Carlton W. Kent

Carlton Wayne Kent was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on November 5, 1957. He graduated from the South Side High School in Memphis.Lloyd, Memphis Online, 2006.

Kent completed recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, in March 1976 and was assigned to the 1st Marine Brigade. In May 1978, Kent was transferred to Marine Security Guard Battalion where he served as a Marine Security Guard at Embassies in Kinshasa, Zaire and Panama.

In June 1981, Kent transferred to Fort Benning for Airborne School and Parachute Riggers School at Fort Lee, Virginia. In June 1982, he was assigned as 2nd Air Delivery Platoon Commander, and parachute rigger billets in various commands at Camp Lejeune. Kent was transferred to Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California, in February 1983 for duty as a drill instructor, senior drill instructor, and battalion drill master with First Battalion. In January 1985, Kent was meritoriously promoted to gunnery sergeant.

Kent transferred to the 3rd Air Delivery Platoon in May 1985 as platoon sergeant. In June 1986, he transferred to Engineer Company, BSSG-1 1st Marine Brigade, Hawaii, as company gunnery sergeant. In March 1988, Kent was assigned to Noncommissioned Officers School, 1st Marine Brigade, as the NCOIC.

Kent transferred to Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, in February 1989 as a student at Drill Instructor School. After completion of Drill Instructor School, Kent was assigned to Naval Aviation Officers Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida, as a drill instructor, chief drill instructor, and first sergeant. In February 1990, Kent was promoted to first sergeant and assigned as first sergeant, Marine Aviation and Training Support Group, Pensacola, Florida.

In June 1992, Kent transferred to 4th Marine Regiment for duty. In June 1993, he transferred to the Army Sergeants Major Academy, Fort Bliss, Texas. After graduation, in February 1994, he was transferred and assigned as first sergeant, Battery L, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines. In December 1994, he assumed the duties as the sergeant major of the 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines.

File:Kent at Bestwick's grave.jpg in February 2009.]]

Kent was transferred to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California, in August 1997 where he was assigned duties as sergeant major Second Recruit Training Battalion, and, in September 1999, as sergeant major Recruit Training Regiment. In May 2001, he was transferred to Marine Forces Europe/Fleet Marine Force Europe, Stuttgart, Germany, where he was assigned the duties as the sergeant major of Marine Forces Europe/FMF Europe. Kent was transferred to I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California, in April 2004 where he served as the sergeant major of the I Marine Expeditionary Force.

On January 19, 2007, General James T. Conway, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, announced that Kent would become the 16th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, succeeding John L. Estrada.Hoellwarth, Marine Corps Times, January 2007. On April 25, 2007, in a ceremony at the Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., Kent assumed the top Marine Corps enlisted post. He was succeeded by Micheal Barrett on June 9, 2011, at Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.{{cite web|url=http://www.marines.mil/unit/hqmc/Pages/CommandantannouncesnextsergeantmajorofMarines.aspx|title=Commandant announces next Sergeant Major of Marines|first=Sergeant Michael S.|last=Cifuentes|work=Headquarters Marine Corps|publisher=United States Marine Corps|date=April 13, 2011|accessdate=April 25, 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110421072414/http://www.marines.mil/unit/hqmc/Pages/CommandantannouncesnextsergeantmajorofMarines.aspx|archivedate=April 21, 2011}}

Kent is the recipient of the General Gerald C. Thomas Award for inspirational leadership.

Kent is married to "Liz" Kent.{{cite journal |accessdate=2018-03-05 |url=https://www.mca-marines.org/news/leatherneck-exclusive-interview-sergeant-major-usmc-carlton-kent |title=Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Carlton Kent |journal=Leatherneck |volume=94 |issue=6 |date=June 2011 |first1=R. R. |last1=Keene |first2=Clare A. |last2=Guerrero |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306205427/https://www.mca-marines.org/news/leatherneck-exclusive-interview-sergeant-major-usmc-carlton-kent |archive-date=2018-03-06 |url-status=dead }}

Kent holds the rifle expert (3rd award) and pistol sharpshooter marksmanship badges and eight service stripes.

