Marine Sergeant Major Gets Fired, Arrested

Sgt. Maj. Gerardo Trevino has been dismissed and is being detained amid an investigation.

At a Glance

Sgt. Maj. Gerardo Trevino, senior enlisted leader at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, was fired for “loss of trust and confidence.”
Trevino is in pretrial confinement and is under investigation by NCIS.
Trevino was relieved of his duties by Col. Peter Rummler.
Trevino’s dismissal is part of a broader pattern within Marine training leadership.

Limited Details of the Dismissal

Sgt. Maj. Gerardo Trevino, the senior enlisted leader of the 3rd Recruit Training Battalion at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, was relieved of his duties due to a “loss of trust and confidence.” This action, reportedly initiated by Col. Peter Rummler, the commanding officer of the recruit training regiment at the depot, followed Trevino’s arrest on September 11.

As the investigation by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) continues, Trevino remains in pretrial confinement. No charges have been filed as of the recent updates. The Marine Corps emphasized that they wouldn’t be releasing any more information at the moment due to the ongoing investigation.

Milestones in Trevino’s Career

Trevino, who joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and was promoted to sergeant major in June 2023, has had a noteworthy military career. His service included three deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, earning him significant commendations such as the Meritorious Service Medal and Navy Commendation Medal. He also received the Dan Daly Award as the most inspirational Drill Instructor of India Company.

The firing of Trevino comes after seven senior enlisted leaders in training roles in the Marine Corps were either reassigned or relieved in the past 14 months, per Military.com. This includes other noteworthy dismissals such as Army Sgt. Maj. Jaime I. Rubio and Command Sgt. Maj. Harold “Ed” Jarrell.

Sgtmaj Gerardo Trevino was relieved as the top enlisted leader of 3rd Recruit Training Battalion at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego on September 12th and is now in the brig https://t.co/HtKLL5yo21

— Task & Purpose (@TaskandPurpose) September 17, 2024

Importance of Trust in Military Leadership

The military relies profoundly on the principles of trust and confidence between its leaders and subordinates. These values are especially crucial in training environments where new recruits depend on their superiors for guidance and discipline. A breach of this trust, therefore, warrants immediate and thorough investigation to maintain the integrity of the institution.

This incident also puts into perspective the recent legislative efforts aimed at enhancing communication between military and civilian law enforcement agencies. Following a tragic mass shooting by an Army reservist last year, a bill named the Armed Forces Crisis Intervention Notification Act has been introduced to prevent such failures in the future. This bill seeks to enforce military participation in state crisis actions, thereby closing the gaps that could lead to crises.