thedrifter
07-17-09, 08:36 AM
Local Marine rises through the ranks
Contributed to the Telegram
Thursday, July 16, 2009
U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Antonio V. Williams was assigned in June as the company commander of the Marine Corps-Communications Electronics School and promoted in July to the rank of major.
Williams’s responsibilities include the management of the Marine Corps’ Tactical Communications Training School, which is the home for approximately 1,500 Marines. The school trains 5,000 Marines annually.
The son of Johnnie and Dora Williams of Sharpsburg, Williams graduated from Rocky Mount Senior High in 1992 and enlisted the U.S. Marine Corps and reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Parris Island, S.C. for recruit training. After graduating Boot Camp, he returned to Rocky Mount for 30 days as a recruiter’s assistant, and then proceeded to Corrections Training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. He later served as a Brig Guard at the Parris Island Depot Brig at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina.
In June 1996, then-Sgt Williams was selected for Broadened Opportunity for Officer Selection Training and reported to Newport, R.I. for 10 months of intensive academic instruction. After successfully completing this program, he was accepted into the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Program and attended the University of Colorado-Boulder. While at the university, he completed Officer Candidate School and graduated in December 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and was commissioned as a second lieutenant.
After commissioning, then-Lt. Williams completed training in the Communications Officer Course and was immediately stationed at Camp Pendleton, Calif. in 2001. In 2003 and 2004 as a first lieutenant he served two deployments in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. His operational and command assignments have included Network Operations Center Platoon Commander, Information Systems Management Officer and Information Assurance Officer G-6 for 1st Force Service Support Group; S-6 Transportation Support Battalion, and S-6 Combat Service Support Group Eleven for 1st Marine Logistics Group.
After the second deployment, then-Capt. Williams received orders to Twenty-nine Palms, California where he held the positions of Training and Executive Officer for Company A Marine Corps Communications Electronics School.
In 2007, he was stationed in Quantico, Virginia where he completed the Expeditionary Warfare School in addition to the Advanced Communication Officer course.
Upon completing this training, he received orders back to Twenty-nine Palms, Calif., and became the Training and Executive Officer for Company B Marine Corps-Communication Electronics School.
Williams’ personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
Williams has been married to William “Mack” and Mary Battle’s daughter, Anita Battle-Williams, who is also a RMSH graduate, for 16 years. Anita earned her master’s degree in Cross Cultural Education and is teaching in California’s public school system. They have three daughters: 11-year-old Brittany and 9-year-old twins Tierra and Sharice. The family resides in Twenty-nine Palms, Calif.
Ellie
Contributed to the Telegram
Thursday, July 16, 2009
U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Antonio V. Williams was assigned in June as the company commander of the Marine Corps-Communications Electronics School and promoted in July to the rank of major.
Williams’s responsibilities include the management of the Marine Corps’ Tactical Communications Training School, which is the home for approximately 1,500 Marines. The school trains 5,000 Marines annually.
The son of Johnnie and Dora Williams of Sharpsburg, Williams graduated from Rocky Mount Senior High in 1992 and enlisted the U.S. Marine Corps and reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Parris Island, S.C. for recruit training. After graduating Boot Camp, he returned to Rocky Mount for 30 days as a recruiter’s assistant, and then proceeded to Corrections Training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. He later served as a Brig Guard at the Parris Island Depot Brig at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina.
In June 1996, then-Sgt Williams was selected for Broadened Opportunity for Officer Selection Training and reported to Newport, R.I. for 10 months of intensive academic instruction. After successfully completing this program, he was accepted into the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Program and attended the University of Colorado-Boulder. While at the university, he completed Officer Candidate School and graduated in December 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and was commissioned as a second lieutenant.
After commissioning, then-Lt. Williams completed training in the Communications Officer Course and was immediately stationed at Camp Pendleton, Calif. in 2001. In 2003 and 2004 as a first lieutenant he served two deployments in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. His operational and command assignments have included Network Operations Center Platoon Commander, Information Systems Management Officer and Information Assurance Officer G-6 for 1st Force Service Support Group; S-6 Transportation Support Battalion, and S-6 Combat Service Support Group Eleven for 1st Marine Logistics Group.
After the second deployment, then-Capt. Williams received orders to Twenty-nine Palms, California where he held the positions of Training and Executive Officer for Company A Marine Corps Communications Electronics School.
In 2007, he was stationed in Quantico, Virginia where he completed the Expeditionary Warfare School in addition to the Advanced Communication Officer course.
Upon completing this training, he received orders back to Twenty-nine Palms, Calif., and became the Training and Executive Officer for Company B Marine Corps-Communication Electronics School.
Williams’ personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
Williams has been married to William “Mack” and Mary Battle’s daughter, Anita Battle-Williams, who is also a RMSH graduate, for 16 years. Anita earned her master’s degree in Cross Cultural Education and is teaching in California’s public school system. They have three daughters: 11-year-old Brittany and 9-year-old twins Tierra and Sharice. The family resides in Twenty-nine Palms, Calif.
Ellie