Sergeant Major Steven Kern was born on 2 May 1984 in Cincinnati Ohio and graduated from Loveland High School in 2002. He attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island South Carolina where he was a recruit of 2nd Battalion, Echo Company, Platoon 2075. Upon completion of recruit training, he reported to Marine Combat Training, Camp Geiger, Jacksonville, North Carolina. Upon completion of Marine Combat Training, he was assigned the Military Occupational Specialty of 3051, Supply Warehouse Clerk and was promoted to the rank of Private First Class in December of 2002. He was then assigned to The Basic Supply Warehouse School in Camp Johnson, Jacksonville North Carolina.
Private First Class Kern was then assigned to the 1st Force Service Support Group, Combat Logistics Regiment 15, Maintenance Battalion, where he deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Upon his return in October of 2003, he returned to Maintenance Battalion where he worked as a supply warehouse clerk and was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal in September of 2003. In January 2004, Lance Corporal Kern deployed to Iraq with Combat Logistics Regiment 7, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and served in Camp Taquaddum and Camp Al Asad as a warehouse clerk. He was promoted to the rank of Corporal in February of 2005.
In January of 2006, Corporal Kern returned to Iraq for his final deployment where he spent 15 months in Al Qaim Iraq where he served as a warehouse chief at which point Corporal Kern was combat meritoriously promoted to the rank of Sergeant in February of 2007. Upon his return to the United States, Sergeant Kern was assigned to Marine Forces Reserve New Orleans Louisiana where he served as a warehouse chief in May of 2007. In September of 2009 Sergeant Kern received orders to Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji Japan where he would serve as a supply warehouse chief.
In September of 2010 Sergeant Kern received orders to Parris Island South Carolina where he served as drill instructor 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, Echo Company. Sergeant Kern served in billets of drill instructor, senior drill Instructor, and chief drill instructor and was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant in January of 2013. Staff Sergeant Kern received orders to 3d Battalion 12th Marines in Okinawa Japan where he filled to billet of warehouse chief and substance abuse control officer. During his time with 3/12, Staff Sergeant Kern also served in a billet of bilateral coordination center Staff Noncommissioned Officer where his primary duty was to be a liaison between the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force and the battalion commander.
In January of 2016 Staff Sergeant Kern was assigned to Marine Corps Installations West, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, G-4 Logistics where he served as a supply and maintenance analysis inspector, G-4 Logistics Chief, and supply warehouse chief. Staff Sergeant Kern was promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant in January of 2017 and in February of 2018, Gunnery Sergeant Kern received orders to Rice University to serve as the assistant Marine officer instructor to the Houston Consortium. During his time at Rice University, he spent 4 summers in Quantico Virginia as an augment for Officer Candidates School where he served as a sergeant instructor and platoon sergeant. During his time as an Assistant Marine Officer Instructor, he was selected as the Naval Service Training Command Marine of The Year.
Gunnery Sergeant Kern was promoted to the rank of First Sergeant in February of 2021 and received orders to 1st Battalion, 3d Marines where he served as the unit senior enlisted leader for Charlie Company. In February of 2023, First Sergeant Kern received orders to Marine Barracks Washington where he served as the senior enlisted leader for Headquarters and Service Company. First Sergeant Kern received orders to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant Major in May of 2024.
Sergeant Major Kern's personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with 4 gold stars in lieu of 5th award, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with 4 gold stars in lieu of 5th award and the Good Conduct Medal with 1 silver and 1 bronze stars in lieu of the 7th award.