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite web|accessdate=2018-03-05|url=http://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/sgt-maj-carlton-kent

|publisher=The History Makers |title=Biography: Sgt. Maj. Carlton W. Kent|date=February 16, 2013}}

}}

{{Marine Corps}}

• {{cite web|url=http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Kent_CW.htm|title=CARLTON W. KENT|work=Who's Who in Marine Corps History|publisher=Marine Corps History Division|accessdate=2009-06-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615093515/http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Kent_CW.htm|archive-date=2011-06-15|url-status=dead}}
• {{cite news|url= http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2007/01/mckent070119/|accessdate= 2007-01-20|title= Kent named next sergeant major of the Marine Corps|work= Marine Corps Times|author= Hoellwarth, John|date= January 19, 2007|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070214024615/http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2007/01/mckent070119/|archive-date= 2007-02-14|url-status= dead}}
• {{cite web|url=http://www.i-mef.usmc.mil/sgtmajbio.asp |accessdate=2007-01-20 |title=Sergeant Major Carlton W. Kent, Sergeant Major, I Marine Expeditionary Force |work=I MEF Sergeant Major Biography |publisher=I MEF, United States Marine Corps |date=August 17, 2006 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070216111339/http://www.i-mef.usmc.mil/sgtmajbio.asp |archivedate=2007-02-16 |url-status=dead }}
• {{Cite web |title=U.S. Marine Corps – 16th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps: Carlton W. Kent |url=http://www.marines.mil/sgtmaj/smmc15/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070410213923/http://www.marines.mil/sgtmaj/smmc15/ |archive-date=2007-04-10 |access-date=2007-04-26 |publisher=United States Marine Corps |url-status=dead }}
• {{cite news |url=http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/my_life/article/0,2846,MCA_25356_5198506,00.html |accessdate=2007-01-20 |title=Marine: Take life seriously |author=Lloyd, Crystal |date=December 8, 2006 |work=Memphis Online |publisher=CommercialAppeal.com |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927195656/http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/my_life/article/0%2C2846%2CMCA_25356_5198506%2C00.html |archivedate=September 27, 2007 }} Message from SgtMaj Kent to high school students.
• {{cite web|url=http://marinesmagazine.dodlive.mil/2010/03/25/sgt-maj-carlton-w-kent/|title=Portrait and Profile: Sgt Maj Carlton W. Kent|date=March 25, 2010|work=Marines Magazine|publisher=United States Marine Corps|accessdate=31 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611030530/http://marinesmagazine.dodlive.mil/2010/03/25/sgt-maj-carlton-w-kent/|archive-date=11 June 2010|url-status=dead}}
• {{cite web|url=http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/local/050310_local-marine-rises-high|title=Local Marine Rises High|last=Purvis|first=Mearl|date=May 3, 2010|publisher=WHBQ-TV|accessdate=5 May 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507054316/http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/local/050310_local-marine-rises-high|archivedate=7 May 2010}}

{{Commons category|Carlton W. Kent}}

• {{youtube|jDrY6hHw678|SgtMaj. Carlton W. Kent (USMC Ret.) on the importance of Education}}. Publisher: Trident University International; Published on October 31, 2013. Accessed on 2018-03-05.
• {{cite web|accessdate=2018-03-05|url=http://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/sgt-maj-carlton-kent

|publisher=The History Makers |title=Biography: Sgt. Maj. Carlton W. Kent|date=February 16, 2013}}

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{{succession box |before = John L. Estrada |title = Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps |years = 2007–2011 |after = Micheal Barrett }}

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Category:Living people

Category:1957 births

Category:Sergeants Major of the Marine Corps

Category:Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal

Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit

Category:African-American United States Navy personnel

Category:Military personnel from Memphis, Tennessee

Category:21st-century African-American military personnel

Category:20th-century African-American military personnel