Warrant Officer (WO) John Geary enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in July 2010 after earning his bachelor's degree in music education from James Madison University. He began his military career with Recruit Training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, followed by Marine Combat Training at Camp Geiger, North Carolina. He then attended the Basic Musician Course at the Naval School of Music in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he was promoted to lance corporal.
Upon graduation of the Basic Musician Course, WO Geary was assigned to the III Marine Expeditionary Force Band in Okinawa, Japan, serving as a trombone instrumentalist, martial arts instructor, and assistant enlisted conductor. He was promoted to the rank of corporal in October 2011 and sergeant in January 2013. In November 2013, he was selected as the FY2013 Marine Musician of the Year and awarded the Colonel Hamilton Military Outstanding Musician Award.
In May of 2014, WO Geary reported for duty to the Quantico Marine Band in Quantico, Virginia, where he continued to serve in several billets including trombone instrumentalist, martial arts instructor, library NCOIC, and faculty advisor for Corporal's Course Class 1-15. He was promoted to staff sergeant in October of 2017 and completed his master’s degree in music education from Boston University in January 2018.
After graduating from the Naval School of Music’s Unit Leader Course in August of 2018, WO Geary was stationed with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band in Miramar, California, where he served as the unit’s Enlisted Conductor. He also served as a martial arts instructor, Sergeants School Seminar Program Instructor, and completed the Audition Trainer Course.
In August 2021, WO Geary was selected for instructor duty at the Naval School of Music. Upon completion of the Navy Instructor Trainer Course, he served as an Advanced Academics Conducting Instructor, Instrumental Division Trombone Instructor, earned his Master Training Specialist Certification and was named Center for Service Support Mid-Grade Instructor of the Year for CY 2022.
WO Geary was promoted to gunnery sergeant in July 2023 and graduated from the Advanced Musician Course in August 2023. He continued to instruct future iterations of the course until his selection as Band Officer in September 2023. From January to May 2024, he reported to The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia to attend the Warrant Officer Basic Course (WOBC).
Upon graduation of the WOBC in May 2024, WO Geary reported to the 2nd Marine Division Band at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he currently serves as the assistant director.
His awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4th Award), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Good Conduct Medal (4th Award), National Defense Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.