SJ 135 — Commending First Sergeant Macky J. Cottongim, USMC.

SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 24107323D I SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO.

135 OfferedE February 23, 2024 N Commending First Sergeant Macky J.

TN Patrons––Reeves,Agreed Boysko,to Diggs,by Durant,the McDougle,Senate, SalimFebruary 29, 2024 R Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 4, 2024 O WHEREAS, after an outstanding career that spanned more than 20 years and Stuart;included several L service in 2024;

Delegates:andonwealth, First Sergeant Macky J.

Ballard,Cottongim, Clark,USMC, Role,will Ennis,retire Fowler,from Green,military Martinez,L Milde,WHEREAS, Morefield,Macky Obenshain,Cottongim Owen,grew Rasoul,up Scott,in P.A.,Lakeland, WareFlorida, and Wyattenlisted Oin ––––––––––the DUnited WHEREAS,States afterE anMarine outstandingCorps career that spanned more than 20 years and included several postings in theMay Commonwealth,2003; First Sergeant Macky J.

Cottongim,he USMC,completed willbasic retiretraining fromat militaryMarine serviceCorps Recruit Depot, Parris Island in 2024;South Carolina and infantry training at Camp Geiger in North Carolina;

and CD WHEREAS,Northwest MackyAnnex Cottongim grew up in Lakeland,Chesapeake, Florida,where andhe enlistedcompleted in the Unitedbasic Statessecurity Southguard Carolinacourse; and infantry training at Camp Geiger in North Carolina;

anduit Depot, Parris IslEnd in WHEREAS, Macky Cottongim subsequently reported to Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads D Northwest Annex in Chesapeake, where he completed the basic security guard course;

and WHEREAS, Macky Cottongim continued to rise through the ranks, and in February 2006, he reportedOctober 2006 to theMay Anti-Terrorism2007, Battalionhe indeployed to Camp Lejune,Ashraf, NorthIraq, Carolina,where he carried out duties as a sectionconvoy leader;S commander and sergeant of the guard;

fromand October1 2006WHEREAS, to May 2007, he deployed to Camp Ashraf, Iraq, where he carried out duties as a convoy comWHEREAS, after his overseas deployment, Macky Cottongim joined the Marine Corps Security 5 Forces Training Company in Chesapeake, where he primarily served as a chief instructor for clos1close quartersR andrters battle courses and took part in rewriting the curriculum for the Close Quarters Battle5School;Battle School;

and WHEREAS, Macky Cottongim's next posting took him to Camp Pendleton, California, where he attended the Infantry Unit Leaders Course and served as a squad leader in 2nd Battalion, Fourth Marines, and a platoon sergeant with 1st Battalion, 1st Marines;

and WHEREAS,deployed into AugustKabul, 2012,Afghanistan, Mackywhere Cottongimhe volunteeredserved foras anthe individualstaff augmentationnoncommissioned andofficer in charge of the Joint Operation Center, trained personnel throughout Afghanistan in quick reaction drills, and revised the Quick Reaction Drill Course;

and WHEREAS, in October 2013, Macky Cottongim attended the Staff Noncommissioned Officers Careerinstructor, Course,senior drill instructor, chief drill instructor, and theoperations followingchief year,at heMarine beganCorps trainingRecruit asDepot, aParris drillIsland, instructor,until then2018, servedwhen ashe areported drillto :The Basic School in Quantico;

33and instructor,WHEREAS, seniorwhile drillassigned instructor,to chiefThe drillBasic instructor,School, andMacky operationsCottongim chiefheld atnumerous Marineleadership Corpspositions Recruitand 34used Depot,his Parriswide Island,range untilof 2018,experience whento heteach reportedand tomentor Thenewly Basiccommissioned Schooland inappointed Quantico;marine officers;

and 35 WHEREAS, while assigned to The Basic School, Macky Cottongim held numerous leadership 36 positions and used his wide range of experience to teach and mentor newly commissioned and appointed marWHEREAS, Macky Cottongim reported to his current posting, Detachment 1, Supply Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 453 in Topeka, Kansas, in April 2021 and serves as the inspector instructor first sergeant;

and WHEREAS, after his retirement from military service, Macky Cottongim looks forward to spending time with his wife, Paula, and their daughter, Mackenzie, and seeking new opportunities to serve his community;comRESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend First Sergeant Macky J.

now,Cottongim, therefore,USMC, beon it RESOLVED by the Senate,occasion the House of Delegateshis concurring,retirement Thatfrom the Generalmilitary; Assembly hereby commend First Sergeant Macky J.

Cottongim,and, USMC,be onit theRESOLVED occasion of his retirement from the milRESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentationadmiration tofor Firsthis Sergeantoutstanding Mackyachievements J.in service to the United States.

Cottongim, USMC, as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for his outstanding achievements in service to the United States.