Colonel John L. Mayer enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves in June 1981, attended Marine Corps Recruit Training in San Diego and served as a Scout-Sniper with 3d Battalion, 24th Marines until commissioning in 1983. As an officer, he has served in a variety of command, instructor, staff, and student assignments.

Upon completion of The Basic School and Infantry Officers’ Course in December 1984, Colonel Mayer transferred to I Company, 3d Battalion, 3d Marines. He held billets as a rifle platoon commander, rifle company executive officer, and battalion assistant operations officer.

In December 1987, Col. Mayer transferred to The Basic School and served as a tactics instructor and staff platoon commander. Upon completion of this assignment, he reported to The School of Infantry at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and served as commanding officer, F Company; operations officer, Marine Combat Training Battalion; and chief instructor.

Col. Mayer graduated from the Amphibious Warfare School in May 1993 and reported to 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein). During his four-year tour with the battalion, he served as commanding officer, Weapons Company; operations officer; and executive officer; and completed two Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) deployments.

In August 1997, Col. Mayer attended Marine Corps Command and Staff College and the School of Advanced Warfighting.

In 1999, Col. Mayer transferred to the Marine Corps War Fighting Laboratory, where he served as operations officer and second-in-command of the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force (Experimental) (SPMAGTF(X)).

In August 2001, Col. Mayer transferred to the 1st Marine Division (Rein) and served as G-3 Plans Officer. He assumed command of 1st Battalion, 4th Marines (1/4) on 14 August 2002 and led the battalion through two combat tours to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom I and II. During his first tour in Iraq, he served as the military governor of Babylon Province. During OIF II, 1/4 served as the Ground Combat Element for 11th MEU (SOC) and participated in the Battle of Najaf in August 2004. He relinquished command of the battalion in January 2005 and attended Top-Level School at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.

Upon completion of school, Col. Mayer commanded 31st MEU (31 MEU), home stationed in Okinawa, Japan from June 2006 to June 2008.

From June 2008 to June 2010, Col. Mayer was the deputy commander, Joint Task Force North, Fort Bliss, Texas. This command provides military support to law enforcement agencies in order to anticipate, detect, deter, prevent, and defeat transnational threats to the homeland.

His personal awards include the Combat Action Ribbon, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with combat "V" with gold star in lieu of second award, bronze star without devices, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold stars in lieu of third award, the Army Commendation Medal with gold star in lieu of second award, and the Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal. He is a Distinguished Graduate of The Basic School, Amphibious Warfare School, Command and Staff College, and the Naval War College, and earned two Masters Degrees while attending formal professional military education.

Colonel Krail graduated from Louisiana State University and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in December 1983. He was promoted to First Lieutenant December 1985. After completing The Basic School and the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course where he served as class leader (1986), he reported to Lima Battery, 4th Battalion, 10th Marines. He served as Executive Officer from January 1987-November 1988 participating in DEF-EX Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Team Work-88 in Norway. Reassigned to Headquarters Battery 4th Battalion, 10th Marines he served as Commanding Officer from November 1988-July 1989 and was promoted to Captain during this assignment in February 1989.

He transferred to Recruiting Station Nashville, TN where he served as Executive Officer from July 1989-January 1992. In 1992 he attended the Field Artillery Officer Advance Course and upon graduating in July 1992, reported to 2nd Battalion, 10th Marines as the Assistant Operations Officer. In January 1993 he assumed duties as Commanding Officer, Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion, 10th Marines. He was temporarily assigned to the Commanding Officer Joint Task Force Provide Promise (FWD) Zagreb, Croatia and served as the Assistant Operations Officer for the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) (FWD). Upon his return to 2nd Battalion, 10th Marines in May 1994 he assumed duties as the Battalion Logistics Officer until he was transferred to 5th Battalion, 14th Marines in Los Angeles, California where he served as the Assistant Inspector-Instructor from June 1994-August 1996.

Promoted to Major USMCR in March 1997, he joined the Select Marine Corps Reserve and served as the Executive Officer for Fox Battery, 2nd Battalion, 14th Marines until September 1998 upon which time he assumed duties as Commander Fox Battery, 2nd Battalion, 14th Marines. In November 2001 he assumed duties as the Adjutant for 2nd Battalion, 14th Marines and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel USMCR October 2002. He served as the LNO for 2nd Battalion, 14th Marines from October 2002-January 2003.

In February 2003 he transferred to Marine Forces Pacific and served in the G-3 Exercise Branch Korea Cell. From January 2006-September 2006 he served as the Executive Officer for the 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. He returned to the Exercise Branch, Marine Forces Pacific February 2007-November 2009.

Colonel Krail transferred to Quantico, Virginia in December 2009 and assumed his current assignment as the Executive Officer of the Wounded Warrior Regiment. He was promoted to his present rank in January 2010.

His personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal with four gold stars, the Select Marine Corps Reserve Medal with two stars, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal with one star, the National Defense Medal with one star, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with mobilization "M" and hour glass devices, and the United Nations Medal.

SgtMaj John P. Ploskonka Jr., a native of Worcester, Massachusetts; was born a Marine via recruit training at MCRD Parris Island, SC in June of 1985. After becoming an 0311 at Infantry Training School, he reported to MarBks Wash. D.C. for duty with Company B until December of 1987. From December 1987 to December of 1989 he was a member of Company A, 1st Bn 6th Marines until being selected to join the 2D MarDiv Color Guard in December of 1989. Upon returning from operations Desert Shield/Storm then Sgt Ploskonka was transferred to Companies K and I, 3rd Bn 6th Marines, until receiving orders for DI Duty with Company K, 3rd Bn MCRD Parris Island SC. where he remained from January of 1994 to July 1996. Upon reporting to Company C, 1st Bn 5th Marines, in 1996, then SSgt Ploskonka was assigned as 2nd PltSgt and Wpns Plt Cmdr before transferring in Feb 2000. In February of 2000 and after being promoted to GySgt, he reported for duty as the PltSgt, Counter Mech Plt, 2nd Bn 1st Marines and was re-assigned in August 2000 as Co. GySgt for Company E, where he deployed with the 15th MEU in support of OIF in 2003. Upon selection to 1stSgt he was transferred to 3rd LAAD Bn for duty as the Battery A 1stSgt and participated in OIF II. Upon transfer in October 2004 until August 2006 he was assigned as the Co. 1stSgt, Company B, MarBks Wash DC. In August 2006 he was reassigned to Marine Security Company, Camp David for duty as the Company 1stSgt until being promoted to SgtMaj and transferring to 9th, Engineer Support Battalion, 3D Marine Logistics Group, Okinawa, Japan. In April of 2010 he assumed his present duties as the Regimental Sergeant Major for the Wounded Warrior Regiment.

SgtMaj Ploskonka is divorced and has one daughter Ashley and one granddaughter Skyleigh.

His personal awards include the honor of becoming a Marine and the privilege of being one for over 25 years along with the Purple Heart Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with 2 gold stars and combat distinguishing device, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with 3 gold stars and the Combat Action Ribbon.