Judge Leech always wanted to serve our country. During his first week of law school, he fulfilled that dream by joining the Marine Corps. He spent a day talking to each armed service. The Marines talked about service to our country, honor, and physical toughness. They wanted to know if he was willing to fight for our country. They told him how the Marine uniform comes in all sizes, but it doesn't fit everyone. They told him he would first learn to be a rifleman and then a platoon leader. They said he had to earn the right to call himself a Marine. He promptly joined.

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Judge Leech went to Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia, in 1988 where he learned to be a rifleman. He then completed The Basic School in Quantico, where every Marine Officer learns to be a Platoon Leader. Then he went to Naval Justice School in Newport, Rhode Island, where he learned Military Justice. His next assignment was to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton as a Judge Advocate. He was assigned to be a Military Prosecutor (Trial Counsel) and then counseled the base command on labor and employment matters. After completing his tour at Camp Pendleton, he left active duty at the rank of Captain. He returned to an individual ready reserve status and subsequently returned to serve in 4th Anglico, 4th Marine Division, as a drilling reservist. He left the drilling reserves and remained in the individual ready reserve.

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The Marine Corps honored his diligence, integrity, perseverance and loyalty. He earned a Navy-Marine Corps Commendation medal (copied below). He also earned expert rifle and pistol awards.

 

​Judge Leech is extremely proud to call himself a Marine, to shake the hand of a fellow Marine, and to exchange the traditional greeting, "Semper Fi!"