1. Gunnery Sergeant Marcelo N. Caldas
Marcelo N Caldas was born in Mage,Rio de Janeiro,Brazil on May 22, 1977. Marcelo NCaldas relocated to Northern
California in 1987. Following his high schoolgraduation,he enlisted in the United States MarineCorps andattended
recruit training on 2 December1996, at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego,California. Upon graduationfromrecruit
training on 28 February 1997, Private First Class Caldas reported to Marine Combat Training (MCT)in Camp Pendleton,
California. Afterthe completion of MCT on 2 May 1997, he received the Military OccupationalSpecialty (MOS) of6111
and received ordersto H-46E MechanicsOrganizationalMaintenance Course C-600-9422, at Marine HelicopterTraining
Squadron 204(HMT-204), Naval Air Maintenance Training Group,Marine Corps AirStation (MCAS)NewRiver,
Jacksonville,North Carolina. Upon completion ofmechanics schoolon 11 August1997, he was assigned the primary
MOS of6112, CH46E Mechanic,and on 10September1997, he reported to his first duty station,Marine Medium
HelicopterSquadron265 (HMM-265), MCASFutema, Okinawa, Japan as an aircraft mechanic.
On 24 December 1997, Lance CorporalCaldas was transferredto HMM-262Reinforced,MCASFutema,Okinawa, Japan.
While assigned to HMM-262he deployed with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). Following his one-year
overseasdeployment, he receivedordersto HMM-164at MCASEl Toro, Tustin,California. On 15 January 1999, Lance
CorporalCaldas was permanently relocated to MCASCamp Pendleton,California,where the squadron was re-designated
from a deployable fleet unit to an aircrewand pilot training squadronforthe CH46E platform. While at HMMT-164,
CorporalCaldas served as theflight line maintenance shop supervisor,where he earned the CollateralDuty Inspector
(CDI) designation,CollateralDuty Quality Assurance Representative(CDQAR)designation, attainedthe additionalMOS
of 6018 and completed his CH46E Plane Captain (PC) syllabus. During his time in Camp Pendleton,California he
attendedand graduated fromthe residentProfessionalMilitary Educations(PMEs)Corporal’s Courseclass 9-99 on 21
April 1999. When he was promoted to the rankofSergeant he attended and graduatedSergeant’s Course class 1-01on 2
October2000.
On 6 January 2004, Sergeant Caldas received orders to HMM-161,MCASMiramar, California. While at HMM-161 he
served as phase crewmaintenance coordinatorand started his aerialobserve (AO)syllabus. On 17 February 2004,
Sergeant Caldas deployed to Iraq in support ofOPERATIONIRAQI FREEDOM II (OIF-II) where he completed his
syllabus andwas designatedas CH46E AO and acquired the additionalMOSof6199. On 9 August 2005,Staff Sergeant
Caldas deployedonceagain to Iraq in support ofOPERATIONIRAQI FREEDOM 4-6 (OIF-4-6), where he attained the
designation ofcombat aircrewman on 1 November2005 and served as aerialgunner/observe(AGO), in support ofthe
squadrons’primary mission ofcasualty evacuation(CASEVAC). While in support ofOIF-4-6 he earned his safe forflight
certification and was assigned to the maintenancecontroldepartment attainingthe additionalMOS6012. Staff Sergeant
Caldas then augmentedto Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics School(MAWTS-1)at MCASYuma, Arizona in
support ofthe WTICourse from19 March to 28 April 2005. On 26 February 2007, Staff Sergeant Caldas deployed one
last time in support ofOIF6-2-8 and OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF) where he served as AGO,and
squadron maintenance controller. During this deployment he was reassigned to theflight line division as maintenance
supervisor. StaffSergeant Caldas attendedand graduated fromthe CareerCourse class 1-08 on 10 December 2007.
On 8 January 2008, Staff Sergeant Caldas receivedOrders to Drill InstructorSchoolMarine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD)
San Diego,California as a student. Following graduationon 26March 2008, Staff Sergeant Caldas reportedforduty as a
Drill Instructorto HotelCompany,Second Recruit Training Battalion (RTB),Recruit Training Regiment (RTR), where he
served as a Drill instructorfrom27 March 2008 to 21 September2009. During his touron the drill field Gunnery
Sergeant Caldas attendedand graduated the Advance Course class 4-09on 28 April 2009. On 21 September2009,
Gunnery Sergeant Caldas was reassignedto Charlie Company, First RTB, where he served as a SeniorDrill Instructorfor
two recruit-training cycles andas a Series ChiefDrill Instructorfor anothertwo cycles.
On 1 April 2011, Gunnery Sergeant Caldascompletedhis touras a Drill Instructorandexecuted orders to HMM-364,
MCASCamp Pendleton,CA to serve as the squadronmaintenancecontrollerforthe CH46E platform. On 17 September
2012, while assigned to HMM-364he deployed with the 15th MEUas part ofthe Aviation Combat Element. On 23 April
2013 Gunnery Sergeant Caldasexecutedtemporary additionalduty(TAD)orders to OfficerCandidate School(OCS)
Quantico Virginia, where he served as a Sergeant Instructorfortowsixweek increment of the Platoon Leaders Course
(PLC) seniors program. Following OCS, he acceptedorders forAssistant MarineOfficerInstructor(AMOI)duty at
Maine Maritime Academy in Castine Maine.
On 26 June 2015, Gunnery Sergeant CaldasreceivedTADorders to OCSfor summer augment ofsecondincrement,
where he served as an Academic Instructorfora six-week increment of the Platoon Leaders Course(PLC) in supportof4
companies on Marine Corpscandidatestotaling in over1100 individualstudents. Gunnery Sergeant Caldas is currently
fulfilling the duties ofAssistant MarineOfficerInstructorforMaine Maritime academy and the UniversityofMaine
Orono.

2. Gunnery Sergeant Caldas’spersonalawards include: Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal,Navy Marine Corps
Achievement Medal(with gold starin lieu ofsecond award)andthe AirMedal(with the bronze numeral10 in lieu of
tenth award). Gunnery SergeantCaldas is married to the former Rebeca Fuentes and has 3children Paola,Marcelo,and
Kamila ages 17, 6 and 5.