Sergeant Major Betancourt enlisted in the Marine Corps in April 1997 and reported to recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. Following recruit training, he reported to Marine Corps M1A1 Tank Crewman School in Fort Knox, KY, where he was recognized as The Company Honor Graduate and meritoriously promoted to Lance Corporal.
In December 1997, Lance Corporal Betancourt reported to, 2nd Tank Battalion, Company B aboard Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 1st Battalion, 6th Marines from 1998 to 1999, and was promoted to Corporal. Immediately following his first deployment Corporal Betancourt deployed again with the 22nd MEU from 1999 to 2000.
Corporal Betancourt was promoted to Sergeant on 1 March 2000. Sergeant Betancourt deployed with 2nd Tank Battalion as a Tank Commander in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) in January 2003. While in theater, he was promoted to Staff Sergeant, and returned in June 2003 from OIF I.
In 2004, Staff Sergeant Betancourt reported to Drill Instructor School, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. Throughout his drill instructor tour Staff Sergeant Betancourt completed 10 cycles with Company E & F. He served as a Drill Instructor, Senior Drill Instructor and Chief Drill Instructor.
In March 2007 he was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant. A few months later he was assigned to 1st Tank Battalion, Company A, in August 2007. There he deployed to OIF 8.1 from April to November 2008, where he served as Platoon Sergeant and Platoon Commander for multiple operations. Gunnery Sergeant Betancourt was then assigned to Headquarters and Service Company as the Company Gunnery Sergeant in 2009.
In March 2010 he was promoted to First Sergeant and received orders to I&I Staff, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion 25th Marines 4th Marine Division. Upon completion of I&I duty, First Sergeant Betancourt was transferred to 2d Battalion, 3d Marines, 3d Marine Division as the Headquarters & Service Company First Sergeant. There, he completed two Unit Deployment Programs (UDP) to Okinawa and was selected to the rank of Sergeant Major upon return from his second UDP.
Sergeant Major Betancourt was promoted on February 19, 2016 and currently serves as the Sergeant Major for Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron- 2, Cherry Point North Carolina.
His awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars in lieu of third award, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two gold stars in lieu of third award, and the Combat Action Ribbon.