Sergeant Major Sanders retired from the Marine Corps as the Sergeant Major, Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Quantico, VA. Prior to that, he served as the Director, Enlisted Professional Military Education/Sergeant Major, Marine Corps University. He served as Sergeant Major at the at the Marine Corps Air Station, in the 3d Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, of the 26th MEU (SOC), and at the Marine Barracks, Washington D.C. Throughout his career, he served in Okinawa, Japan; Camp Pendleton; Parris Island; and at the Recruiting Station in Seattle, WA. He was sent to the Republic of Vietnam where he served with Company G, 2d Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment. While in the Republic of Vietnam, he received a meritorious combat promotion to Corporal. Sergeant Major Sanders enlisted in the Marine Corps in January 1969.