Photo By Staff Sgt. Alfred V. Lopez | U.S. Marine Sgt. William Robert Biggs, the Regimental Combat Team 5 personal security...... read more read more
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CAMP DWYER, Helmand province, Afghanistan – U.S. Marine Sgt. William Robert Bigg’s desire to serve his nation was sparked by the tragic events of September 11, 2001.
Biggs was a sophomore in high school on the day when the towers fell.
“My country was in need,” said the Frankfort, Ky. native. “So I went ahead, signed the papers as fast as I could.”
After graduating from Frankfort High School in 2004, Biggs immediately shipped off to boot camp, then follow on training at the School of Infantry East.
He deployed to Fallujah in 2005, then to Ramadi from 2006-2007. During his tour in Ramadi, Biggs received a Purple Heart from wounds he sustained after an insurgent set off a remote detonated improvised explosive device.
During a major offensive operation in Ramadi, Biggs and his team were clearing a building in search of insurgent activity. The Marines swept the building, moving from room to room while using IED detection dogs to perform a thorough search.
Once the building had been cleared, Biggs and other members of his squad began to fortify the building’s foyer. An insurgent spotter watched them from the distance and detonated an IED buried approximately 8-10 feet beneath the floor of the foyer.
“It detonated through me, through the air and into a wall,” recalled Biggs. “I woke up with shrapnel in my legs, pieces of tile floor up my nose and down my throat, completely black from head to toe.”
“I spent about five days outside of the fight,” said Biggs. “But then I got cleared and got back into the fight as soon as I could…I still had Marines out there that needed me.”
Upon returning from his second tour in Iraq, Biggs received orders to the School of Infantry West in Camp Pendleton, Calif. While at SOI, he trained recent boot camp graduates in the skills common to all Marine infantrymen.
After a few years at SOI, Biggs, went to 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, and then to RCT-5, where he is currently serving as a platoon sergeant of the commanding officer’s personal security detachment.
“I take care of all the administrative materials for the platoon,” said Biggs. “I make sure that we have billeting when we get somewhere.”
Biggs also handles intelligence for the PSD. He ensures that all his Marines and sailors are informed about friendly and insurgent movements whenever the PSD is operating outside the wire.
“I basically work for the platoon,” added Biggs. “I make sure that everyone is where they’re supposed to be and where they need to go.”
Recently, Biggs was awarded the title of Headquarters Co., RCT-5, non-commissioned officer of the quarter.
“Biggs is a consummate professional with a vision of leadership that is rare in a sergeant,” said Moorhead, Minn. native Staff Sgt. Jeremy Martinez, the platoon commander for the RCT-5 PSD. “His focus on the ‘whole Marine’ concept is what sets him apart from other NCOs, not only in the RCT, but across the Marine Corps.”
As professionals, Marines must strive to further their own education, a key aspect of the Marine Corps leadership principle of seeking self-improvement.
The competitive nature of promotion in the Marine Corps has only been amplified over the past decade. Marines are evaluated not only on their military occupation specialty proficiency or their physical fitness test scores, but also their dedication to furthering their education, during off-duty hours.
Biggs attributes his award to his dedication to this off-duty education. He is currently pursuing an associate degree from the American Military University in general studies.
“I decided to take advantage of my opportunities because if I’m going to be out here for as long as I am, ‘why not?’,” said Biggs. “I have more than enough time to get the college courses done.”
In between regular combat missions, Biggs balances his time between his duties as the platoon sergeant, working toward a degree and earning his Marines Corps Martial Arts Program instructor’s tab, which he will used to improve his PSD Marines.
“Bigg’s work ethic is extraordinary,” said Capt. Zach Ota, the RCT-5 HQ. Co. commander. “Not only is he serving as the platoon sergeant, but in his spare time, he is earning an associate degree.”
“On top of that, he’s training to be a MCMAP instructor,” added Ota. “You just don’t see that kind of drive every day.”
With half his deployment in the books, Biggs will continue a delicate balancing act between the pursuit of further professional military and off-duty education and his duties as the PSD platoon sergeant.
“I’m not really sure where I want to go with this yet,” explained Biggs. “But at least having a degree… I’m bettering myself, advancing myself.”
Editor’s note: Regimental Combat Team 5 is assigned to 2nd Marine Division (Forward), which heads Task Force Leatherneck. The task force serves as the ground combat element of Regional Command (Southwest) and works in partnership with the Afghan National Security Forces and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to conduct counterinsurgency operations. The unit is dedicated to securing the Afghan people, defeating insurgent forces and enabling ANSF assumption of security responsibilities within its area of operations in order to support the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance.
| Date Taken: | 02.07.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 02.07.2012 06:37 |
| Story ID: | 83448 |
| Location: | CAMP DWYER, AF |
| Web Views: | 488 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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