Micaiah Roydes joined the United States Marine Corps in July 1996. After graduating from recruit training Roydes attended the School of Infantry at Camp Geiger and received the MOS of 0311 Rifleman. He attended Basic Security Guard School in Chesapeake, Virginia where he was screened and selected for duty with 1st Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team. Roydes held the billets of rifleman, automatic rifleman and fire team leader while at 1st FAST and deployed in 1998 to Japan. Upon return in 1999 Roydes was assigned to Officer Candidates School in Quantico. There he worked as a squad leader until being selected for recruiting duty. Roydes reported to RS Atlanta in September 2000 and served as a canvassing recruiter until October 2003.
After recruiting duty he was promoted to SSgt and assigned to 2d Battalion 8th Marines, Company G as a Platoon Sergeant. In that role he deployed to Kunar Province Afghanistan in November 2003 for 7 months. Upon return Roydes maintained his role as platoon sergeant and deployed again in 2005 on the 26th MEU, making stops in Iraq and Northern Africa. In 2006 he deployed again with 2/8 to Iraq.
Roydes was badly injured in a vehicle accident aboard 29 Palms in May of 2006. On August 6th Roydes was at a platoon battle position in Sitcher, Iraq when his platoon was hit by a complex attack. The culminating event was a dump truck suicide bomb that detonated less than 20 yards from him. He was blown off the building and suffered his 2nd TBI and had nerve damage to his arm and hand from shrapnel. 12 soldiers were injured but no one died. After being evacuated to the states Roydes had surgery on his right arm and hand. He had been selected for MARSOC before the deployment and reported while still on limited duty to 3d MSOB where he was promoted to GySgt. He served as Assistant Operations Chief and Team Leader before being selected for Combat Instructor duty. Roydes served as the Chief Instructor and helped establish both the Combat Hunter Course and Infantry Train the Trainer Course. After 3 years Roydes was selected to MSgt and given orders to Marine Corps Tactics and Operations Group. He served as the Master Instructor until his retirement in August 2016.
Roydes schooling includes Infantry Unit Leaders Course (Honor Grad), Staff NCO Academy Career Course (Honor Grad), Advanced Course (Honor Grad), Combat Instructors Course (Honor Grad), SERE, Deployment Medical Operator, Tactical Tracking Operations, Operations and Tactics Instructor, Weapons and Tactics Instructor.
His personal awards include the Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon with 1 God Star, and the Campaign Medals for both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Roydes has been married to wife, Chasa, for 21 years and together they have 2 sons. Dakota is 21 and lives with his wife in El Paso, Texas. Gabriel is 18 and is a student a UC Santa Barbara.
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