrohan was assigned to the 2nd Marine Division Combat Camera as the Video Production Chief. In 2009 Sergeant McCrohan deployed to Afghanistan with the Marine Expeditionary Brigade A as an individual augment Combat Videographer in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. While in CONUS In 2010 Sergeant McCrohan was promoted to Staff Sergeant and was attached to 1st Battalion Eighth Marine Regiment as the Combat Camera team Chief and Team Leader. Staff Sergeant McCrohan deployed with V1/8 to Northern Helmand Province Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Staff Sergeant McCrohan returned to Camp Lejeune in 2011 and reassumed the role as Video Production Chief, Platoon Sergeant and later Operations Chief. That same year Staff Sergeant McCrohan attended Career Course aboard Camp Johnson, NC. In 2012 Staff Sergeant McCrohan requested and received orders to Drill Instructor School.

In 2012 Staff Sergeant McCrohan attended Drill Instructor School aboard Parris Island, SC. Upon graduation in late 2012 Staff Sergeant McCrohan was assigned to 2nd Battalion Co H. In 2013 Staff Sergeant McCrohan began duty as a Drill Instructor. On November 1, 2014 Staff Sergeant was promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant. In 2015 Gunnery Sergeant McCrohan attended Advanced Course aboard Camp Johnson. In his three-year tour Gunnery Sergeant McCrohan completed seven training cycles as a working Drill Instructor and two as the Company Operations Chief. He successfully held the billets of Drill Instructor, Experienced Drill Instructor, Senior Drill Instructor, Company Operations Chief, and Acting Company First Sergeant.

In 2016 Gunnery Sergeant McCrohan received PCA orders to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort South Carolina to serve as the Station Combat Camera Chief successfully advising and overseeing the merger between the Public Affairs and Combat Camera occupational fields.

In May 2018 Gunnery Sergeant McCrohan was frocked to Master Sergeant in conjunction with his assignment to Headquarters Marine Corps as the Public Affairs Advisor to the 18th and 19th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps. As the PA advisor, MSgt McCrohan was responsible for establishing and managing all SMMC social media platforms and official websites, coordinating media engagements and support, preparing for public speaking events, and researching and drafting correspondence.

In April of 2022, Master Sergeant McCrohan was assigned as the SNCOIC of Marine Corps Installations East COMMSTRAT aboard Camp Lejeune, where he guided the development of 18 enlisted Marines, 4 officers, and 3 civilians in support of the base Commanding General’s communication objectives until April of 2023.

Frocked once again, this time to Master Gunnery Sergeant on 10 April 2023, Master Gunnery Sergeant McCrohan assumed his current post as the Senior Enlisted Leader of II MEF COMMSTRAT Company.

Master Gunnery Sergeant McCrohan’ s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal with three Gold Stars in lieu of fourth award, The Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one Gold Star in lieu of second award, and the Combat Action Ribbon.