Born and raised in northern California, Sergeant Major Reaves enlisted in the Marine Corps reporting to MCRD San Diego, CA in March 1987 for training with Company L, 3d Recruit Training Battalion with follow on training at the Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center in Dam Neck, VA where he obtained the MOS of 0231 Intelligence Specialist.
In September 1987, Sergeant Major Reaves reported to HQ Company, 4th Marines, 3d Marine Division at Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan. During his tour with 4th Marines, he was promoted to Lance Corporal and Corporal. In September 1988, Sergeant Major Reaves reported to 2d Battalion, 3d Marines, 1st Marine Brigade at MCAS Kaneohe Bay, HI and deployed to Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan for two Unit Deployment Program deployments followed by a combat deployment to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait for Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm. In July 1991, Sergeant Major Reaves transferred to Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Brigade at MCAS Kaneohe Bay, HI and was promoted to Sergeant in September 1991.
In July 1993, Sergeant Major Reaves reported to Joint Task Force Six at Fort Bliss, TX where he served on Joint Duty for three years conducting intelligence operations in support of the Nation’s War on Drugs. He attended the Intelligence Chief’s Course at Dam Neck, VA graduating honor graduate. Sergeant Major Reaves was promoted to Staff Sergeant in August 1995 and volunteered for Drill Instructor Duty reporting in April 1996 to D.I. School, MCRD San Diego, CA where he graduated honor graduate. He was assigned to Company M, 3d Recruit Training Battalion, where he served as Drill Instructor and Senior Drill Instructor graduating eight platoons and over 600 Marines.
In September 1998, Sergeant Major Reaves reported to 2d Battalion, 3d Marines at MCB Kaneohe Bay, HI where he served as Intelligence Chief and conducted another deployment to Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan. He was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant in November 1999 and in January 2000 transferred to Headquarters Battalion, Marine Forces Pacific at Camp Smith, HI where he served as Assistant Plans Chief and Intelligence Operations Chief. In July 2001, Sergeant Major Reaves reported to the Instructor Staff at the Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center, Dam Neck, VA where he served as the Course Director for the Entry Level MAGTF Intelligence Specialist Course. He was assigned to I MEF in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom I where he served as Assistant Intelligence Operations Chief with the 1st Marine Division Forward Command Post.
Upon selection to First Sergeant, he served with Company I, 3d Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Marine Division from August 2003 to May 2006 and deployed to Iraq two more times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In June 2006, Sergeant Major Reaves reported to MCRD San Diego, CA and served as First Sergeant, Company L, 3d Recruit Training Battalion, training and mentoring over 50 drill instructors and 3,000 new Marines.
Following his selection to Sergeant Major, Sergeant Major Reaves reported to Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan in January 2008 where he served for 26 months as the Sergeant Major for 3d Intelligence Battalion. On 1 July 2010, he then reported to Twentynine Palms, CA where he served for 23 months as the Sergeant Major for 3d Battalion, 4th Marines and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from April to October 2011.
In June 2012, Sergeant Major Reaves reported to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan where he served for 23 months as the Sergeant Major for Marine Aircraft Group 12, “The Ready Group.” In May 2014, Sergeant Major Reaves reported to MCB Quantico, VA where he assumed his current position as the Sergeant Major for the Marine Corps Information Operations Center.
Sergeant Major Reaves’ personal decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with two Gold Stars, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two Gold Stars, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two Gold Stars and the Combat Action Ribbon with two Gold Stars.