Sergeant Major Jose Manuel Ramirez is a native of Atlantic City, New Jersey. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in January of 2003, and attended Recruit Training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon graduating, he reported to Marine Combat Training at Camp Geiger, North Carolina. He subsequently attended the Marine Corps Engineer School in Court House Bay, North Carolina, where he was assigned the military occupational specialty (MOS) of 1141, Basic Electrician.
Following MOS school, Private First Class Ramirez reported to 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (AT) in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he served as a Basic Electrician. Private First Class Ramirez was promoted to Lance Corporal in March 2004. In February of 2005, he deployed with Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2 to Al-Asad, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In April of 2005, he was combat meritoriously promoted to the rank of Corporal.
Upon his return in January of 2006, Corporal Ramirez received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, NC, to serve as the Electrical Section Head. During this time, he redeployed with Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2 to support Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF-5) in Al-Asad, Iraq for a period of six month and served as the Utilities Platoon Noncommissioned Officer in Charge. In February of 2007, Corporal Ramirez volunteered to deploy with Military Transition Team 6, 3d Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and served as a machine gunner and Utilities Chief. In June of 2007, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Upon returning to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271, he served as the platoon Sergeant and Company Gunnery Sergeant. Sergeant Ramirez deployed with Southern Partnership 11 on January of 2011, and served as the Utilities Chief for the deployment.
In October of 2011, Sergeant Ramirez reported to Drill Instructor School, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon completion of Drill Instructor School, he was assigned to Bravo Company, First Recruit Training Battalion. In February of 2012, Sergeant Ramirez was promoted to Staff Sergeant. While assigned to First Recruit Training Battalion, he held the positions of Drill Instructor, Senior Drill Instructor, and Chief Drill Instructor. He was then assigned to the First Recruit Training Battalion Headquarters Company, where he held the billet of Operations Chief and Company First Sergeant.
In December of 2014, Staff Sergeant Ramirez received orders to Inspector Instructor duty, Marine Wing Support Squadron 473, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 41, in Naval Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas, where he served as the Utilities Chief and Detachment Staff Noncommissioned Officer in Charge. During this time, he participated in Operation Old Harbor Alaska, Maple Flag 50, and SPMAGTF-Crisis Response 20. In October of 2016, Staff Sergeant Ramirez was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant.
In December of 2017, Gunnery Sergeant Ramirez received orders to Combat Logistics Battalion 6, 2nd Marine Logistics Battalion in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he served as the Operation Chief and Company First Sergeant. In March of 2019, Gunnery Sergeant Ramirez received orders to Marine Air Control Group 28 (MACG-28) Personnel Support Division (PSD), where he served as the PSD Company First Sergeant and Utilities Chief. Gunnery Sergeant Ramirez was frocked to First Sergeant in April of 2020.
In June of 2020, First Sergeant Ramirez was transferred to Marine Corps Security Force Battalion, Bangor, where he served as the Alpha Company, Unit Senior Enlisted Leader. In December of 2022, First Sergeant Ramirez received orders to Marine Air Control Squadron 2, MACG-28, Cherry Point, North Carolina where he assumed the duties of Unit Senior Enlisted Leader for Marine Air Traffic Control Company Mike.
In August of 2024, First Sergeant Ramirez was promoted to his current rank and subsequently executed orders to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167, MAG 29, to served as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader.
In March of 2026, Sergeant Major Ramirez received orders to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365, MAG 26, where he is currently serving as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader.
Sergeant Major Ramirez's personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (one silver star in lieu of sixth award) and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two gold stars in lieu of third award).