Sergeant Major John W. Schlaud was born in Flint, Michigan.  He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on August 12, 1998, and completed recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) San Diego on November 7, 1998. Upon graduation, he attended Marine Combat Training at Camp Pendleton, CA, and then reported to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri to obtain the military occupational skill (MOS) of 1345. Next, he was assigned to 2nd Landing Support Battalion, Camp Lejeune, NC and in December of 1999 was transferred to deploy with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). During the deployment, he participated in Exercises Atlas Hinge in Tunisia, Northern Approach in Turkey, NATO exercise Destined Glory 2000 in Greece and Turkey, and Croatian Phibex 2000 in Croatia. In September of 2001, Corporal Schlaud deployed again with the 26th MEU to the Mediterranean Sea, but was redirected through the Suez Canal to support the 15th MEU in Afghanistan. He participated in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Swift Freedom in Pakistan and Afghanistan conducting re-supply missions to units throughout the region. 

In October of 2002, Sergeant Schlaud was assigned to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, as a Primary MOS Instructor to the Basic Engineer Equipment Operators Course. In December of 2005, Sergeant Schlaud was assigned to 3rd Marine Logistic Group in Okinawa Japan. During his tour he deployed with 9th Engineer Support Battalion to Al Anbar Province, Iraq from February 2006 to September 2006 for Operation Iraqi Freedom 4-6 and 5-7. In March 2007, newly promoted Staff Sergeant Schlaud was then attached to Combat Logistic Group 4, and deployed to Al Anbar Province, Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom 682 and 791. In June 2008, Staff Sergeant Schlaud attended MCRD Parris Island Drill Instructor School and in September was assigned to 2nd Bn, Company H. There he served as a Drill Instructor and Senior Drill Instructor completing six successful cycles. Next, he was assigned to Support Battalion as a Swim Instructor and served as the Chief Instructor for MCIWS course. Upon completion of his Special Duty Assignment, he was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant in August 2011. 
 
In September 2011, Gunnery Sergeant Schlaud was transferred to Mt. Clemens, MI as the Heavy Equipment Chief and Company First Sergeant for Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS)-471, Engineer Detachment. While serving on the Independent Instructor staff, he coordinated the beginning of a massive runway expansion project in Kodiak, Alaska. In June 2014, Gunnery Sergeant Schlaud was transferred to 1st Supply Battalion, Camp Pendleton, CA, where he initially took over as the Headquarters and Service (H&S) Company First Sergeant. There he participated in Weapons Tactical Instruction 1-15 as the Senior Enlisted Leader. Next, he was assigned as to Medical Logistics Company as the Company Gunnery Sergeant, and was then promoted to First Sergeant on 18 February 2015. 
 
In February 2015, First Sergeant Schlaud was transferred to Combat Logistics Battalion (CLB) 1 and assigned as the Company First Sergeant for the Combat Logistics Detachment attached to 1st Battalion, 4th Marines as a part of the Marine Air Ground Task Force of the Marine Rotational Force-Darwin. Upon return from deployment, he served in the capacity as the Battalion Sergeant Major of CLB 1 for six months, and then in May of 2016 took over as the H&S Company First Sergeant until March 2017. Next, First Sergeant Schlaud was transferred to the 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, as the First Sergeant for Company A and deployed with the 31st MEU. In March 2019, Sergeant Major Schlaud was selected to his current rank and reported to MCRD Parris Island, SC, to serve as the Second Recruit Training Battalion Sergeant Major. On April 30th, 2021, he relinquished his duties at 2nd Recruit Training Battalion and reported to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367, aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii to serve as the Squadron Sergeant Major. On December 16th, 2021, Sergeant Major Schlaud transferred from Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367 and assumed his duties as the Sergeant Major for Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 363.
       
His personal awards include two Meritorious Service Medals, three Navy Commendation Medal, and four Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medals.