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Naval Science Instructor St. Stephens High School
GUNNERY SERGEANT ERIC L. PRATT
Gunnery Sergeant Eric L. Pratt was born in Jefferson City, Tennessee. He graduated
from Parris Island, South Carolina in October 1994 and then attended Marine Combat
Training at Camp Geiger, North Carolina to become a Basic Rifleman.
From October 1994 to September 1995, he was assigned as a student at Marine Corps
Communication Electronics School, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, 29 Palms
California where he became qualified as a Radio Repairman.
From September 1995 to December 1999, he was assigned to 1st Radio Battalion,
Kaneohe Bay Hawaii, where he was attached to the 15 th Marine Expeditionary Unit
aboard the USS ESSEX for deployment to the Pacific where he was promoted to the
rank of Corporal.
From December 1999 to July 2003, he was assigned to 4 th Tank Battalion,
TOW/SCOUT Platoon, Amarillo Texas as a member of the Inspector-Instructor Staff
developing training plans and assisting the reserve sections for deployment. During this
time he was selected to the rank of Staff Sergeant.
From July 2003 to August 2004 he returned to Twenty-nine Palms for Communications
Electronics Maintenance Supervisory Courses.
From August 2004 to June 2006 he was attached to VMU-1 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
Squadron as the Communications Maintenance Chief. He deployed twice during this
period to Iraq in support of operations in Al Taqaddum. During this period he was
selected to attend Satellite Technicians School in Fort Benning Georgia.
From December 2006 to December 2010 , he was assigned as the Platoon Commander
at 2 nd Marine Division, Communications Company, Communications Electronics
Platoon, Camp Lejeune North Carolina where he completed multiple deployments to
Iraq to support retrograde operations with 8 th Marine Regiment. During this time he was
promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant.
From December 2010 to July 2014, he was assigned to Marine Corps Communications
School as an instructor within the Digital Wideband Repair Course until his retirement.
From August 2014 to 2019 he was the Naval Science Instructor at Alexander Central
High School and in 2019 transferred to St. Stephens High School in the same role.
His personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2 nd
award), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2nd award).
Senior Naval Science Instructor, St. Stephens High School
Master Sergeant (Ret.) William Cashmore, USMC
Master Sergeant William Cashmore enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve in 1995 and transferred to active duty in 1999. Trained as an Expeditionary Airfield Technician, he served in all four Marine Aircraft Wings during his 22-year career. His duty stations included MCAS Miramar, MCAGCC 29 Palms, MCAS Iwakuni (Japan), NAS JRB Willow Grove, and MCAS Cherry Point.
Throughout his service, MSgt Cashmore was assigned to seven different squadrons and deployed in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as multiple training deployments to the Republic of Korea. He held numerous leadership and staff billets including Crew Leader, Production Supervisor, Quality Control Chief, Unit Victim Advocate, S-3 Chief, SNCOIC, Substance Abuse Control Officer (SACO), Company First Sergeant, and Squadron Sergeant Major. He is also a certified Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) Green Belt Instructor.
MSgt Cashmore’s personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal.
He retired from active duty in 2018 and holds a degree in Aviation Business Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching at Lenoir-Rhyne University. As the Senior Naval Science Instructor for the St. Stephens High School NJROTC program, he continues to mentor cadets in leadership, discipline, and service to their community and nation.
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