Sergeant Major Robert Lytle enlisted in the Marine Corps on July 10, 1997 and shipped to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina in September of 1997. He graduated from Company H, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion on December 19, 1997. Private First Class Lytle attended the School of Infantry (SOI), Infantry Rifleman’s Course at Camp Geiger, North Carolina. After completion of SOI in March 1998, he was transferred to First Battalion, Eighth Marines (1/8), 2d Marine Division (2D MARDIV), for duty as an Infantry Rifleman (0311). While serving with 1/8, in December 1999 Lance Corporal Lytle Deployed to Okinawa, Japan on the Unit Deployment Program (UDP) and was promoted to the rank of Corporal. In February of 2001, Sergeant Lytle deployed with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). Sergeant Lytle held the billets of Team Leader, Squad Leader, and Platoon Sergeant while serving with Eighth Marines.
Upon his return from the 22nd MEU in July of 2001, Sergeant Lytle attended the Summer Mountain Warfare School in Bridgeport, California. Upon completion of the Summer Mountain Leaders Course, Sergeant Lytle received orders to Drill Instructor School in September of 2001. Upon graduation, Sergeant Lytle was assigned to Company I, Third Recruit Training Battalion. Sergeant Lytle was meritoriously promoted to Staff Sergeant during this tour of duty and held the billets of Drill Instructor for six cycles, and Senior Drill Instructor for an additional two cycles producing five honor platoons from eight training cycles.
In January 2005, Staff Sergeant Lytle was transferred to First Battalion, Third Marines (1/3), Third Marine Division (3D MARDIV), Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii for duty as an Infantry Unit Leader (0369). While serving with 1/3 in January 2006, Staff Sergeant Lytle deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). In March of 2007, Staff Sergeant Lytle deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Staff Sergeant Lytle held the billets of Platoon Sergeant, Platoon Commander, and Company Gunnery Sergeant while serving with 1/3.
During February 2008, Gunnery Sergeant Lytle received orders to Marine Combat Instructor School. Upon graduation, Gunnery Sergeant Lytle received orders to Advanced Infantry Training Battalion, Detachment Hawaii, for duty as a Combat Instructor. He served as Chief Instructor Staff Noncommissioned Officer-in-Charge and Director of the Infantry Squad Leaders Course and the Basic Scout Snipers Course. In January 2010, Gunnery Sergeant Lytle transferred to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit Command Element for duty at Camp Pendleton, California and served as Operations Chief and Civil Military Affairs Chief for nine months before being selected to the rank of First Sergeant.
In April of 2011, First Sergeant Lytle received orders to Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38 (MWCS-38), where he served as Detachment First Sergeant for Detachments A and B and as the Squadron Sergeant Major. While serving with MWCS-38, First Sergeant Lytle deployed to Bahrain with Marine Aircraft Group 50 (MAG-50) as the GROUP Sergeant Major for six months in support of OEF. Upon return from deployment, First Sergeant Lytle served as the MWCS-38 Squadron Sergeant Major for an additional nine months.
In July 2014, First Sergeant Lytle received orders to Parris Island, South Carolina for duty. During this tour of duty First Sergeant Lytle served as the Company First Sergeant for Companies C and D and was hand selected to serve as the First Sergeant of Drill Instructor School. In January of 2018, Sergeant Major Lytle was promoted to his current rank and requested orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271, where he currently serves as the Squadron Sergeant Major.
Sergeant Major Lytle’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (gold star in lieu of second award), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (gold stars in lieu of 3rd award), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (gold star in lieu of 2nd award). Sergeant Major Lytle holds an A.A. in General Studies, a B.A. in Criminal Justice and a M.A. in Management and Organizational Development from American Military University.