Lieutenant Colonel Helminski enlisted in the Marine Corps in September 2002 and reported to MCRD San Diego, California for recruit training in May 2003.  After graduating recruit training, he completed Marine Combat Training and the Basic Cannon Crewman Course (BCCC) at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he received the 0811 Cannon Crewman MOS and was meritoriously promoted to Lance Corporal.  
Upon graduation from the BCCC, he was assigned to Battery K, 3d Battalion, 11th Marines, Twentynine Palms, California.  In February 2004, he deployed to Ramadi, Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.  Following the deployment, he was selected for the Enlisted Commissioning Program.
He then reported to Quantico, Virginia for Officer Candidates School in January 2005, and was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in March.  Following commissioning, he was assigned to The Basic School, where he completed the Basic Officer Course and the Infantry Officer Course.
Upon completing the Infantry Officer Course in December 2005, he was assigned to Company F, 2d Battalion, 8th Marines, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.  He deployed twice in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.  In July 2006, he deployed to Al-Saqlawiyah, Iraq as a rifle platoon commander.  He deployed again in October 2007 to Ramadi, Iraq as the Company Executive Officer.  Upon return from the deployment, he was frocked to the rank of Captain and reassigned to Infantry Training Battalion, School of Infantry-East. 
He reported to Infantry Training Battalion at Camp Geiger, North Carolina in August of 2008, and was assigned as the Tactics Instructor Group Officer-in-Charge.  In February 2009, he assumed command of Company C and in January 2010 he was reassigned as the Battalion Operations Officer.
In November 2010, he reported to 2d Battalion, 2d Marines and assumed command of Company G.  In March 2011, he deployed as the motorized company for Battalion Landing Team 2/2, 22 Marine Expeditionary Unit and supported Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR and Joint Task Force ODYSSEY GUARD.  He returned in February of 2012, and was reassigned as the Weapons Company Commander.  In March of 2013, he deployed as part of the core element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Black Sea Rotational Force-13.  Upon returning from deployment in August of 2013, he received orders to The Basic School, Quantico, Virginia. 
Upon arrival at The Basic School in October 2013, he served as a Warfighting Instructor and Platoon Package Primary.  In August 2014, he was reassigned to Company G, Basic Officer Course 7-14 as a Staff Platoon Commander.  Following his time in Company G, he was promoted to Major and reassigned as the school's Assistant Operations Officer.  In October of 2015, he assumed command of Company A, Basic Officer Course 1-16.  Following his time in Company A, he received orders to Command and Staff College, Marine Corps University, Quantico, Virginia.
Upon graduation from Command and Staff College as a distinguished graduate in June 2017,he was assigned as the Executive Officer for 3d Battalion, 2d Marines, and deployed in support of Unit Deployment Program 18.2 in August 2018.  In March 2019, he was selected to serve as the 2d Marine Division Staff Secretary where he served until assuming the Division Current Operations Officer billet in March 2020.  In December 2020, he was frocked to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and reassigned to 6th Marines as the Executive Officer.  In June 2022 he assumed command of 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, where he is currently serving.
Lieutenant Colonel Helminski holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Northern Illinois University and a Masters in Military Studies from the Marine Corps University.  His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (2nd award), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2nd award), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2nd award, 1 with combat "V"), and the combat action ribbon.  He and his wife Medora have two children, Mason and Caroline.