WASHINGTON -- A native of Mission Hills, Calif., served as the parade adjutant during a prestigious Friday Evening Parade at Marine Barracks Washington Aug. 3.
Staff Sgt. Andres De La Cueva served as the parade adjutant for the staff noncommissioned officer parade that was conducted for the sergeant major of the Marine Corps.
This parade is unique because enlisted Marines fill key billets on the parade field usually filled by officers.
“It’s a great accomplishment for a staff noncommissioned officer at the Barracks,” De La Cueva said. “This parade only happens once a year, so not many Marines get the opportunity to march in this position.”
De La Cueva enlisted in the Marine Corps July 2000 and attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. He is currently serving with the Marine Corps Institute as a distance learning instructor. His current billet has the 31-year-old writing and re-writing the educational books that facilitate the training and education of individual Marines across the country and the globe.
Throughout his career, the James Monroe High School-graduate has been honored with three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals and four Good Conduct Medals among other awards.
De La Cueva said he is currently awaiting orders to recruiter school and is looking forward to trying to come home and help young men and women join the world’s most elite fighting force.
“Growing up in Mission Hills pushed me toward the Marine Corps and helped me become the Marine I am today,” De La Cueva said. “I hope that during recruiting duty I can find those young individuals that can become Marines and future leaders.”