MCJROTC
Col. Scott Blankenship
SgtMaj Thomas Hall
Col. Scott Blankenship
COLONEL BENJAMIN S. BLANKENSHIP
Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3
In 1984, Colonel Blankenship entered the Marine Corps through the Platoon Leaders Course Program after graduating from Western Kentucky University.
Colonel Blankenship has served in various command assignments in both the Operating Forces and the supporting establishment, to include: Platoon Commands in Marine Wing Communications Squadron, Third Marine Aircraft Wing; Company command in First Marine Division; and Battalion command in Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, CA.
His staff assignments have included: Company Executive Officer, Eighth Communications Battalion; Contingencies and Exercise Officer, Defense Information Systems Agency-Pacific; Battalion Operations Officer, Seventh Communications Battalion; Aide-de-Camp, Commanding General III MEF; Deputy G-6, First Marine Division; Network Operations Center Branch Chief, HQ, United States Forces Japan; Regimental Operations Officer, Recruit Training Regiment, MCRD, San Diego; and Assistant Chief of Staff G-6, Marine Forces Pacific.
Colonel Blankenship is a graduate of the following schools: The Basic School; Basic Communications Officer Course; Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course; Winter Mountain Leaders Course; Command and Control Systems Course; Marine Command and staff College (Non-resident); Joint Forces Staff College; Air War College (Non-resident); and the Naval War College.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Western Kentucky University and a Master of Arts degree in National Security Studies from the Naval War College
His personal decorations include: the Defense Meritorious Service medal (with oak leaf cluster in lieu of second award); The Meritorious Service medal (with gold star in lieu of second award); the Navy-Marine Corps Commendation medal (with gold star); the Joint Service Achievement medal; the Navy-Marine Corps Achievement medal.
Colonel Blankenship and his wife Kristie have two daughters, Abigail, age eight, and Annie, age six.
SgtMaj Thomas Hall
Sergeant Major Thomas F. Hall is a thirty-two year combat veteran of the United States Marine Corps. Serving at all levels of enlisted leadership from noncommissioned officer to the senior enlisted advisor to the commanding general of Marine Forces Special Operations Command he has continuously focused on developing leaders, training management, organizational administration, community relations and the preservation of institutional values. Over Sergeant Major Hall’s admirable career, he has excelled in some of the most demanding billets earning numerous meritorious promotions, awards and earning a Bachelor’s Degree of Arts in History.
Sergeant Major Hall attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC in February 1984. After completing M60A1 Tank School at Fort Knox, KY, Private First Class Hall was temporarily assigned to 8th Tank Battalion at Fort Knox and then transferred to 1st Tank Battalion, Camp Pendleton, CA in January 1985.
In May 1987, Corporal Hall was transferred to Marine Security Guard Battalion and served at American Embassies Lima, Peru, and Guatemala City, Guatemala. He was meritoriously promoted to Staff Sergeant in January 1990.
In March 1990, Staff Sergeant Hall served with 2d Tank Battalion, Camp Lejeune, NC. He was a Tank Platoon Sergeant during Operation DESERT SHIELD and Operation DESERT STORM.
In May 1992, Staff Sergeant Hall returned to Marine Security Guard Battalion and served as a Detachment Commander at American Embassies Beijing, China and Amman, Jordan. He was meritoriously promoted to Gunnery Sergeant in July 1994.
In October, 1994, Gunnery Sergeant Hall reported to Marine Security Guard Battalion, Quantico, VA to serve as an Instructor / Advisor at Marine Security Guard School.
In October, 1996, Gunnery Sergeant Hall reported to 1st Tank Battalion, 29 Palms, CA, where he served as Tank Leader until his promotion to First Sergeant in March, 1998.
From March 1998, to April 2001, he served as First Sergeant for 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, Camp Pendleton, CA, and deployed with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (SOC) and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (SOC) to the Western Pacific and the Arabian Gulf.
In April 2001, First Sergeant Hall reported to 3rd Battalion, 10th Marines, Camp Lejeune, NC, until his selection to Sergeant Major in February 2003.
From February 2003 to November 2005, he served as Sergeant Major for 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, Camp Lejeune, NC and deployed with the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit (SOC) to Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. He deployed again with the battalion in March 2005 to Fallujah, Iraq, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.
Sergeant Major Hall served as Battalion Sergeant Major for 2d Assault Amphibian Battalion, Camp Lejeune, NC, from November 2005 through August 2006 at which time he was assigned the duties of 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Sergeant Major. Following his second deployment as MEU Sergeant Major he was assigned to Marine Corps Training and Advisory Group (MCTAG) in February 2011.
Sergeant Major Hall served as the Component Sergeant Major for U.S. Marine Corps Special Operations Command from August 2011 through June 2014 at which time he retired from the United States Marine Corps.
After retirement from the United States Marine Corps, Sergeant Major Hall has served as a high school Marine Corps JROTC leadership instructor for the past 5 years.