Dante Collins is a retired United States Marine and experienced Reconnaissance leader with more than 21 years of service. His career spanned combat operations, special operations-capable forces, advanced reconnaissance training, instructor development, recruiting, and organizational leadership.
Leadership and Service
Dante began his Marine Corps career in 2004 and deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom before volunteering for Marine Reconnaissance. After graduating from the Amphibious Reconnaissance School in 2007, he became a Reconnaissance Marine and spent the majority of his career serving within the Marine Corps Reconnaissance community.
Throughout his operational assignments, Dante progressed from Reconnaissance Point Man to Assistant Team Leader, Team Leader, and Platoon Sergeant. His service included multiple deployments in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, as well as deployments with the 15th and 31st Marine Expeditionary Units.
While serving with 3d Reconnaissance Battalion in Okinawa, Japan, Dante was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant and later served as an Amphibious Reconnaissance Platoon Sergeant with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Maritime Raid Force.
Training and Development
A significant portion of Dante’s career focused on developing the next generation of Reconnaissance Marines and leaders.
From 2014 to 2017, he served at Reconnaissance Training Company as the Primary Instructor for the Amphibious Phase and as an instructor for the Reconnaissance Team Leader Course.
He later returned to Reconnaissance Training Company, where he served as Course Chief and Chief Instructor for the Basic Reconnaissance Course—the Marine Corps’ foundational training program for Reconnaissance Marines. He also served as the West Coast Reconnaissance Recruiter, identifying and preparing Marines for entry into the Reconnaissance training pipeline.
These assignments provided Dante extensive experience in training development, instruction, mentorship, personnel assessment, and the planning and execution of complex military training.
Reconnaissance Experience
Over the course of his career, Dante served with 1st, 3d, and 4th Reconnaissance Battalions and Reconnaissance Training Company. His professional training and qualifications include advanced reconnaissance, military free fall, combat diving, joint fires integration, and specialized insertion and extraction capabilities.
His experience spans the tactical, training, and organizational levels of the Marine Reconnaissance community, giving him a broad perspective on both operational requirements and the development of Reconnaissance Marines.
Dante has also been closely involved with the Marine Corps Recon Challenge throughout his career, participating as a competitor, instructor and staff member, and lead planner.
Final Assignment and Retirement
Dante completed his Marine Corps career with 4th Reconnaissance Battalion in San Antonio, Texas, where he served as the Headquarters and Service Company Training Chief within the battalion’s Operations Section. In that role, he helped coordinate and oversee training requirements supporting the readiness of the battalion.
He retired from the United States Marine Corps in 2025 after more than two decades of service.
His personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with three gold stars, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat “V,” and the Combat Action Ribbon.
Current Focus
Following his retirement from the Marine Corps, Dante has remained connected to the Reconnaissance community while pursuing higher education and preparing for a second career in education. He continues to apply his experience in leadership, training, planning, mentorship, and organizational development to efforts supporting Marines, veterans, and the broader Reconnaissance community.
Dante and his wife, Cheryn, have three children: Kingston, Garrison, and Colette. The Collins family resides in New Braunfels, Texas.
