Sgt. Maj. Tricia Smith-Leavy enlisted in the Marine Corps on Oct. 21, 1996, and underwent recruit training at Parris Island, S.C. She graduated recruit training on Feb. 7, 1997. She then reported to the School of Infantry for Marine Combat Training at Camp Lejeune, N.C. Upon completion, she remained at Camp Lejeune where she attended Personnel Clerk’s Course. She was then transferred to Headquarters Battalion, Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. While serving with Headquarters Battalion as a personnel clerk, she earned a meritorious promotion to corporal.
In March 1999, she was transferred to Inspector-Instructor Staff, Bronx, N.Y., where she served as unit diary chief. She participated in numerous reservist annual training mobilization exercises in Frankfort, Ky. In March 2001, she was transferred to Manpower Management Branch (MMSR-3), Quantico, Va., where she served as a unit diary chief and platoon sergeant.
Sgt. Smith received orders to Drill Instructor School in March 2003 and successfully completed Drill Instructor School in June 2003. She reported to Close Combat Instructor Course and graduated in July 2003. She was then assigned to Oscar Company, 4th Recruit Training Battalion, as a drill instructor.
In May 2004, she was promoted to staff sergeant. After completing four platoons, she was assigned to Martial Arts Section, Instructional Training Company, Support Battalion, where she tested and certified over 1,200 recruits to Tan Belt level and also participated in three martial arts demonstrations presented to VIPs, dignitaries and educators. In July 2005, she was transferred back to 4th Battalion where she completed her tour as a senior drill instructor in June 2006.
In July 2006, she reported to Officer Candidates School, where she served as a sergeant instructor, physical training instructor, martial arts instructor and platoon sergeant. While serving at Officer Candidate School, she earned a meritorious promotion to gunnery sergeant. In July 2008, she completed her second tour as a drill instructor at OCS.
In August 2008, she reported to 1st Marine Division, where she was assigned to the Administration Division as the operations chief. While serving in 1st Marine Division, she held numerous billets.
She was selected to serve as company first sergeant for Communications Company in November 2008, where she served successfully for over three months. In June 2009, she was selected to serve as an individual augment in Baghdad, Iraq, where she served successfully for six months as the linguist manager and Marine liaison for Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq (OIF). In August 2010, she deployed as the operations chief and linguists manager for 1st Marine Division (OEF), where she served successfully for six months.
In March 2011, she was frocked to the rank of first sergeant and transferred to 1st Intelligence Battalion, 1st Marine Headquarters Group, where she was assigned to the Counter Intelligence/Human Intelligence Company. During her two year tenure with 1st MHG, 1st Sgt. Smith-Leavy served as the Headquarters Company first sergeant and acting sergeant major.
In February 2013, she was transferred to Headquarters Regiment, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, Okinawa, Japan. During her two year tenure with 3rd MLG, she served as the Service Company first sergeant and Food Service Company first sergeant.
In June 2015, Smith-Leavy was transferred to Marine Wing Communication Squadron 18 and was subsequently frocked to the rank of sergeant major in November 2015. She served at Marine Wing Communication Squadron 18 for a period of 10 months.
In June 2016, she was transferred to 4th Recruit Training Battalion to serve as the battalion sergeant major.
Sgt. Maj. Smith-Leavy’s personal decoration include: Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Gold Star in Lieu of third award, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Gold Star in Lieu of third award.