Sergeant Major Vincent C. Santiago is from Merizo, Guam. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in September of 1989. Upon completion of recruit training at MCRD, San Diego, California, he was meritoriously promoted to Private First Class. He completed Marine Combat Training and then Infantry Training as an 0341-Mortarman at the School of Infantry (West), Camp Pendleton, California. Sergeant Major Santiago received orders to Marine Barracks, Guam, in March of 1990. In March of 1991, he was meritoriously promoted to Corporal and later that year, transferred to 3d Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, California.
While assigned to 3d Battalion, 5th Marines, the unit deployed to Okinawa, Japan, in support of the Unit Deployment Program to Okinawa during 1992. In 1993, he was promoted to Sergeant and latterly moved to become an 0411-Maintenance Management Clerk and later assigned to the Battalion S-4 as the Maintenance Management Chief. In 1994, he deployed again with the battalion to Okinawa as the Battalion Landing Team for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.
In January of 1995, Sergeant Major Santiago reported to Drill Instructor School at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California, and was subsequently assigned to Alpha Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion. He served as a Drill Instructor, Senior Drill Instructor, and as a Series Gunnery Sergeant. In January of 1997, he was meritoriously promoted to Staff Sergeant.
Sergeant Major Santiago was transferred to 3d Maintenance Battalion, 3d Force Service Support Group, Okinawa, Japan, in August of 1997 and assumed the duties as the Battalion Maintenance Management Officer. In 2000, he was selected to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant and transferred to the United States Naval Academy as an Assistant Marine Officer Instructor and was assigned as the Senior Enlisted Leader for 19th Company. In May of 2001, Sergeant Major Santiago assumed the duties as the Drill Master, United States Naval Academy. In 2003 he was selected as an Honorary Member of the United States Naval Academy Class of 2003.
In 2004, he was selected to the rank of First Sergeant and transferred to 3d Battalion, 3d Marine Regiment, 3d Marine Division, at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, for duty as the Company First Sergeant for Kilo Company. He deployed with the battalion in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from November 2004 through June 2005 and in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (5-7) during 2006. During March of 2007 he was transferred to Combat Service Support Group-3, 3d Marine Logistics Group, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii for duty as the First Sergeant for Headquarters and Service Company. March of 2008, he assumed the duties as the First Sergeant of Combat Logistics Company 35.
Upon selection to Sergeant Major in October of 2008, he was transferred to the School of Infantry (West), Camp Pendleton, California, in January of 2009 and assumed the duties as the Battalion Sergeant Major for Infantry Training Battalion. During March of 2011, Sergeant Major Santiago received orders to 3d Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, and assumed the duties as the Battalion Sergeant Major. The battalion deployed as the Battalion Landing Team for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit from November 2011 to June 2012. During November 2012, Sergeant Major Santiago reported to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 24, Marine Aviation Group 24, for duty as the Squadron Sergeant Major until August 2013.
In August 2013 Sergeant Major Santiago was transferred to 3d Marine Regiment, 3d Marine Division, for duty as the as the Regimental Sergeant Major for 3d Marine Regiment. In June 2015 Sergeant Major Santiago assumed his current post as the 3d Marine Division Sergeant Major.
Sergeant Major Santiago's personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with two gold stars; Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two gold stars, and the Combat Action Ribbon with gold star.