Meet the instructor

Master Sergeant Jay R. Mattice

Jay R Mattice enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in August 1992 and reported for recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina on August 17, 1993. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, Delta Company, Platoon 1100. After recruit training, he returned home to Niagara Falls, New York as part of the recruiter’s assistance program for fourteen days. 

After recruiter’s assistance, Private Mattice received orders to the School of Infantry, Camp Geiger, North Carolina for Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) training as a 0311, Infantry Rifleman. He was promoted to the rank of Private First Class (Pfc) on February 1, 1994. Upon graduation from the School of Infantry, he reported to the 1st Marine Division, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines and was assigned to Lima Company, Weapons Platoon.

While serving with 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, Lima Company (Lightning Lima) from 1994 to 1995 Pfc Mattice was cross trained as a Mortar Man and received a secondary MOS as a 0341, Mortarman. He was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal (LCpl) on October 1, 1994. He participated in Operation Native Fury, Kuwait, JTF-6 Counter Drug Operations in the Cleveland National Forest, California and a six-month deployment to Okinawa, Japan while with Lima Company. While in Okinawa, LCpl Mattice applied for and was accepted into the Marine Security Guard Program. Upon returning from Okinawa, He received orders to report to the Marine Security Guard Battalion, Quantico, Virginia for Marine Security Guard School.

After completing Marine Security Guard School, LCpl Mattice served at the American Embassy in Rome, Italy from September 1995 to November of 1996. He was promoted to the rank of Corporal on February 1, 1996. After Rome, he received orders to the American Embassy in Mexico City, Mexico from November 1996 to March 1998. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant (Sgt) on August 1, 1997. While on Marine Security Duty, Sgt Mattice held billets as the Supply Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) in Rome and React NCO in both Rome and Mexico City. As the React NCO, Sgt Mattice was the Marine Security Guard responsible for the security posture and training of the Marines in the event of an incident at the Embassy. He served as a watch stander for a Secretary of State visit to Damascus, Syria, served as a watch stander at the American Embassies in Vienna, Austria and Kingston, Jamaica for their Marine Corps Balls and assisted with security for a Presidential visit in Mexico City, Mexico. He was also the Marine of the Year for the American Embassy, Mexico City, Mexico in 1997. Sgt Mattice along with his friend Sgt John DeNadal was abducted by gun point while in a taxi in Mexico City. Both overcame their abductors and escaped with minimal injuries. While serving as a Marine Security Guard, Sgt Mattice held a Top Secret / Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance.

In March of 1998 Sgt Mattice received orders to report to the 1st Marine Division, 1st Battalion 5th Marines and was assigned to Bravo Company 1st Platoon, where he served as a Squad Leader, Platoon Guide and Platoon Sergeant. Sgt Mattice participated in Operation Urban Warrior and was trained as a designated marksman for 1st Platoon. From June 1999 to December 1999, he received Temporary Addition Duty (TAD) Orders to the 3rd Marine Division, Jungle Warfare Training Center (JWTC), Camp Gonsalves, Okinawa, Japan and was assigned as the Rough Terrain Section Leader. While at JWTC, Sgt Mattice also served an instructor for mines and booby traps and an instructor for a Level B, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) Course. Sgt Mattice deployed with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Force, Special Operations Capable out of Okinawa, Japan where they visited Australia for Joint Exercise Tandem Thrust in Shoalwater Bay and participated in the 56th memorial service for the Battle of Iwo Jima. Sgt Mattice served as a speaker on red beach for Iwo Jima veterans and their families that were visiting the island. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant (SSgt) on September 1, 2001. From December of 2002 to February of 2002, SSgt Mattice served as the Weapons Platoon, Machinegun Section Leader.

In February of 2002 SSgt Mattice received orders to report to the I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF), Special Operations Training Group (SOTG) and was assigned as the Intermediate Passenger Helicopter Aircrew Breathing Device Trainer (IPHABD) Chief Instructor. While in that billet, SSgt Mattice attended Navy Dive School in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii where he was one of four graduates out of a thirty-man class. In December of 2002 civilian contractors took over the IPHABD section and he was moved to the Assault Climber Section where he served as an Instructor and Chief Instructor.

