First Sergeant Paul J. Gravelle was born in Redmond, Oregon on 30 August 1981. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps from Spokane, WA on October 10, 2003 and graduated recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, CA on 9 January, 2004. Upon graduation, he attended Marine Combat Training (MCT) at Camp Pendleton, CA. After completion of MCT, he was ordered to Combat Engineer Instruction Company at Courthouse Bay Camp Lejeune, NC where he was promoted to the rank of Private First Class. Upon completion of Combat Engineer School in April 2004, he was ordered to Company B, 8th Engineer Support Battalion (ESB), 2d Marine Logistics Group (MLG), Camp Lejeune, NC.

In January of 2005 Corporal Gravelle deployed with Company B, 8th ESB in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM to Fallujah, Iraq. During the deployment Corporal Gravelle served in direct support of Company A, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division. Corporal Gravelle returned in September of 2005 and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in January 2006.

In February of 2006 Sergeant Gravelle received orders to Engineer Detachment, Combat Logistics Battalion 26, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and deployed from February 2007 to July 2007.

In April of 2008 Sergeant Gravelle was assigned to Drill Instructor School at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, SC. After earning the title Honor Graduate of Class 03-08, Sergeant Gravelle was assigned to Company H, 2d Recruit Training Battalion (RTBN) and was promoted to Staff Sergeant on 1 March, 2009. Staff Sergeant Gravelle was named Company H Drill Instructor of the quarter in July 2009 and October 2009, as well as 2d RTBN’s Drill Instructor of the Quarter in October 2009. His billets included Drill Instructor, Senior Drill Instructor and Series Chief Drill Instructor. He attended Staff Noncommissioned Officer Career Course in 2011 and received orders to 2d Combat Engineer Battalion (CEB), Camp Lejeune, NC in June of that year.

Staff Sergeant Gravelle was assigned Platoon Sergeant of Route Clearance Platoon 3, Mobility Assault Company in September 2011. In November he attended the Combat Engineer Noncommissioned Officer Core Course at Camp Lejeune, NC and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM 12.2 in October 2012. Returning in April 2013, he attended the Combat Engineer Platoon Sergeant Course at Camp Lejeune, NC, and graduated with honors. He was then assigned as Platoon Sergeant, 2d Platoon, Company A, and promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant in January 2014. In April of 2014 2d platoon was attached to Mobility Assault Company and deployed as a route clearance platoon to Helmand Province, Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM 14.1. Upon returning in October 2014, Gunnery Sergeant Gravelle served as Company Gunnery Sergeant, Company A until April 2015 when he was selected to serve as Company First Sergeant, Company A.

Gunnery Sergeant Gravelle reported to 7th ESB in August 2015 where he served as Operations Chief, Company A and Company First Sergeant, Bulk Fuel Company. He was promoted to the rank of First Sergeant in January of 2017 and reported to 2d Battalion, 8th Marines, 8th Marine Regiment in March of 2017 as Company First Sergeant, Company G where he deployed in support of the Unit Deployment Program 18.1 to Okinawa, Japan from February to August 2018. In January of 2019 he reported to Headquarters Company, 8th Marine Regiment.

First Sergeant Gravelle’s personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two gold stars.