Sergeant Major Carter was born in Versailles, Kentucky. He graduated from Woodford County High School in 1990. He attended Marine Corps recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina on 27 January 1992.
Upon completion of recruit training in April 1992, Private First Class (PFC) Carter attended Marine Combat Training (MCT) at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. After MCT, PFC Carter completed Basic Warehousing School in Barstow, California in June 1992.
After completion of MOS school, PFC Carter received orders to 3rd Medical Battalion, 3rd Force Service Support Group, Okinawa, Japan, as the warehouse clerk from July 1992 to July 1993. Lance Corporal (LCpl) Carter then received orders to Headquarters and Service Battalion, Parris Island, South Carolina, from July 1993 to April March 1996.
Corporal (Cpl) Carter received orders to Field Medical Service School (FMSS), Camp Pendleton, California, where he served as the Warehouse Chief and as an Instructor for Navy Hospital Corpsman, Dental Technicians and Religious Program Specialists from April 1996 to December 1998.
Sergeant (Sgt) Carter sought out new challenges and volunteered for orders to attend Drill Instructor (DI) School at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California in January 1999. Sgt Carter was assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion. Sgt Carter was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant (SSgt) on 02 July 2001 and served as a Drill Instructor, Senior Drill Instructor and Series Gunnery Sergeant.
SSgt Carter accepted orders to Marine Aircraft Support Squadron 2, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Okinawa, Japan as the Warehouse Chief and Headquarters and Service Company First Sergeant (1stSgt) from August 2002 to May 2004. SSgt Carter attended the Career Course, in January 2003, was the recipient of the “Gung-Ho” award. SSgt Carter was meritoriously promoted to Gunnery Sergeant (GySgt) on 02 April 2004 and then attended the Advanced Course in April 2004 where again he was the “Gung-Ho” award recipient. In May 2004, GySgt Carter received orders to 3rd Marine Division as the Chief Instructor of Martial Art Instructor Course and Corporals Leadership Course, Operations Chief and the Director of Division Schools from May 2004 to September 2005.
GySgt Carter received orders to 1st Supply Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group (MLG), where he was assigned to Management Company (MMC) as the Company GySgt from October 2005 to January 2006. In January, GySgt Carter was reassigned as the Company 1stSgt for MMC. In March 2007, he assumed the duties as the Headquarters and Service Company 1stSgt.
In June 2007, GySgt Carter was selected by HQMC to be an Enlisted Career Counselor in Quantico, VA. He was selected to the rank of First Sergeant in December 2007 and in April 2008, 1stSgt Carter was reassigned as Company 1stSgt, Delta Company, Officer Candidates School. In December 2009, 1stSgt Carter was assigned as the Headquarters and Service Company 1stSgt, Officer Candidates School.
In September 2010, 1stSgt Carter reported to 1st Reconnaissance Battalion as the Headquarters and Service Company 1stSgt. 1stSgt Carter was selected to Sergeant Major (SgtMaj) in November 2011. He assumed the duties as the Sergeant Major for 1st Reconnaissance Battalion from November 2011 to September 2012. From September 2012 to February 2016, SgtMaj Carter was the Sergeant Major for Recruiting Station San Diego.
In March 2016, SgtMaj Carter assumed the duties as the Manpower Management Enlisted Assignments Branch SgtMaj/8999 monitor.
SgtMaj Carter’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (Two Gold Stars), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (One Gold Star), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (Four Gold Stars), Combat Action Ribbon, and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.