Sgt Michael Vincent Rios was born on October 14th 1984 and is a native of Beaumont, CA. Sgt Rios enlisted into the Marine Corps in December of 2003 where he attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, CA. He attended Marine Combat Training (MCT) at Camp Pendleton, California. He attended Engineer Equipment Mechanic School at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri and was assigned his Primary Military Occupational Specialty 1341 Heavy Equipment Mechanic. After graduation, he proceeded to 1st Maintenance Bn, Camp Pendleton, CA. While serving as a mechanic with 1st Maintenance Bn he was promoted to the rank of Private First Class. PFC Rios then transferred to Combat Service Support Battalion 1 where he deployed to Fallujah, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 2-02 as part of the Interior Guard Platoon. He was then promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal. Upon returning to 1st Maintenance Bn, LCpl Rios was promoted to the rank of Corporal and was assigned to Engineer Maintenance Company’s Boat House where he worked on 55 Horse Power Zodiac speed Boats in support of 1st Reconnaissance Bn. Cpl Rios was then assigned to 1st Marine Expeditionary Force G-4 Section and deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 5-07 where he served as the Convoy Staging Yard NCOIC. Upon return Cpl Rios was promoted to his current rank of Sergeant and held the billet of Quality Control Non Commissioned Officer. Sgt Rios attended Sergeants Course at the SNCO Academy Camp Pendleton, CA, shortly after executed orders to MSG School and graduated with class 2-08 and received orders to American Embassy Lusaka, Zambia.

Awards and Decorations:

Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service & Expeditionary Medals, Navy and Marine Corps Unit Commendation, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon x2.