Military biography

Gunnery Sergeant Jayme Kohler was born 5 May 1976 in Mandan, North Dakota. He graduated from Glen Ullin Public School in 1994 and attended Bismarck State College in Bismarck, North Dakota the following year. Jayme Kohler graduated Phi Theta Kappa from Bismarck State College in 1997 with an Associate Degree in Electronics Technology.

Following college, Jayme Kohler enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on 28 July 1997, and completed recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California, on 23 October with a meritorious promotion to Private First Class.

He was then transferred to Assault Amphibious School Battalion in Camp Pendleton, California, graduated second in his class, and was consequently awarded the 1833 Military Occupational Specialty, Assault Amphibian Vehicle Crewman in March 1998.

Following graduation, Private First Class Kohler was assigned his first duty station at 3d Assault Amphibian Battalion, Camp Pendleton, California with Charlie Company, Third Platoon and promoted to Lance Corporal in April 1998. In November of the same year, he was deployed with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and participated in Operation Desert Fox, Operation Southern Watch, Operation Sudden Storm, and Operation Anvil II throughout the Middle East. He was promoted to Corporal in May 1999 and returned from deployment in July.

Later that year, Corporal Kohler was awarded Non Commissioned Officer of the Quarter for Third Assault Amphibian Battalion and received a meritorious promotion to Sergeant in November 1999. On 7 January 2000, Sergeant Kohler won Marine of the Year for 3d Assault Amphibian Battalion.

In August 2001 he left Camp Pendleton and was transferred to Quantico, Virginia to attend Marine Security Guard School. In addition to receiving the Top Gun award, Sergeant Kohler graduated in the top 10% of his class. He was subsequently assigned to duty at American Embassy Pretoria, Republic of South Africa, and was promoted to Staff Sergeant in February 2003 prior to his second post of Brasilia, Brazil. Additionally, Staff Sergeant Kohler served four months temporary assigned duty as Detachment Commander, Ottawa, Canada which concluded his tour.

Upon his return to 3d Assault Amphibian Battalion, Staff Sergeant Kohler deployed twice to Iraq, once as a combat advisor, attached to 2ndBde 9thBn 3dCo Iraqi Intervention Force in Al Fallujah and Habbaniyah in November 2004, and also as an improvised infantry squad leader in Al Qa’im, Dulab, and throughout the Al Anbar province in March 2006. Following his second tour, Staff Sergeant Kohler was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant in March 2007 and held platoon sergeant billets for Echo Company, 3rd and 4th Platoons (the past and future 15th Marine Expeditionary Units).

In September 2007 he left Camp Pendleton and was transferred to Recruit Training Regiment, Parris Island, South Carolina for his current duty as a drill instructor. While serving as a drill instructor in 2009, Gunnery Sergeant Kohler was assigned temporarily to the Parris Island Rifle/Pistol Team. He was awarded a silver medal in individual pistol and was a firing member for the winning rifle and pistol team trophies, the Elliot and the Edson, in Eastern Division Matches.

Presently, Gunnery Sergeant Kohler is the Series Gunnery Sergeant for Charlie Company, 1st Battalion.

His awards and decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with three gold stars, Combat Action ribbon, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Navy Unit Commendation ribbon with bronze service star, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon with bronze service star, Good Conduct Medal with three bronze service stars, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment ribbon with three bronze service stars, Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service ribbon with bronze service star, and Marine Security Guard ribbon.