Gunnery Sergeant Esteban R. Aguirre hails from Fresno, California. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in February 2010 and attended Recruit Training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, CA. Upon graduating, PFC Aguirre completed Marine Combat Training at the School of Infantry, Camp Pendleton, CA. He then reported to the Naval School of Music, Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Virginia Beach, VA, where he completed the basic musician’s course.
After graduation, Lance Corporal Aguirre reported to the Combat Center Band, 29 Palms, CA, as a Trumpet Instrumentalist. He was promoted to Corporal in April 2011. In 2012, he reported to the First Marine Division Band, serving as the Assistant Instrument Repair Technician (IRT), Supply Chief, and Brass Quintet Ensemble leader. He was their Non-Commissioned Officer Musician of the Year nomination in 2014.
Sgt Aguirre was stationed in Okinawa, Japan, in 2015, where he served as Platoon Sergeant, Supply Chief, and Assistant IRT. In February 2016, Sgt Aguirre was deployed to Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa as their Range Coordinator. Once again, he was the unit’s Non-Commissioned Officer Musician of the Year nominee in 2016.
In November 2017, SSgt Aguirre received orders to Recruiting Station Sacramento, Recruiting Sub-Station (RSS) Fresno, as a canvassing recruiter. As a successful recruiter, he was tasked to be the station’s assistant SNCOIC and, in 2019, was selected to be the SNCOIC for RSS Merced. SSgt Aguirre’s efforts helped win the 12th MCD RS of the Year FY 19, RS Sacramento Small RSS of the Year FY 20, and the 12th MCD’s Mission Maker Award FY 20.
SSgt Aguirre arrived at the Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band in December 2020. He served as Acting IRT, Platoon Sergeant, Trumpet Section Leader, and Brass Band Ensemble Leader. In 2022, he was the MARFORPAC Band’s SNCO Musician of the Year nominee. On July 1, 2023, he was promoted to his current rank of Gunnery Sergeant.
From July 2023 to Jun 2024, Gunnery Sergeant Aguirre attended the band instrument repair program at Minnesota State College Southeast in Red Wing, Minnesota, where he earned an associate’s degree with Honors. In June 2024, Gunnery Sergeant Aguirre reported to the 1st Marine Division Band in Camp Pendleton, California, where he serves as the band's Instrument Repair Technician.
Gunnery Sergeant Aguirre’s awards include the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal gold star in lieu of second award, Joint Service Achievement Medal bronze oak leaf cluster in lieu of second award, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with gold star in lieu of second award.