Sergeant Major Bolyard was born in Charlestown, West Virginia in 1965. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in October 1993 and conducted
Recruit Training at MCRD Parris Island where he was meritoriously promoted to Private First Class. Upon completion, he reported to the School of Infantry where he earned the MOS 0311 and was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal. In April of 1994 he reported to Golf Company, 2d Battalion, 4th Marines where he served as a rifleman, team leader, squad leader, and platoon sergeant. During his tour, he deployed four times to Okinawa and was promoted to the rank of Corporal and Sergeant. Sergeant Bolyard was the recipient of the Sergeant Major Malnar award for outstanding leadership in June of 1998. In October 2001, Sergeant Bolyard reported to Drill Instructor School, MCRD San Diego. Upon graduation, he was assigned to Kilo Company, 3d Recruit Training Battalion where he served as a Drill Instructor and Senior Drill Instructor as well as the Staff Noncommissioned Officer in-charge of Alpha Range, WFTB, Camp Pendleton. During this tour, he was promoted to rank of Staff Sergeant. Staff Sergeant Bolyard reported to Golf Company, 2d Battalion 4th Marines in October 2004, where he served as a Platoon Commander and Platoon Sergeant and deployed to Okinawa as part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. Upon return, he was promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant, graduated the SNCOA Advanced Course and was deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) as part of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. During this period, he served as the Company Gunnery Sergeant for Golf Company. In November 2007, Gunnery Sergeant Bolyard reported to Headquarters and Support Battalion, Headquarters and Service Company, Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton where he served as the Division SNCOIC for the Training Support Division. During this tour, he was promoted to the rank of First Sergeant.
In March of 2009, First Sergeant Bolyard was assigned to Inspector-Instructor duty in Concord, California.
In June 2012, First Sergeant Bolyard was assigned to 1st Reconnaissance Battalion in Camp Pendleton,
where he served as the Bravo Company and Headquarters and Service Company First Sergeant. During his
assignment, he attended the Senior Enlisted PME Course in Quantico, Virginia.
In February 2014, he was promoted to Sergeant Major and served as the Battalion Sergeant Major for 2d
Battalion, 4th Marines. In November 2014, Sergeant Major Bolyard successfully deployed with the battalion
as part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.In December 2015, Sergeant Major Bolyard was assigned as the Squadron Sergeant Major for Marine Aerial
Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 252 in Cherry Point, North Carolina.
In November 2017, Sergeant Major Bolyard was assigned as the Group Sergeant Major of Marine Corps
Communication-Electronics School in Twenty-nine Palms, Ca.
In November 2020, Sergeant Major Bolyard was assigned as the Weapons and Field Training Battalion
Sergeant Major.
Sergeant Major Bolyard’ s personal decorations include the Purple Heart Medal, Meritorious Service Medal
(Forth Award), Navy Commendation Medal (Third award) with Valor Device, Navy and Marine Corps
Achievement Medal (Third award) and the Combat Action Ribbon (Second award).