Sergeant Major Anthony R. Simons currently serves as the Recruiting and Retention School Sergeant Major.
Sergeant Major Anthony Simons is a native of Marlboro, New York. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on 16 April 2007 and completed Recruit Training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina. Following Marine Combat Training, he attended Basic Supply Warehousing School at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and subsequently reported to Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2d Maintenance Battalion, Camp Lejeune.
In February 2009, he was transferred to Combat Logistics Regiment 25 to deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he served as Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of the Electronics Maintenance Section. He was promoted to Corporal in July 2009. Upon returning in September 2009, he reported to Combined Arms Training Center (CATC), Camp Fuji, Japan, serving as Supply Warehouse Chief and deployed to Sendai, Japan, in support of Operation Tomodachi humanitarian relief operations.
In August 2011, Sergeant Major Simons reported to Marine Aircraft Group 11, MCAS Miramar, California, and was promoted to Sergeant in November 2011. In February 2012, he received PCA orders to Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 3, G4, where he deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In October 2013, he was assigned to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, for Drill Instructor duty. He was assigned to Company C, First Recruit Training Battalion, where over eight training cycles he served as Drill Instructor, Senior Drill Instructor, Chief Drill Instructor, and Battalion Operations and Logistics Chief.
He was meritoriously promoted to Staff Sergeant in July 2016. In January 2017, Sergeant Major Simons was transferred to Marine Aircraft Group 31, MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina, serving as Supply Warehouse Chief and later reassigned as Headquarters Personnel Support Detachment Senior Enlisted Advisor in September 2017.
On 2 April 2019, he was selected as the MARFORCOM Meritorious Gunnery Sergeant. In January 2020, he reported to the Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Camp Pendleton, California, serving as Faculty Advisor, Senior Faculty Advisor, Master Faculty Advisor for Advanced School, and SNCOIC for Sergeants School.
He was selected for First Sergeant in January 2023. He subsequently served as Unit Senior Enlisted Leader, India Company, 3d Battalion, 2d Marines, 2d Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, and in January 2024 was reassigned to Headquarters and Service Company, deploying in support of Unit Deployment Program Hawaii 24.1, Okinawa, Japan. In February 2025, he assumed duties as Unit Senior Enlisted Leader, Headquarters and Service Company, 2d Marine Raider Support Battalion, Marine Raider Support Group, Marine Forces Special Operations Command.
In March 2026, Sergeant Major Simons was frocked to his current rank and currently serves as Command Senior Enlisted Leader, Recruiting and Retention School, MCRD San Diego, California.
His personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (gold star in lieu of fifth award), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (gold star in lieu of third award), and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.