Photo Information

Sgt. Maj. Charles D. Castle salutes Sgt. Maj. Brian B. Battaglia in front of his friends, family and fellow Marines during an 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, post and relief ceremony here, May 25.

Photo by Pfc. Josephh Stahlman

8th Marine Regiment welcomes new sergeant major

2 Jun 2006 | Pfc. Josephh Stahlman 2nd Marine Division

Eighth Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, welcomed a new sergeant major during a post and relief ceremony here May 25.

Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia passed on his duties as regimental sergeant major to Sgt. Maj. Charles D. Castle before their friends, families and fellow Marines.

“I’m humbled at an opportunity to be a part of the history and tradition of 8th Marine Regiment,” said Castle, a Newport News, Va., native.

Castle graduated recruit training aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C., in 1979 then attended the Ground Support Equipment School in Millington, Tenn. Following his military occupational specialty, he reported to Cherry Point, N.C.

Receiving orders to Drill Instructor School in October 1986, he was assigned to Company I, 3rd Battalion, where he served as a drill instructor, senior drill instructor and company gunnery sergeant.

Since then, he has served as the detachment commander to the American Embassy in Moscow, Russia, as an instructor at Marine Security Guard School in Quantico, Va., and as the Company G first sergeant at Officer Candidate School, Quantico, Va.

“Sergeants major have a tough job of balancing loyalties between the Marine Corps, the command they serve and their Marines; Sgt. Maj. Battaglia did it with skill,” said Col. David H. Berger, 8th Marine Regiment’s commanding officer.

“I couldn’t be more proud to hand over the regiment to Sgt. Maj. Castle,” said Battaglia, a New Orleans, La. native. “I’m looking forward to the progress going to be made by him.”

“I can’t wait to continue the history of this great regiment,” Castle said.