Philip Crosby is a native of Spartanburg, South Carolina. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on March 8th, 1999 and completed recruit training at MCRD Parris Island. Following recruit training, Private Crosby attend Marine Combat Training and Marine Corps Cannoneer School where he attained the Military Occupational Specialty of 0811 Howitzer Cannoneer.
In September of 1999, Private Crosby was assigned to India Battery, 3rd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment. Private First Class Crosby subsequently deployed in July 2000 with the 26th MEU as a part of Battalion Landing Team 2/2, participating in exercises with the Tunisian and Croatian Army. In December 2001, Lance Corporal Crosby was meritoriously promoted to Corporal and participated in multiple exercises to include Rolling Thunder at Fort Bragg, NC and Combined Arms Exercises at in 29 Palms, CA. In November 2002, Corporal Crosby was promoted to Sergeant, assigned as the Section Chief for Howitzer Number 3, and deployed as part of Regimental Combat Team 1 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 1.
Upon return from Iraq in May 2003, Sergeant Crosby requested and received orders to Parris Island, SC for Drill Instructor School. Upon graduation from Drill Instructor School, Sergeant Crosby was assigned to Echo Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion where he served as a Junior, Experienced, and Senior Drill Instructor. On July 2nd, 2006 Sergeant Crosby was meritoriously promoted to Staff Sergeant and moved to Hotel Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion where he completed 2 cycles as a Senior Drill Instructor. Upon completion of his 7th cycle, Staff Sergeant Crosby was selected to serve as the Battalion Drill Master for 2nd Battalion. He would remain in that billet until July 2007.
In August 2007, Staff Sergeant Crosby was transferred to 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment. Immediately upon arrival, he was redirected to Marine Headquarters Group for assignment as the Operations Chief for Military Transition Team 331. In October 2007, Staff Sergeant Crosby deployed to Habbiniyah, Iraq and embedded with 1st Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Iraqi Army Division as the Operations Advisor. Subsequently, the battalion was designated as the Iraqi Quick Reaction Force and deployed to various areas within Iraq including Diyala Province, Sadr City, and COP Sedgewick.
Upon return from Iraq, Staff Sergeant Crosby was assigned to Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 10th Marines as the Guns Platoon Sergeant. Throughout his tenure, Staff Sergeant Crosby participated in multiple iterations of Exercise Rolling Thunder at Fort Bragg, NC and Enhanced Mojave Viper at Marine Air Ground Combat Center, 29 Palms, CA. In November 2010, Staff Sergeant Crosby was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant and deployed to Afghanistan. While in Afghanistan, Charlie Battery was assigned to Firebase Saenz in Sangin, Afghanistan executing fire support for combat operations in the Sangin River Valley as well as maintaining a security force for the area of operations. Upon return from Afghanistan, Gunnery Sergeant Crosby was assigned as the Battery Gunnery Sergeant for Charlie Battery and executed Exercise Rolling Thunder in Ft Bragg, NC.
In February 2012, Gunnery Sergeant Crosby transferred to Mike Battery, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division in Chattanooga, TN to serve as the Inspector-Instructor Battery Gunnery Sergeant. During his time in Chattanooga, Gunnery Sergeant Crosby participated in Exercise African Lion in Morocco, Africa as well as training exercises in Ft Drum, NY and Ft Sill, OK. In addition to this, he participated in numerous military funerals and community relations events in the Chattanooga area.
After completing Inspector-Instructor duty in June of 2015, Gunnery Sergeant Crosby was assigned to 1st Battalion, 10th Marines as the Battery Gunnery Sergeant for Alpha Battery. In October of 2015, he departed for the Unit Deployment Program in Okinawa, Japan. While in Okinawa, Alpha Battery completed numerous exercises in Camp Fuji, Yausebetsu, and the Jungle Warfare Training Center. While deployed, Gunnery Sergeant Crosby was selected for First Sergeant and received orders to Headquarters Battalion, 2d Marine Division.
In March of 2016, First Sergeant Crosby was assigned as the Headquarters Company First Sergeant in Headquarters Battalion. During this time the Headquarters Company completed a Marine Expeditionary Force Exercise as well as numerous Division Exercises. In March of 2017, First Sergeant Crosby moved to Truck Company, Headquarters Battalion completing numerous Company and Battalion level exercises.
In August 2018, First Sergeant Crosby requested and received orders to 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment where he was assigned to Bravo Company. Bravo Company participated in Integrated Training Exercise at 29 Palms, CA as well as numerous exercise in preparation for deployment to Vaernes, Norway in March of 2019. While in Norway, Bravo Company completed numerous bilateral training exercises including Winter Warrior and Thunder Reindeer in Norway and Sea Breeze in Ukraine. First Sergeant Crosby returned from Norway in September of 2019 and was assigned as the Battalion Sergeant Major for 1st Battalion, 8th Marines. In February 2020 Sergeant Major Crosby was frocked to his current rank and remained as the Battalion Sergeant Major for 1st Battalion, 8th Marines.
Sergeant Major Crosby’s personal awards include: Bronze Star Medal (Combat V), Meritorious Service Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal (Gold Star in lieu of second award), Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal (Combat V and 3 Gold Stars), Combat Action Ribbon, and Good Conduct Medal (1 Silver Star, 1 Bronze Star in lieu of 7th award).