Sergeant Major Joseph R. Walling enlisted into the Marine Corps in July 2001 out of Chester, Pennsylvania. He attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina and graduated in October of 2001 after a meritorious promotion to Private First Class. Upon the completion of Marine Combat Training he reported to Fort Leonard Wood, MO, for MOS training where he earned the MOS 3533 Logistics Vehicle System Operator. After MOS training, he reported to his first duty station at the Mountain Warfare Training Center, in Bridgeport, CA to Base Motor Transport. He was promoted to Lance Corporal in July of 2002. There he served as the Line NCO and Chief Dispatcher for the Motor Transport platoon and for the Southwest Regional Fleet Transportation commercial vehicle fleet. Lance Corporal Walling was promoted to Corporal in January of 2003.
In March of 2003 Corporal Walling received temporary additional duty orders to augment the 11th Marine Regiment for Operation Iraqi Freedom as a part of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. In April of 2004 Corporal Walling was assigned to the 3rd Marine Division Schools and Marine Corps Martial Arts Program Far East satellite school. He was meritoriously promoted to Sergeant in May of 2005. At Division Schools he served as the Chief Instructor of Corporals Course and a Squad Instructor Trainer for the Martial Arts Instructor Course. Additionally, Sergeant Walling was also appointed as the Chief Instructor of Tactical Convoy Operations for Pre-deployment Training Block II for III MEF.
In January 2008, Sergeant Walling requested orders to the Basic Recruiter Course. Upon graduating, he was assigned to Recruiting Sub-Station Bucks County, Recruiting Station Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Sergeant Walling was promoted to Staff Sergeant in January of 2009. In February of 2010, Staff Sergeant Walling became the Officer Selection Assistant at Officer Selection Station Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
In November of 2012, Staff Sergeant Walling reported to Supply Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 35, with 3d Marine Logistics Group in Okinawa, Japan where he fulfilled the role of Platoon Sergeant for the Motor Transport platoon. While assigned there he participated in exercise Balikatan as the Unit Movement Control Chief. In May of 2013 he transferred to 3d Transportation Support Battalion, Okinawa, Japan. While with this unit he fulfilled billets of Regimental Safety Officer, Regimental Equal Opportunity Representative, and Platoon Staff Noncommissioned Officer in Charge. While assigned with there he also assisted with multiple exercises such as Ulchi-Freedom Guardian, and Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course 2-15. Staff Sergeant Walling was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant in July of 2015.
In February 2016 Gunnery Sergeant Walling reported to Marine Air Support Squadron 2 as the Motor Transport Operations Chief for the Motor Transport and Utilities platoon. Later he held the position of a Platoon Commander for the same platoon. In November of 2016 he was given the billet of Headquarters Company First Sergeant, and served in that position until he was selected for a Degree Completion Program billet and reassigned.
In July 2017 Gunnery Sergeant Walling reported to Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy in Okinawa, where he served as the Academics Officer. He worked with the College of Enlisted Military Education to develop and implement new resident PME curriculum across the Sergeant School, Career School and Advanced School, and worked with III Marine Expeditionary Force to redesign the Regional First Sergeant and Master Sergeant Seminar, and the Corrective Custody Unit curriculum. Additionally, he taught classes discussing the Marine Corps systemic approach to enlisted education to the ROK Marine Corps, and Japanese Self-Defense Forces Sergeant Major courses.
First Sergeant Walling reported to 3d Intelligence Battalion in April of 2019 and served as the Company First Sergeant for Battlespace Surveillance Company. In March of 2020 he was transferred to Headquarters Company. In January of 2021 First Sergeant Walling graduated from the Expeditionary Warfare School. He was transferred to Marine Corps Engineer School in July of 2021, where he served as the Company First Sergeant for Combat Engineer Instruction Company and later Headquarters and Services Company. The January of 2023 Sergeant Major Walling was promoted to his current rank and reported to Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2 with 2d Marine Aircraft Wing aboard MCAS Cherry Point. In February of 2024 he deployed to Norway in support of Nordic Response 24. Upon completion of this assignment he reported to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261 (VMM-261) in August of 2024.
Sergeant Major Walling's personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold star in lieu of second award, as well as various other service and campaign medals. He received his Bachelor's degree in History in April of 2008, and his Master's degree in Professional Education from Saint Joseph's University in January of 2017.