In January of 2003, SSgt Mattice volunteered to deploy for the pending conflict with Iraq and received TAD orders to the 1st Marine Division, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines where he was assigned to Baker Company, 3rd Platoon as the Platoon Sergeant. He deployed to Kuwait for Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF 1) where he participated in combat operations during the invasion into Iraq and stability operations in Bagdad, Najaf and Babylon. In July of 2003, SSgt Mattice returned to the I MEF, SOTG, Assault Climbers Section.

In August of 2005 SSgt Mattice received orders to Inspector Instructor Duty Buffalo, New York, with the 4th Marine Division, 3d Battalion, 25th Marines, India Company. There he served as the Training Chief, Operations Chief and Company Gunnery Sergeant for India Company. He was promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant (GySgt) on February 1, 2006. While serving as the Operations Chief, GySgt Mattice deployed India Company to the Mountain Warfare Training Center (MWTC) for their annual training period in 2006 and Exercise Talisman Saber, Australia in 2007. While in Buffalo, GySgt served as a Casualty Assistance Officer (CACO) for two Marines and their families. GySgt Mattice also worked with the Erie County Tactical Task Force (local Special Weapons and Tactics teams) and provided instruction and training in Combat Tracking and Close Quarters Battle (CQB) tactics.

In May of 2008 GySgt Mattice received orders to the 1st Marine Division, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines where he served as the Headquarters and Service Company GySgt, Assistant S-3 Chief and Weapons Company Operations Chief. He was frocked to the rank of Master Sergeant (MSgt) on April 2, 2010. While assigned to 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, MSgt Mattice deployed to Al-Fallujah, Iraq (combat tour) and a sea service deployment with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Force, Special Operations Capable where they performed counter piracy operations off the coast of Somalia and visited Kuwait, East Timor, Australia and Singapore.

In January of 2011 MSgt Mattice received orders to the Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC), Henderson Hall where he served as the S-3 Operations Chief where he covered the training needs for all the Marines assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps to include the Marines in the Pentagon and the White House. While with HQMC, MSgt Mattice was requested as an expert to assist the Marine Corps Base Quantico, Weapons Training Battalion, Combat Shooting Team in creating a Marine Corps Publication for Low Light Engagements.

During MSgt Mattice’s career he held billets as a 0311: Infantry Marine, 0341: Mortarman, 0321: Reconnaissance Marine, 0369: Infantry Unit Leader, 8151: Marine Security Guard, 0916: Martial Arts Instructor, 0917: Martial Arts Instructor-Trainer, Combat Water Safety Swimmer (CWSS), a Marine Corps Instructor of Water Survival (MCIWS), Helicopter Rope Suspension Trainer (HRST) Master, an Assault Climber, and a Summer Mountain Leader.

MSgt Mattice’s decorations includes: (1) Meritorious Service Medal, (3) Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medals, (1) Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat “V”, (3) Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medals, (1) Combat Action Ribbon, (1) Presidential Unit Citation, (3) Navy Unit Citations, (3) Meritorious Unit Citations, (6) Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals, (2) National Defense Service Medals, (3) Iraq Campaign Medals, (1) Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, (1) Global War on Terrorism Medal, (1) Outstanding Military Volunteer Service Medal, (6) Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, (2) Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Ribbons and (1) Marine Security Guard Ribbon.

MSgt Mattice’s Military Education includes: Marine Security School, Infantry Platoon Sergeant Course, Close Combat Instructor, Combat Water Safety Swimmer (CWSS), Marine Combat Instructor of Water Survival (MCIWS), Martial Arts Instructor (MAI), Martial Arts Instructor Trainer (MAIT), Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE), Peacetime Detention and Hostage Survival (PTAHS), Navy Dive School, Intermediate Passenger Helicopter Aircrew Breathing Device (IPHABD) Instructor Course, Assault Climber Course, Helicopter Rope Suspension Trainer (HRST), Summer Mountain Leaders Course, Rope Rescue Course, Basic Life Saver, Combat Lifesaver, Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support, SWAT School, Boat Interdiction, Under Ground Combat Course, Surefire Low Light Instructor, Hostage Rescue Course, Level 2 Anti-Terror Officer Course, Tubular Assault Course, Foreign Weapons Instructor, Advance Course and Infantry Operations Chief Course (IOCC).

Master Sergeant Jay R, Mattice retired on June 13, 2013, and spent three months in retirement on military leave while attending the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy (NVCJTA) as a recruit for the Arlington County Police Department.

Corporal Jay R. Mattice