MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. -- Marines and sailors with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, bid farewell to Sgt. Maj. Eric W. Rummel as he moved to his next command and welcomed Sgt. Maj. Michael P. Woods as their new battalion sergeant major at Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray Field Dec.10.
“Today is a significant event in the life of our unit,” said Lt. Col. John M. Reed, the battalion commanding officer. “Today we farewell to our sergeant major and rejoice in his contributions to our success.”
Rummel joined the unit in December of 2007 as the company first sergeant for fox Company and deployed to Afghanistan with them in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. While serving with Fox Co., he was promoted and assumed the duties as battalion sergeant major for 2nd Bn.
“It has been a great honor to act as both a first sergeant and sergeant major for this battalion,” said Rummel. “You look over the years of history for this battalion. and it is one heck of a battalion and rightly recognized as being such.”
Woods, from Kansas City, Mo., comes to the battalion after serving as a company first sergeant for Headquarters and Service Co. and Co. K with 3rd Bn. 7th Marines. During his 18 years as a Marine, Woods has served in many capacities throughout the Corps, including as a security guard for the American Embassy in Rangoon, Burma; and a drill instructor, senior drill instructor and staff noncommissioned officer in charge of the Water Survival Section at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. He was deployed as a tank gunner during Operations Decisive Endeavor in the former Yugoslavia, Silver Wake in Albania and Decisive Endeavour in Zaire, Africa. He also served as a tank commander during Operations Joint Guard in Yemen and Desert Thunder in Kuwait.
His personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with combat distinguishing device with one gold star in lieu of second award, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with combat distinguishing device with two gold stars in lieu of third award and the combat action ribbon with one gold star in lieu of second award.
“Sgt. Maj. Woods, on behalf of all the Marines and sailors of 2nd Bn., 7th Marines I welcome you and your family to join our ranks,” Reed said.