Sergeant Major Philip was born in Grenada in 1984 and relocated to the United States with his family in 1989. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and reported to recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in June 2003, graduating in September 2003. He subsequently completed Marine Combat Training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Following his promotion to Private First Class in November 2003, he attended the Combat Engineer Military Occupational Specialty Course at Camp Lejeune, graduating in January 2004. Upon completion, he was assigned to 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, Charlie Company, 1st Marine Division. From February to September 2004, he deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During this deployment, he was promoted to Lance Corporal and served as a team leader.
In September 2005, he was promoted to Corporal and deployed again to Iraq from September 2005 to April 2006 in continued support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Following his second deployment, he completed a Temporary Assignment of Duty as a Military Police Marine from August 2006 to January 2007. He was then reassigned to Headquarters & Service Company, S-3, where he was promoted to Sergeant in January 2007. During this period, he was selected to reestablish the battalion’s Sapper School. To prepare for this responsibility, he completed numerous advanced courses, including Infantry Squad Leader Course, Martial Arts Instructor Course, Helicopter Rope Suspension Technique Course, Military Operations in Urban Terrain Instructor Course, Urban Breacher Course, and the Army Sapper Course. From January 2008 to January 2009, he served as Chief Instructor for the battalion’s Sapper School. In January 2009, Sergeant Philip was transferred to Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego for duty as a Student Drill Instructor. After graduating from Drill Instructor School, he was assigned to 1st Recruit Training Regiment, 1st Battalion, Bravo Company, where he served as a Drill Instructor from March 2009 to March 2010 until being medically relieved due to a knee injury. In March 2010, he was assigned to 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company. From September 2010 to April 2011, he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom 10-2.
He later deployed again to Afghanistan from September 2012 to April 2013 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom 12-2. Upon returning, he was transferred to Headquarters & Service Company, Construction Shop, and promoted to Staff Sergeant in October 2013, serving as the Staff Noncommissioned Officer in Charge. In June 2014, he reported to Combat Assault Battalion, Engineer Company, in Okinawa, Japan. From June 2014 to January 2017, Staff Sergeant Philip served as a Platoon Sergeant and supported multiple regional exercises, including operations with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, Marine Rotational Force–Darwin, Korean Military Exchange Program, Philippines Amphibious Landing Exercise, and Integrated Training Exercise. In February 2017, he was promoted
to Gunnery Sergeant and served as the Remain Behind Element Company Gunnery Sergeant. He later transferred to Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, where he served as the Construction Platoon Staff Noncommissioned Officer in Charge and supported Exercise Cobra Gold 2018.In March 2018, Gunnery Sergeant Philip was selected as the Engineer Company Senior Enlisted Advisor, serving until September 2019. During this period, the company was recognized as the 2019 Marine Corps Engineer Association Marine Wing Support Company of the Year.
He was subsequently selected to serve as the Personnel Support Detachment First Sergeant for Marine Aircraft Group 36 from 2019 to 2020. In August 2020, he transferred to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, serving as Company Operations Chief. In January 2022, he was frocked to First Sergeant and assigned to 2d Battalion, 10th Marines, where he served as Battery First Sergeant. Later that year, in support of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, he served as Battery Senior Enlisted Leader. In April 2024, First Sergeant Philip reported to Financial Management School at Camp Johnson, North Carolina, serving as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader until October 2025.
He then transferred to Combat Logistics Battalion 31 with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, where he served as the General Support Company First Sergeant and the Combat Logistics Detachment Hansen Senior Enlisted Leader. Sergeant Major Philip is currently serving as the Battalion Sergeant Major for 3D Maintenance Battalion. His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and two Combat Action Ribbons. Sergeant Major Philip is married to Marcel Philip and has seven children: Mya, Anisa, Shawn, Madison, Nevaeh, Kylonie, Zaiya.