Sergeant Major Smythe enlisted in the Marine Corps on 14 October 1987 and attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, CA where he graduated a Lance Corporal. After completing the Motor Vehicle Operator’s Course at Camp Pendleton, CA he received orders to the Ground Defense Security Force, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in April 1988. In Cuba he held billets as driver and dispatcher; in August 1988 he was promoted to Corporal and became the tool room NCO and later, licensing NCO.
In April 1989 he received orders to 7th Motor Transport Battalion where he held billets as line NCO and driver. In August 1990 Corporal Smythe deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of OPERATIONS DESERT SHIELD/STORM.
In July of 1991 Corporal Smythe was ordered to Mare Island Naval Ship Yard to attend Marine Corps Security Forces School where he received orders to the Marine Detachment afloat, USS Abraham Lincoln. While serving aboard USS Abraham Lincoln Corporal Smythe saw duty as Corporal of the Guard, Sergeant of the Guard and went ashore for operations in Somalia for OPERATION RESTORE HOPE.
In December of 1993 Sergeant Smythe reported to 1st Surveillance Reconnaissance Intelligence Group, where he served as platoon Sergeant until later that year when he made a lateral move to Corrections and attended the Corrections Specialist Course at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX.
From August 1994 to August 1997 Sergeant Smythe served as an Assistant Section Leader and Section Leader at the Camp Pendleton Base Brig before being promoted to Staff Sergeant and transferring to the Joint Forces Brig, Okinawa, Japan where he spent 1997 to 2003 holding various billets as Duty Brig Supervisor, Training Chief and Chief Corrections Counselor. In January 2001 he was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant and saw the reopening of the Correctional Custody Program in Okinawa where he held the billet of SNCOIC.
In June of 2003 Gunnery Sergeant Smythe received orders to Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX to be an instructor at the Corrections Specialist Course.
After being promoted to First Sergeant in February of 2006 he was ordered to 1st Combat Engineer Battalion where he deployed to Iraq with Charlie Company and to Afghanistan with Delta Company. In April 2010 he was promoted and assigned as Squadron Sergeant Major for Marine Heavy Helicopter 462 Miramar, California. February of 2012 he reported to 3rd Battalion 12th Marines and assumed duties as the Battalion Sergeant Major.
SgtMaj Smythe is currently assigned as the Station Sergeant Major of MCAS Futenma.
Sergeant Major Smythe’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars in lieu of third award, Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one gold star in lieu of second award, the Outstanding Volunteer Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon.