Sergeant Major Kenneth L. Kuss enlisted in the Marine Corps in Kentucky and attended recruit training at MCRD Parris Island where he graduated a PFC in November 1997. In December 1997, PFC Kuss transferred to Camp Johnson, NC for Fiscal/Budget Technician School. Upon graduation in February 1998, he was assigned to the Comptroller’s Office at U.S. Marine Forces Atlantic in Norfolk, VA. In January 2001, he was reassigned as the Fiscal Chief of MARFORLANT’s Headquarters & Service Company.
In March 2002, Sergeant Kuss was transferred to Combat Service Support Group 3 on Marine Corps Base Hawaii for duty as the Group’s Fiscal Chief. In August 2003, Sergeant Kuss transferred to Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, NC, to serve as the Budget Analyst in the Comptroller’s Office. In June 2004, Kuss was promoted to Staff Sergeant and deployed for 12 months to Djibouti, Africa, as an individual augment in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM to serve as the Comptroller Chief of CJTF-HOA.
Upon his return from deployment, Staff Sergeant Kuss reported to Recruiters School in July 2005 at MCRD San Diego for duty as a student. Staff Sergeant Kuss graduated with honors and was ordered to Recruiting Station Dallas, Recruiting Sub-Station Little Rock, Arkansas for duty as a Canvassing Recruiter. While assigned to RSS Little Rock, Staff Sergeant Kuss was selected as the Fiscal Year 2006 RS Dallas “Rookie Recruiter of the Year.” In July 2007, Kuss was meritoriously promoted to Gunnery Sergeant. Gunnery Sergeant Kuss was also selected as the Fiscal Year 2007 RS Dallas “Recruiter of the Year.”
Following Recruiting Duty in September 2008, Gunnery Sergeant Kuss was assigned to DFAS-Cleveland to help establish the newly-formed Marine Corps Financial Management Operations Support Branch of Headquarters, Marine Corps. In April 2009, Gunnery Sergeant Kuss attended the Advanced Resource Management Course at Camp Johnson, NC as a student and was subsequently the Honor Graduate. In June 2011, he was assigned to 4th Marine Corps Recruiting District to serve as the Comptroller Chief.
In February 2012, 1stSgt Kuss was transferred to Company E, 2d Battalion 25th Marines in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to serve as the I-I First Sergeant. In December 2014, 1stSgt Kuss graduated the U.S. Navy Senior Enlisted Academy in Newport, RI and was the Honor Graduate of Class 184. In January 2015, 1stSgt Kuss reported to 1st Battalion 3d Marines on Marine Corps Base Hawaii to serve as First Sergeant of Company B and Headquarters & Service Company, participating in the Unit Deployment Program to Japan and South Korea. In December 2016, SgtMaj Kuss transferred to Combat Logistics Battalion 3 on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, to serve as the Sergeant Major.
In February 2019, SgtMaj Kuss reported to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, NC and was appointed the Sergeant Major of VMA-231. In July 2019 SgtMaj Kuss was reassigned to his current billet as Marine Aircraft Group 14 Sergeant Major.
Sergeant Major Kuss is a member of the Marine Corps Financial Management School Honor Society, as well as the American Society of Military Comptrollers. He was named the “Military Citizen of the Year” in 2000 for extensive volunteer service in the community. In 2016, SgtMaj Kuss was awarded the honorary title of “Kentucky Colonel” by the governor of Kentucky. Personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation with gold star, and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with silver star.