1stSgt John J. Pettinato Jr. is a career Marine. His Military Occupational Specialties to date include First Sergeant, Career Retention Specialist, Black Belt Instructor Trainer, and Combat Engineer.

• United States Army, 801st Engineer Support Company, Heavy Equipment Operator, Oakland Army Base, CA, 1984-1989
• Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, CA, 1989
• Basic Combat Engineer School, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, NC, 1989
• 1st Force Service Support Group, 7th Engineer Battalion, B Company, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA, 1989-1991, Desert Shield and Desert Storm
• Marine Security Guard, United States Embassies, Tokyo, Japan, Panama City, Panama, Havana, Cuba, 1991-1993
• The Basic School, Enlisted Instructor Company, Engineer Platoon, Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA, 1993-1995
• Journeyman Engineer Course, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, NC, 1995
• 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Hansen, Fleet Assistance Program to Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Okinawa, Japan, Billeting Manager, 1995-1996
• 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, C Company to A Company, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA, 1997-1999, 15th and 13th Marine Expeditionary Units
• 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, B Company to Career Planner School, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA, 2000
• 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, Lateral Move from Combat Engineer Military Occupational Specialty 1371 to Career Retention Specialist Military Occupational Specialty 8421/0143, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA, 2001-2002
• Marine Corps Martial Arts School, Black Belt Instructor Trainer Military Occupational Specialty 8552, Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA, 2001
• Motorcycle Safety Foundation Course, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA, 2002
• Headquarters and Service Battalion, Career Retention Specialist, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, CA, 2002-2004
• 1st Marine Regiment, Regimental Career Retention Specialist, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA, 2004-2005, Operation Iraqi Freedom 2
• 5th Marine Regiment, Regimental Career Retention Specialist, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA, 2005-2006, Operation Iraqi Freedom 5-7
• Marine Corps Recruiters School, Career Retention Specialist Course, Instructor, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, CA, 2007-2008
• 4th Marine Logistics Group, 6th Engineer Support Battalion, B Company, First Sergeant Military Occupational Specialty 8999, Inspector/Instructor Staff First Sergeant, South Bend, IN, 2008-present