Sergeant Major Carlos A. Ruiz: From Warehouse Clerk to the Marine Corps' Top Enlisted Leader
When Carlos A. Ruiz enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1993, he could hardly have imagined that one day he would become the highest-ranking enlisted Marine in the entire Corps.
Born in Sonora, Mexico, Ruiz came to the United States as a young boy, struggled with the English language, and faced repeated setbacks while attempting to qualify for military service. Yet through determination, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to the Marine Corps, he eventually rose through the enlisted ranks to become the 20th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps.
His journey from a supply warehouse clerk to the senior enlisted advisor to the Commandant is a remarkable example of perseverance and the opportunities available to those willing to earn the title of United States Marine.
From Mexico to the Marine Corps
Ruiz was born in Sonora, Mexico, and moved to the United States when he was approximately 11 years old. Growing up in Arizona, he faced the challenges of adapting to a new country and learning English.
Those challenges followed him when he decided to join the Marine Corps.
Ruiz later recalled that he had to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) multiple times before qualifying for enlistment. His difficulties with English made the examination particularly challenging.
But he refused to abandon his goal.
On November 2, 1993, Ruiz entered recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California. He graduated in January 1994 and continued to Marine Combat Training at Camp Pendleton.
His military occupational specialty was supply warehouse clerk, a position responsible for supporting the logistics operations that keep Marine units equipped and ready.
His first major assignment took him to Okinawa, Japan, with 3rd Supply Battalion.
It was an unassuming beginning for a Marine who would eventually become one of the most recognizable enlisted leaders in the service.
A Career Built on Service and Leadership
Throughout the 1990s, Ruiz served in logistics assignments, including duty at Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, California.
In 1998, he attended Recruiting School at MCRD San Diego and subsequently served as a Marine Corps recruiter in the Los Angeles area.
Recruiting duty provided an opportunity to represent the Corps to young Americans considering military service, an experience that would become one of several demanding special duty assignments during his career.
Following his recruiting tour, Ruiz returned to operational forces with 1st Force Service Support Group.
In January 2003, he deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, serving with logistics organizations supporting Marine Corps combat operations in Al Anbar Province.
The experience placed him in a wartime environment where supply, transportation, equipment, and logistical support were essential to the success of Marines conducting operations throughout the region.
Returning to the Drill Field
In 2004, Ruiz requested orders to Drill Instructor School at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.
He graduated in September of that year as the honor graduate of Class 4-04, also receiving the school's Leadership Award.
He subsequently served as a drill instructor with Company L, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, helping transform civilians into United States Marines.
His performance eventually earned him an assignment to the Drill Instructor School staff in 2006.
There, Ruiz served in several demanding positions, including Drill Master, Physical Training Instructor, and Chief Instructor.
These assignments placed him in a position to influence not only recruits but also the Marines responsible for training future generations of the Corps.
For a Marine who had once struggled to qualify for enlistment, becoming a leader responsible for developing drill instructors represented an extraordinary accomplishment.
Combat Leadership in Afghanistan
In 2009, Ruiz became the company first sergeant of Company L, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines.
He subsequently deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Following his first deployment, Ruiz was reassigned to Headquarters and Service Company and completed a second combat deployment to Afghanistan.
His service with infantry Marines provided further experience in the responsibilities of senior enlisted leadership during combat operations.
Over the course of his career, Ruiz earned numerous personal decorations, including the Bronze Star Medal with combat distinguishing device, the Legion of Merit, and the Combat Action Ribbon.
His assignments reflected the breadth of Marine Corps service, from logistics and recruiting to recruit training and combat operations.
Leading Marines Across the Corps
Following his deployments, Ruiz continued to assume increasingly senior responsibilities.
In 2012, he reported to Sacramento, California, as an Inspector-Instructor First Sergeant, supporting Marine Corps Reserve operations.
Selected for promotion to sergeant major in 2013, he received orders to 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines.
He subsequently served as Battalion Landing Team Sergeant Major with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, continuing his service alongside operational Marines in the Pacific.
Additional assignments included 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, and 4th Marine Logistics Group.
In February 2021, Ruiz became Sergeant Major of Marine Forces Reserve. He later also served as the senior enlisted leader for Marine Forces South.
These positions gave him responsibility for advising commanders and representing Marines serving across a wide range of missions and geographic locations.
Becoming the 20th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
On August 10, 2023, Ruiz reached the pinnacle of the enlisted ranks when he succeeded Sergeant Major Troy E. Black as the 20th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps.
The relief and appointment ceremony took place at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C.
As Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Ruiz serves as the senior enlisted advisor to the Commandant and represents the interests of enlisted Marines throughout the service.
The position carries enormous responsibility, including advising senior leadership on matters involving readiness, training, discipline, professional development, and the welfare of Marines and their families.
His appointment was especially meaningful given the obstacles he had overcome as a young immigrant seeking to join the Corps.
He had entered recruit training nearly 30 years earlier as a young man determined simply to earn the title Marine.
Now he represented every enlisted Marine in the organization.
A Marine Who Never Quit
One of the most revealing descriptions of Ruiz came from Lieutenant General David Bellon, who had worked closely with him during his service with Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Forces South.
Following the announcement of Ruiz's selection in 2023, Bellon publicly recalled the difficulties Ruiz had faced when attempting to enlist because of his limited English proficiency.
Bellon summarized his determination in three words:
"He never quit."
That determination became a defining characteristic of Ruiz's career.
Ruiz also became a naturalized American citizen while serving as a gunnery sergeant, another important milestone in his personal journey.
In May 2024, while attending a naturalization ceremony aboard USS Bataan, Ruiz reflected on the significance of American citizenship and the opportunities that military service had provided him.
His experience offered a personal connection to the new citizens taking their oaths that day.
A Legacy of Perseverance
Sergeant Major Carlos A. Ruiz's career demonstrates that the path to senior leadership in the Marine Corps does not have to begin in a prestigious assignment or a particular military occupational specialty.
His journey began in a supply warehouse.
From there, he became a recruiter, drill instructor, combat veteran, company first sergeant, battalion sergeant major, and eventually the senior enlisted Marine in the Corps.
Along the way, he earned the respect of fellow Marines through years of service, demanding assignments, and a willingness to accept greater responsibility.
His story also reflects something fundamental about the Marine Corps: every Marine, regardless of background or specialty, has the opportunity to lead through performance, discipline, and dedication.
More than three decades after he first stepped onto the yellow footprints at MCRD San Diego, Carlos A. Ruiz stands as an example of what determination and commitment can accomplish.
From a young immigrant struggling with English to the 20th Sergeant Major of the United States Marine Corps, his journey is a powerful reminder that earning the title Marine can be only the beginning of an extraordinary career.