New Sergeant Major of the Army Sworn in at Pentagon

Army Times ^ | Army Times Staff

[xzins]

Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston was sworn in as the 13th Sergeant Major of the Army on January 15, 2004. SMA Preston has held a variety of leadership positions throughout his career ranging from cavalry scout to command sergeant major.

As Sergeant Major of the Army, Preston serves as the Army Chief of Staff's personal adviser on all enlisted-related matters, particularly in areas affecting Soldier training and quality of life. He devotes the majority of his time to traveling throughout the Army observing training, and talking to Soldiers and their families. He sits on a wide variety of councils and boards that make decisions affecting enlisted Soldiers and their families and is routinely invited to testify before Congress.

Preston is a native of Mount Savage, Md., and was born Feb. 18, 1957. Preston entered the Army on June 30, 1975. He attended Basic Training and Armor Advanced Individual Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Throughout his 28-year career, he has served in every enlisted leadership position from cavalry scout and tank commander to his current position as Sergeant Major of the Army. Other assignments he held as command sergeant major were 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas, 3rd "Grey Wolf" Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, 1st Armored Division in Bad Kreuznach, Germany, and V Corps in Heidelberg, Germany.

His most recent assignment was as the command sergeant major for Combined Joint Task Force 7 serving in Baghdad, Iraq.

His military education includes Basic Noncommissioned Officer's Course, Advanced Noncommissioned Officer's Course, First Sergeant's Course, M1/M1A1 Tank Master Gunner Course, Master Fitness Trainer Course, Battle Staff Noncommissioned Officer's Course, and the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy.

His awards and decorations include two Legions of Merit, the Bronze Star medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, four Army Meritorious Service Medals, five Army Commendation Medals, three Army Achievement Medals, Southwest Asia Service Ribbon, Liberation of Kuwait Ribbon (Saudi Arabia), Kosovo Medal, the NATO Medal and the Joint Meritorious Unit Award.

He and his wife have three children.

[xzins]

GNFI Ping

Gen Schoomaker's Choice

The top enlisted man in the Army; Advisor to the Chief of Staff of the Army on Enlisted Affairs.

The Sergeants-Major Run the Day-to-Day Army

[Prodigal Son]

LOL, well, I've got more AAMs than him anyway.

[night reader]

Tough lookin' dude, ain't he?

[mystery-ak]

Hey, the 1sgt's run the Army...Im told that all the time...LOL

[xzins]

The Army truly is run in its day to day activities by the 1SG's and CSM's.

If you want to kill any chance of ever getting support for what you're doing, then PO the 1st or the CSM.

You'll suddenly discover that it might say "sergeant" but he actually wears the rank of whoever he works for.

[mystery-ak]

You missed your chance once again...if only you would attend ANOC....I got another letter the other day requesting your attendance..LOL

[SAMWolf]

Bump

[Little Bill]

I would rather be a First Sleeve or a CSM than a General, you have more drag.

[shiva]

Hey, the 1sgt's run the Army

I didn't hear that!

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Hey, the 1sgt's run the Army
I didn't hear that!

Well every Top Sgt. I ever knew will be happy to repeat it for you in a tone I assure you will be heard! ;-)

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Thanks, xzins. Sargeants run the Army. Learned something new today. (^:

[mike1sg]

Dear, I have attended every NCO course, except SM Academy, too late for that now. Matbe they will give me credit for that for being here, not going away for another 6 months.

[xzins]

When these things are proven, then the soldier is removed. Until then, he's an American citizen and innocent until proven guilty.

I assume that Schoomaker picked Preston based on "on the ground" assessment.

[mike1sg]

Mystery you are correct, 1SGt's run the army.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.

1965 Battle of IA DRANG Sgt/Major BASIL L. PLUMLEY Photos =


http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_collection.htm

.

[My Dog Likes Me]

You would think that after the last scandal, the Army would've looked into his past with great care. If what you say is true, then we have another example of women in uniform seducing and destroying decent career military men who, in a normal, all-male military, would never stray from the proper path.

[My Dog Likes Me]

I didn't know that NCOs were eligible for the Legion of Merit. I thought only retiring O-6s scored this strange medal.

[xzins]

As mentioned, a CSM has the authority of the rank for whom he works. Preston has been CSM for 2 and 3 stars for some time. Those LoM's come from those assignments (I would bet) and not before.