Leaders

    Sergeant Major Bankus was born in 1974 and graduated from Central Columbia High School in June of 1992.  He enlisted in the Marine Corps on 1 October 1992 and underwent recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina graduating on 23 December 1992. He then reported for Basic Armor Crewman Course training at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

    Upon completion of MOS School, he reported to Camp Lejeune NC, where he was assigned to Bravo Company, 2^nd Tank Battalion. During his time with Bravo Company, He served as Tank Commander, Section Leader, and Platoon Sergeant.  He supported several Combined Arms Exercises, a Fleet week, a Cooperative Osprey Exercise, and an MPF offload.

    In September of 1996, he reported for duty to Marine Corps Security Force Training Company, Chesapeake Virginia for school.  Upon graduation Sergeant Bankus was assigned to Marine Corps Security Force Company Kings Bay, Georgia.

    While assigned to MCSFCO Kings Bay, Sergeant Bankus was put in charge of the Recapture Tactics Teams.  As the RTT platoon sergeant, Sgt Bankus was responsible for training all Marines selected from Kings Bay to train at the Close Quarters Battle School. In June 1999, He was promoted to the rank of SSgt and ordered to report to 2^nd Tank Battalion Camp Lejeune, NC.

    SSgt Bankus was assigned to Bravo Company.  He went to Master Gunner School in 2001 and became the companies Master Gunner upon his return.  SSgt Bankus conducted numerous gunnery packages and mentored a crew that came in second place for the annual Marine Corps tank gunnery competition held at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

    SSgt Bankus was selected for promotion to GySgt in June of 2002.  In January 2003 he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  He served as Platoon Sergeant and was in support of 3^rd Battalion 5^th Marines until June 2003.  GySgt Bankus returned to Camp Lejeune and received orders to 1^st Tank Battalion 1^st Marine Division at 29 Palms, California.

    GySgt Bankus arrived in November of 2003 and was assigned to Charlie Company as a Platoon Sergeant.  In March of 2004, GySgt Bankus deployed in support of OIF.  Upon his return in October 2004 he was assigned as the Company Gunny of Headquarters and Service Company 1^st Tanks.

    In December 2006 GySgt Bankus was promoted and given orders to report to 2^nd Marine Logistics Group, Camp Lejeune NC.  Once there 1stSgt Bankus was assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 8 as the Company First Sergeant of Truck Company. In August of 2007 First Sergeant Bankus deployed to support OIF.  On 23 April 2008, 1stSgt Bankus deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom with Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24^th  Marine Expeditionary Unit as their Battalion Sergeant Major.

    1stSgt Bankus was posted as the CLB 26 SgtMaj in June of 2009.  In April of 2010, 1stSgt Bankus received orders to HQSPTBN, MCB Camp Lejeune and assigned to Alpha Company as the Company 1stSgt.

    SgtMaj Bankus was assigned as the Battalion SgtMaj for 8th Engineer Support Battalion on 26 September 2011.

    Sergeant Major Bankus’ personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal w/ Gold star, Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal with “V” and two Gold Stars, the Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal and the Combat Action Ribbon.