Biography

James Robert Haslip was born on 30 October 1978 in Owatonna, Minnesota. On 16 September 1997, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and graduated from 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California on 12 December 1997. Following recruit training; Private First Class Haslip attended Infantry Training aboard Camp Pendleton, California on 3 January 1998. Upon completion of infantry training, he was assigned the MOS of 0311. 

     Private First Class Haslip received orders to 2nd Battalion 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division where he served as a Rifleman, Automatic Rifleman, Team Leader, and Squad Leader. While assigned to 2nd Battalion 1st Marines Lance Corporal Haslip was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal on 1 August 1998, Corporal on 1 November 1999 and Sergeant on 1 April 2001. He deployed with the 11th and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) during the period of 1 June 1999 to 1 November 2001 conducting Western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployments that included a Non-Combatant Evacuation Operating of Eritrea and Ethiopia and a Humanitarian Assistance Operation in Bali, Indonesia. 

     Sergeant Haslip received orders to Weapons and Field Training Battalion (WFTBN) on 16 January 2002 where he served as a Rifle Range Coach and a Primary Marksmanship Instructor and received the MOS of 0914. On 20 September 2002 he was chosen to represent the Marine Corps on the Marine Corps Wrestling Team for 2 years. He then reported back to WFTBN where he completed his tour of duty on 31 March 2004. 

      Sergeant Haslip then received orders to 3rd Battalion 1st Marines (3/1) on 1 April 2004 where he served as a Squad Leader and Platoon Sergeant. While assigned to 3/1 Sergeant Haslip was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant on 1 December 2005. He deployed with the 15th MEU to Iraq for Operation Iraqi freedom where he was hit by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) receiving wounds to his lower leg. He was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in combat. After recovering from his wounds, he was able to deploy a second time to Iraq successfully completing a combat tour.

     Staff Sergeant Haslip received orders to the School of Infantry, Camp Pendleton, California on 14 January 2008 where he served as a Combat Instructor for Squad Leaders Course, Company Gunnery Sergeant and Chief Combat Instructor for Marine Combat Training Battalion. He was assigned an additional MOS of 0913 Combat Instructor. He was promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant on 1 March 2009. 

     In March of 2011, he received orders to Inspector Instructor Staff, 2nd Battalion 23rd Marines (2/23) Echo Company in San Bruno, California where he served as the Operations Chief. While assigned to 2/23 he was promoted to the rank of First Sergeant on 1 July 2011.
      First Sergeant Haslip then received orders to 1st Maintenance Battalion, Camp Pendleton, California on 1 April 2013 where he served as the Company First Sergeant for Engineer Maintenance Company and Motor Transport Maintenance Company and Battalion Sergeant Major for the Battalion. 

     On 15 December 2015 First Sergeant Haslip received orders to 3rd Battalion 4th Marines (3/4), Twentynine Palms, California where he assisted in standing up a new Battalion and served as a Company First Sergeant. He retired out of the Marine Corps on 1 Oct 2017 from the battalion. 

     First Sergeant Haslip’s personal awards include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal in lieu of 2nd award, and Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal in lieu of 6th award. 

     First Sergeant Haslip currently is serving as the Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Naval Science Instructor at  Martin Luther King High School in Riverside, California. He is happily married to his wife Aja Haslip. They have three beautiful children Ayden 22, Alayah 10, and Jemma 5.