We are proud to recognize Staff Sergeant Matthew Marsh as the Soldier of the Quarter for Q2 2026.

Since first enlisting in July 2024, SSG Marsh has rapidly distinguished himself as one of the Division's most dedicated Non-Commissioned Officers. In just two years, he has progressed from Fireteam Member to Staff Sergeant, earning positions of increasing responsibility through exceptional leadership, unwavering professionalism, and an unmatched commitment to developing those around him.

Throughout his career, SSG Marsh has served in a variety of key leadership roles, including Fireteam Leader, Assistant Squad Leader, Squad Leader, and currently Senior Drill Sergeant within the Force Improvement Group (S3). Beyond leading soldiers during operations, he has become one of the Division's premier instructors, helping shape the next generation of infantrymen through Ranger School, OSUT, Land Navigation, Air Assault School, Combat Lifesaver Courses, and Alpha Company's Annual Rifle Requalification program. His dedication to training and mentorship has had a lasting impact on countless soldiers entering and advancing within the 3rd Infantry Division.

Operationally, SSG Marsh has built an impressive combat record across Operation Northern Lights (Finland), Operation Egyptian Collapse (Egypt), and the current Operation Wet Feet (Georgia). Whether serving as a Ranger, Pathfinder, Airborne-qualified infantryman, or squad leader, he has consistently demonstrated calm decision-making, tactical proficiency, and the ability to lead from the front in some of the Division's most demanding missions.

His commitment to professional development is equally impressive. SSG Marsh is qualified as a Ranger, Pathfinder, Airborne, Air Assault, Combat Lifesaver, and Advanced Radio Communications specialist. He is also a graduate of both the Warrior Leadership Course and Advanced Leadership Course, while maintaining Expert Rifle Qualification and serving as one of the Division's premier marksmanship instructors.

In addition to his combat and instructional duties, SSG Marsh has contributed to the Public Affairs Office as both a Journalist and later an Anchor, helping communicate the accomplishments and professionalism of the Division to the broader community.

His outstanding service has been recognized through numerous awards, including the Soldier's Medal, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal (2 Awards), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medals, Combat Infantryman Badge (2nd Award), Combat Action Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Ranger Tab, Army Superior Unit Award, Valorous Unit Award, and numerous campaign, service, and good conduct awards.

Whether training new recruits, mentoring future leaders, or leading soldiers in combat, SSG Marsh consistently exemplifies the Army Values and the standards expected of a Non-Commissioned Officer. His passion for developing others, combined with his professionalism and operational excellence, make him an outstanding representative of the 3rd Infantry Division.

Get to Know SSG M.Marsh: Soldier of the Quarter Interview

• Tell us a little about yourself?
  • My name is Matthew, and I'm 25 years old. I graduated in Foreign Trade and Economics and am currently enrolled in a postgraduate course in Supply Chain and Logistics. I'm very passionate about music, sports, and ancient history.

• Why did you join 3rdID and what keeps you here?
  • My journey with milsim started back in 2015 when I first bought ArmA 3. My computer could barely handle the game, but I loved it anyway. Not long after playing for the first time, a friend of mine introduced me to milsim, and I was instantly hooked. I met a lot of cool people, made some great friends, and also improved my English a lot.
  • When I joined the 3rd ID back in 2024, I had been out of the milsim community for about four or five years due to time constraints with university and work. When things settled down a little, I searched for an ArmA 3 milsim unit, and the 3rd ID was the first one that popped up. Seeing the website, PERSCOM, and the uniforms had me hooked instantly, and I could tell this would be a solid group due to the fact that it had been around for 20 years.
  • What keeps me here is the amazing community we have, the friends I've made, and the duties I've taken on in FIG and PAO. I honestly have a great time instructing OSUTs and making sure our new enlistees are well prepared.

• Any favorite/funny/memorable moment throughout your whole time in the unit?
  • I'd say some of the most memorable moments I've had were the "side quests" that I would get drawn into when I was the Squad Leader for 2nd Squad, 1st Platoon. Sometimes we'd get tasked with assisting 2nd Platoon with some of their objectives, and it was always a blast.
  • One especially memorable moment was when me and Ghosts were in a defensive position, and SFC Fitzgerald, who was still an SSG at the time, came out of nowhere asking me to lend him a fire team. I promptly reached out to my Platoon Leader, who approved it, and off we went with him into a crazy assault. I remember multiple people rushing forward, firing blindly through the smoke, and yelling, "SECOND SQUADS UNITED!" I was laughing so hard I could barely shoot at the enemy.
  • There's also the time when SFC Fitzgerald cut me off with his Humvee at a Y-intersection and caused my Stryker to flip. He then proceeded to handwrite an apology letter to me, and the squad then posted it in the mess hall, which everyone thought was incredibly funny.

• Any advice to give to your fellow soldiers to help them in their careers here?
  • Always look for ways to improve, and try to talk to new and different people—you'll make friends where you least expect them. Always have a goal in sight, don't let yourself become stagnant, and genuinely try to do something you enjoy, whether that's in a DMOS or a specific squad position.

• What army value is the most important to you and why?
  • For me, it has to be Integrity. I believe a person should always be true to their word and do the right thing, even when no one is watching. Without integrity, it's impossible to build trust, and without trust, it's impossible to lead effectively.

• What motivates you to keep pushing forward in the unit and do you have any goals for the future within the unit?
  • What motivates me is the desire to master the art of reconnaissance, become the best Squad Leader I can possibly be, and develop my squad to its highest potential. I've just reached my Squad Leader rank cap, but I can confidently say that I'd like to become a Platoon Sergeant in the future.

• Any valuable lessons you have learned while being in the unit?
  • Honestly, I learned a lot about leadership and managing people. I had some prior real-life experience leading teams during projects, but I can confidently say that none of it was as intense as some of the experiences I've had here. I've already managed to apply some of the leadership techniques I learned in this unit to real-life situations, and it was a great feeling to see that the skills I developed in the unit translated seamlessly into real life.

• What's your favorite thing about the 3rd Infantry Division Realism Unit?
  • I'd say my favorite thing about the unit is the banter and the rapport I've built with my friends from other elements and my squadmates. It's great talking to them every weekend, hearing about their achievements in real life, and catching up on how things have been going for them. It's also a great feeling to be able to teach people, pass on some of my knowledge, and watch them develop, not only within the unit but also in real life.

@SSG M.Marsh no way you unironically brought up the letter😂

@SSG M.Marsh God bless the 2nd squads unite. I remember that

@SFC B.Fitzgerald How could I not? One of the craziest shenanigans ever lol.