Roberto Garcia(I)

Roberto Garcia was born in Mexico but moved to Southern California as a child and was raised in San Fernando Valley. During his senior year at Birmingham High School, he enrolled with the US Marines at 17. Upon his high school graduation, he did his basic training at Marine Corps Recruiting Depot (MCRD) in San Diego, Ca., and was stationed at Camp Pendleton for the duration of his contract. During his Marine career, he was assigned to Alpha Company 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, formed around the LAV-25 an 8 wheeled combat vehicle weapons system.

During his time with Alpha Co., he trained in a myriad of skills as a LAV mechanic and reconnaissance infantry scout, including Military Operations on Urban Terrain (MOUT), logistics, communications, Emergency Medical Tech and various duties that helped shape the line company of a reconnaissance unit. In 2003, 1st Marine Division was activated to take part in Operation Iraqi Freedom. His unit, Alpha Co. 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance, was part of a Regimental Combat Team (RCT) and was one of the first to cross the line of departure from Kuwait and led the division in the lightning drive towards Bagdad, Iraq.

Alpha Co. was involved in human extractions and providing security escorts for different elements of the Department of Defense along with high-risk informants who provided valuable intelligence to Allied forces. Also, during this period, his unit participated in various humanitarian missions. It provided security for national elections and also took part in training the initial wave of Iraqi police for that local area of SE of Baghdad. Alpha Co. was tasked with disposing of unexploded ordinance that were set as traps against the Allied forces and were hazardous to the local communities.

During one of his numerous operations in Iraq, he was wounded in action and received a Purple Heart for his injuries on the battlefield. Following his combat tour completion, he was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps and thus starting his career in the Entertainment industry as a Military Tactical Advisor, Stunt Performer, Stunt Coordinator, and Actor.